2024 Reading Log

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Books I read in 2024.

DateTitleAuthorCommentary
January 2024Insomniac City: New York, Oliver Sacks, and MeBill HayesQuick read and such a touching story about life, love, and NYC
January 2024The Bassoon King: Art, Idiocy, and Other Sordid Tales from the Band RoomRainn WilsonCheck out audiobook for a wonderful narration by the author. Fans will enjoy this one a lot.
January 2024BossypantsTina FeyTina Fey is charming and funny in this brief memoir. Fans will love it, but I think anyone can enjoy it.
January 2024Astrophysics for People in a HurryNeil Degrasse TysonThis will trigger an existential crisis for you, fascinating topic though.
January 2024Yes PleaseAmy PoehlerSurprisingly deep memoir. Funny, inspiring, well-written, makes me love Amy Poehler even more.
February 2024The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from WorkSimone StolzoffThought provoking look at the perils of workism. Must read for anyone earning, or wanting to earn, a salary.
February 2024To Kill a MockingbirdHarper LeeStory about growing up, racism, injustice, generations of kids read this book and it still feels like parts of our society are stuck in Maycolmb.
February 2024Year of LessCait FlandersInsufferable.
February 2024Dear GirlsAli WongBrilliant, and laugh out loud funny. I don’t recall ever laughing this much while reading a book. Wonderful collection of essays to her kids about life. My favorite book of this year.
February 2024A Very Punchable FaceColin JostContinuing my memoir kick this year, I really enjoyed this one and learned that Colin Jost is not a one dimensional white dude.
February 2024Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?Mindy KailingShort but sweet memoir, must read for any office fan.
February 2024YearbookSeth RoganVancouver, Standup, North Korea, Comedy, Audiobook is special due to the all star cast of voice actors, sometimes playing themselves.
March 2024We Were DreamersSimu LiuMade me cry as often as Ali Wong’s memoir made me laugh. A story that all immigrants can relate to, just beautiful.
March 2024Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t KnowAdam GrantNo pun intended, really made me think. One of my favs of the year, and makes me want to read a lot of his other work.
March 2024Leslie Fucking JonesLeslie JonesJust awesome. Especially the audiobook where she reads. It feels like you’re hanging out with her as she tells you her amazing life story.
May 2024Kitchen ConfidentialAnthony BourdainOne of my favorite books, I re-read it often, love the audio book version since Anthony reads it.
May 2024Beef Noodle SoupWinnie ChenPicked this up at Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City and read it in one sitting. A lovely book of poetry and prose, some things really stuck with me the whole day. Hope to read more of her work.
May 2024Zinky BoysSvetlana AlexeivichBrilliant journalist tells the story of the Soviet war in Afghanistan through a series of interviews with mothers and veterans. Her style is remarkable. This book was depressing, no happy ending.
June 2024How to LiveDerek SiversThis one is so good, made it to my list of 5 books every human should read. I think if Derek Sivers started a cult, I’d join it. A book of contradicting philosophies, it inspires me, makes me angry, and provokes lingering thoughts every time I read it. Reading this book is how to live.
July 2024Down with the System: A Memoir (of Sorts)Serj TankianAmazing memoir by my all time favorite musician. Dives deep into the history of the Armenian struggle, the meaning of reasons undefined, and life on the road with System of a Down. Fans will love it, everyone can appreciate it. One of my favorites of the year.
July 2024When I Was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories, and Questionable Parenting Advice from a Professional ClownKenan ThompsonI think I’ve read every single SNL star memoir this year, this one is as good as all the others. If you’re wondering what up with that, keep reading.
August 2024Shortest Way HomePete ButtigiegI don’t normally do political memoirs but this one stood out to me. I love his story of a day in the life of a Mayor, it reminds me of Anthony Bourdain’s version of him in his kitchen. I wonder who the first person to do this style was? The chapter with the proposal was special, made me cry during a long walk. Pete inspires me.
September 2024On Writing: A Memoir of the CraftStephen KingPart memoir, part writing guide. Reminds me a lot of the book I read last year by Chuck Palahniuk. I enjoyed it, especially in his voice.
September 2024Red Team BluesCory Doctorow“Little Brother for Adults”, I love the universe that Cory Doctorow creates for Marty Hench. I was immediately sucked in. He sniped me with all of the San Francisco references which was one of the reasons I loved Little Brother so much. This book was captivating, a page turner, I finished it in two days. A couple of cliches sprinkled throughout but I think Docotorow has earned it it at this point.
September 2024The BezzleCory DoctorowSequel to Red Team blues, also a page turner, also finished in two days. I am obsessed with the Marty Hench universe and I cant wait for the next one in this series.
September 2024Your Table Is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maître D'Michael Cecchi-AzzolinaStories from the front of the house, I really enjoyed this memoir spanning nearly 4 decades in the restaurant business. It was inspiring, the result of a life well lived.
October 2024Burn BookKara SwisherHot takes, juicy gossip, history lessons and great stories from the best journalist in tech. One of my favorite books of the year.
December 2024Whole Worlds Could Pass AwayRickey Gard DiamondCollection of stories from a Montpilier Vermont based writer. There are some really powerful ones like “Walls” but overall I had a really tough time getting through this one.