The Wanderluster

Tomorrow is May 1st, my birthday month, and a time to reflect on the past year and what to look forward to for the next. To kick it off, I’ve made a list of the best books I’ve read so far in 2018.  I’ve also put my complete list at the bottom because I haven’t read a bad book yet and I wouldn’t turn someone away from reading any of them.

So, in no particular order:

1. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson 

I didn’t know when I picked up this book that I would be laughing out loud from start to finish. I was expecting more of a Wild vibe, but Bryson’s witty commentary on his adventures along the Appalachian Trail left me cracking up and wanting more.  A real treat, I look forward to discovering more of Bill’s work in the future.

2.  A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

A haunting true story of a child soldier. Throughout the entire read, I was wondering how he survived it all and came out on the other end a caring and kind individual.  Not for the faint of heart, this book is an eye-opening account of the reality that too many have had to face in Sierra Leone and elsewhere.

3.  Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

I’ve always had a curiosity about outer space that I seldom follow because it always seemed out of my league.  But this book made learning about the Universe accessible in a concise and riveting way.  I also loved how Tyson gets philosophical and I wasn’t expecting this book to touch me in the capacity that it has. I will be rereading this at some point in the future.

4.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I am not much of fiction reader these days but this book pulled me in from the very start. I don’t play video games and I have no idea what even made me choose this book but I’m so happy I did.  Set in 2045, this tale follows teenage Wade Watts as he takes on a challenge much bigger than he bargained for.  If you’re looking for an adventure-packed, thrilling work of fiction, I highly recommend it.

5.  Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

I don’t know how it took me this long to pick up Frankl’s masterpiece, but better late than never.  This should be required reading for all of humankind.  Frankl describes his survival through concentration camps but with a heavy emphasis on psychology and what one needs mentally to survive unsurvivable conditions.  Seriously, if there’s one book you read all year, make it this one.

 

And here is my complete list:

The Year of Magical Thinking- Joan Didion

Talking as Fast as I Can- Lauren Graham

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do- Amy Morin

A Walk in the Woods- Bill Bryson

Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen- JK Rowling

A Long Way Gone- Ishmael Beah

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry- Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Ready Player One- Ernest Cline

Tribe of Mentors- Tim Ferriss

In Cold Blood- Truman Capote

The Undoing Project- Michael Lewis

Song of Solomon- Toni Morrison

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe- CS Lewis

The Rules Do Not Apply- Ariel Levy

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind- Yuval Noah Harari

Prince Caspian- CS Lewis

Man’s Search for Meaning- Viktor Frankl