My top reads of 2018

GoodReads tells me I read over 40 books during 2018. Granted, only 16 of them were novels, the rest were graphic novels. But hey, if GoodReads says they’re books,  then I’ll take it! 

My reading journey through the year was quite a ride. I fought zombies, discovered the quantum multiverse, travelled to Alpha Centauri, then Hogwarts, returned to Middle Earth, hung out with Bear Grylls. I also found out why grizzly bears should wear underpants, and through all of that, I learnt how to focus more.

In this article, I’ll run through my top reads for the year, and end off with my favourites.

Noteworthy

Harry Potter Series – J.K. Rowling
Having never read the Harry Potter books, I thought I’d give it a go this year. They were ok. Nothing too inspiring. I only read the first 3 books in the series. I got bored and moved on. Each book seemed like much the same to me.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – J.R.R. Tolkien
A firm favourite. Read the story of the destruction of the Ring for the 3rd time.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry – Neil deGrasse Tyson
An easy read from our favourite scientist describing the world around us. If you’ve watched the Cosmos docuseries, this follows in a similar vein.

Behold the Man – Michael Moorcock
A book from the 70’s that was recommended to me by a friend. It was an interesting read about a man who travels back in time to find Jesus Christ, but everything is not as it should be.

Strong contenders

The Walking Dead – Robert Kirkman
Even after 24 volumes, you just never know what to expect. Love it love it love it.

Deep Work: Rules For Focused Success in a Distracted World – Cal Newport
This provided the means and tools to really help me focus on one thing at a time and produce valuable results.

Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants – Matthew Inman
Hilariously funny collection of comics from TheOatmeal.com.

Favourites of the year

There were 3 stand-out favourites this year. And they are…drumrolllll.

The Grand Design – Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking answers some fundamental questions of life and the universe. Mind. Blown.

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win – Jocko Willink and Leif Babin 
This book was a page turner, not just because of the stories in the book, but the disciplines and principals we can use in our lives to get things done.

Mud, Sweat and Tears – Bear Grylls
So inspirational. I read this book right at the beginning of the year and it continues to inspire me. The man is just so down to earth and has an insane amount of grit and determination

What a journey this year. Here’s hoping for another one next year!