The goal was to read 21 books in 2021. I kind of boldly went with this one as I managed to read 20 books in 2020. Perhaps this is a dangerous precedent adding a book each year. But I did it and then some as I managed to read 22 books in 2021.
How many books did you manage to read in 2021?
Leave a comment and let us all know.
Below are the books I read listed in the month they were read. I have included the title, subtitle, author’s name, and year of publication. Finally, with some reservation, I have left a star rating ⭐️ out of six.
Book #22 / December
Beyond the Black Stump by Nevil Shute (1972)
Shute is a good storyteller and having read ‘A Town Like Alice’ I was keen to read another of his works. It was an interesting story with several good twists at the end. The language is a bit foreign to me and reading it has made me a bit homesick for Australia.
Paperback
Secondhand copy
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️
Book #21 / December
Clementine; The Life of Mrs Winston Churchill by Sonia Purnell (2015)
What a life. I knew all but naught about Mrs Churchill before reading this well-researched book. Couched in the context of her family, her marriage & her place in the world this work provides extraordinary insights about Clemmie. However, at times it did feel like there was a lot of Winston in the book, but perhaps that is what comes with providing full context.
Hardcover
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #20 / November
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (2021)
Not often do I listen to an audiobook but on this occasion I did, but as I couldn’t get a physical copy this was the best option and what a book to have chosen to listen to. It is quite one thing to read a memoir and another to hear the author tell you their stories. Deep, moving, haunting.
Audiobook
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #19 / October
Eat a Peach by David Chang with Gabe Ulla (2020)
What a ride, what a read! Well done David for collecting so much of who you are, who you’re becoming & who you became in this book. Thank you for what you have chosen to include, the big & small; the steps and the leaps.
Hardback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #18 / October
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee (1984)
I wonder, can adventures like this still happen today? I ready do wonder because if they do I want to read more of them. Lee is a great storyteller and is fantastic at capturing the nuance of his environment. His words are well crafted behind his stayed British emotions or perhaps it is simply his style of writing to exclude feelings, I am not sure.
Paperback
Secondhand copy
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #17 / September
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe (2021)
I came to this book with limited knowledge of the opioid crisis in the US and knew nothing of the Sackler family. Now, I am well aware of both. As I read this tome, I had to remind myself this isn’t fiction and of the massive human toll. The peculiar thing was that the issues it addresses in the book are not yet resolved and are ongoing.
Hardback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #16 / September
Digital Minimalism; Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport (2019)
A super interesting book that provides great insight into how we are using technology & how we can live a better life. I’ve been challenged & inspired to live differently but certainly not disconnected. For example, I now have fewer apps on my phone, using sleep and night modes, dedicated phone-free time, and a few other things.
Paperback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #15 / September
The big, entirely subjective, and to be fair, a bit biased illustrated guide to Copenhagen by Kasper Sierslev (2021)
Even after nearly nine years in Copenhagen, this guide has reminded me that there are places I need to revisit and shown me places I still need to visit. Kasper’s illustrations are great and this book would be a great gift to someone visiting Copenhagen (or of course someone living here).
Paperback
Purchased new
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #14 / August
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (1974)
What a ride, what a fascinating novel, and what a curious story. I can see why Flea (Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist) recommends Vonnegut’s writing. I will definitely try and read more of Vonnegut’s work.
Hardback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #13 / August
One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson (2013)
This was a very interesting tome on the people & events in & around the Summer of 1927 in America. So much changed, grew, was invented, and accomplished. Bryson did a great job to capture this and the personalities that dominated this period. It was apt to read it during the Summertime.
Hardback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #12 / July
Acid for the Children by Flea (2019)
A dozen lifetimes have been lived in Michael’s childhood. I am amazed at his recollections of the tales, the adventures, and misadventures, of love, loss & hope. Overriding impression: that any life can be turned around.
Hardback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #11 / July
English Pastoral; An Inheritance by James Rebanks (2020)
James is a wonderful writer and communicator about farming and life in general. He is inspirational in his approach to farming, storytelling, and casting a vision for the future. Through his humility and frankness, you can learn so much. I deeply appreciated this book.
Hardback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #10 / July
In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan (2009)
What a comprehensive book! Really enjoyed reading it & have some key takeaways going forward. I believe the author has made a very good defense of food & our relationship to it. Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Paperback
Secondhand copy
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #9 / July
Zenobia by Morten Durr and Lars Horenman (Illustrator) (2018)
Wow. What a powerfully told story graphically. Love that this comic has been created for children to learn more about the refugee crisis arising from the Syrian conflict. It is amazing how much you can distill and yet be completely confronted with a comic.
Hardback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #8 / June
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (2015)
This is a deeply reflective novel & has been wonderfully composed. Couched in history you turn pages looking to see what familiar characters and stories you might find along with curiosity about the protagonist’s path. It was an enjoyable read.
Paperback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #7 / June
Ocean Warriors: The Thrilling Story of the 2001/2002 Volvo Ocean Race Round the World by Rob Mundle (2002)
This book is an energetic read. Full of suspense, action & adventure. What a race, what amazing teams & vessels! I am in awe of these ocean heroes. Rob captures & stitches this 9 mth adventure together very well. I found many crossovers working for a scale-up company and in people management. A good read for people in leadership.
Hardback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #6 / June
The Wife Drought; Why Women Need Wives, And Men Need Lives by Annabel Crabb (2014)
My wife, Celina, recommended this book strongly to me and I finished reading the book on FathersDay, apt I’d say. Annabel is a great writer & has put together this book so well. The reader is left empowered, amused, and reflective. Warning: Reading this book might confront your worldview of marriage.
Paperback
Borrowed copy
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #5 / May
The Year of Living Danishly: My Twelve Months Unearthing the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country by Helen Russell (2015)
What a wonderful read and I wonder why it took me so long to read this book? Helen is a great storyteller, with smashing wit, and wholly fulfills her duty to explore every offering at the local bakery! Glad I get to live Danishly, as well.
Paperback
Borrowed copy
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #4 / April
You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy (2020)
This terrific book has brought me back to one of the basics of our human existence; to be understood & to understand. Murphy shares quaint stories to colour her work and it educates & reminds us to listen, again.
Paperback
Purchased new
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #3 / March
Educated by Tara Westover (2018)
When someone tells their story, it is neither our role to judge nor excuse what is shared, but to simply and humbly listen, really listen. And what an account to listen to. Please read this book and think about your own story, carefully and how you might share it to help others.
Paperback
Borrowed copy
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #2 / March
Strategic Human Resource Management: An HR Professional’s Toolkit by Karen Beaven (2019)
This is an excellent book for anyone in the HR Community and should be on your shelf for reference. Karen clearly & effectively communicates how HR can be more than recruiting and remuneration.
Paperback
Borrowed from the Library
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #1 / March
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2001)
I was to follow a 30-day reading plan called ‘The Shred’ by Nathan Finochio. The concept is the skim read looking at key themes & ideas that stand out. I was doing great with the plan until I started reading the text instead of skimming. It was my first time to read the Bible cover to cover.
Hardback
Own copy
Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Goodreads provides a pretty overview with some interesting statistics. Check out My Year In Books from Goodreads here.
This year also saw another cull of the books at home and the rearrangement of them. Though it is not perfect, I really do appreciate the aesthetics of it, however, Celina can no longer find books quickly as they used to be arranged in topics, and so I have an informal role as an in-house librarian.
What does your book collection, aka library, look like?
It doesn’t matter how many books you read each year, I would simply encourage you to read what you can when you can. But, hey, why not set a reading goal for 2022? Reading a book doesn’t also mean you have to buy it, as you can see this year I have gotten a lot of books from the library and if it really is one I know I want to have, then I’ll buy it.
How many books do you think you’ll read in 2022?
Leave a comment below and if you want I’ll help keep you accountable.
My ‘reading list’ for 2022 is already getting long and I do have a couple of books from 2021 I am yet to finish and hope to do so early in the year. Books that are already on my list for 2022 to finish include:
- Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
- The Energy Path by Ulrik Nerløe
- The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford
- Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them by Gary Humel and Michele Zanini
Happy reading!
Andrew
Andrew Mina 
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