2024 mid-year books
#113 - Jul.2024
It is time for the mid-year checkpoint of the books I have read so far in 2024. Every year I look forward to this review. As I recap each book, I reflect on the learnings, quotes, and takeaways. Once again, this year has been a mix of everything. I continue to explore new genres (novels). I also went back to paper books instead of e-books. You can't beat such a reading experience!
You can always check out my most recommended books on my bookshelf.
- Les gratitudes (Delphine de Vigan): This was a short and emotional book to kick off the year. It is a story about life. About the power of being thankful. About love and gratitude through the lens of an old woman living in a retirement home.
- The Practice (Seth Godin): A love Seth Godin’s books. You can find inspirational quotes almost on any page! In The Practice, Seth talks about a different perspective of building towards success. A perspective on consistency, creativity, and creating things that matter.
- Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products (Marty Cagan): This has become a classic in product management. While many people debate on how practical are Marty Cagan’s tips on shifting towards a better product culture the fact is: great product teams need empowered people. People with the freedom to be creative, managers who are willing to coach, and teams with the right structure and focus. This book gives a great glance at all this.
- No more Mr. Nice Guy (Robert A. Glover): This was recommended by a coach. I can tell you: is not for everyone. You can agree or disagree on many points that Robert makes in this book but there are some interesting perspectives on self-awareness and practical exercises for becoming more direct. Good book if you are willing to make your needs a priority instead of only fulfilling other’s needs.
- Digital Minimalism (Cal Newport): When I saw this book on the bookshelf of a friend it caught my attention. The hyperconnectivity and dopamine culture of today’s world is one of our biggest problems as a society. Cal’s makes a great point on how to develop a better relationship with our devices and digital channels (email, social media, chats, etc). This is a much-needed skill for our future.
- Animal Farm (George Orwell): Yes, this was a classic that was pending on my list. I loved this book. Now I can understand why became so popular. The narrative is light and engaging. Is impossible not to think of all the parallel analogies with our real world that sometimes, indeed, seems like a farm.
- Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert): As I was in a classic mood, I continued with this masterpiece of Flaubert. Maybe the best book so far in 2024. Every sentence seems to be crafted with so much care and art. This explains why this book had so much impact at the time, changing the way novels were written.
- Slow Productivity (Cal Newport): Based on my experience reading Digital Minimalism, I wanted to continue reading Cal’s work. The title of the book resonated with me, especially at this particular time of my life when I’m exploring how to invest my time in things that are worth it. The book shares a perspective on how productivity and slow work are not antagonists. You can achieve much more when you focus, pace your work to your natural rhythm, and obsess over quality. Less is more.
- Creative Selection (Ken Kocienda): In this book, Ken shares technical backstage stories about the design and development of some of Apple’s greatest innovations, like the iPad and the iPhone. He uses these stories to share what he believes is the core of Apple’s innovation: inspiration, collaboration, craft, diligence, decisiveness, taste, and empathy.
Happy reading!
