2024 Reading List

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I finally got around to reading this Colombian classic, which tells the multi-generational story of the Buendia family in the fictional town of Macondo. Not much I can say that hasn't been said a thousand times before, beautiffuly written and unlike anything else.

How Music Works by David Byrne

I'm a big Talking Heads fan so this book has been on my list for a while. It's part memoir, part musicology and cultrual history, and part how-to guide for musicians. Byrne covers everything from the physics of sound to how to negotiate a record deal. If you love music it's a worthwhile read, especially if you appreciate Byrne's other work.

In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki

This is an essay on Japanese aesthetics from the early 1930s, just as Western influence was starting to radically change Japanese culture. Tanazaki contrasts traditional Japanese design principles, which emphasize subtlety, imperfection, and shadow with Western ideals of brightness, clarity, and symmetry. A particularly fascinating section muses about what modern technology would look like it were developed according to Japanese aesthetics rather than Western ones.

Superconductivity: A Very Short Introduction by Stephen J. Blundell

I'm a big fan of Oxford's Very Short Introductions series, and this was one of the best I've read so far. Blundell does a fantastic job walking you through the history and science of superconductivity simultaneously, without getting lost in the technical details. Perfect for anyone wanting a high-level, readable overview of the field.

Barbarian Days by William Finnegan

I loved this book. It's a memoir of Finnegan's lifelong obsession with surfing, filled with interesting characters and adventure. I may have related to it more than the average reader because of the parallels between skateboarding and surfing, but the book's wide critical acclaim suggests that anyone could enjoy it.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

I did not expect to enjoy this book as thoroughly as I did. A totally unique book that is part adventure novel, part natural science textbook, and part philosophical treatise. Sometimes intensely dramatic, and othertimes hilarious, Moby Dick deserves every bit of its reputation as a classic.

Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks

Yet another Oliver Sacks book on the list this year, and another about music. This one is all about the fascinating relationship between music and the brain. Sacks presents a series of case studies of patients with various neurological conditions that affect their perception and experience of music, including a story of a 42 year old man who was struck by lighting and suddenly developes an intense passion and talent for piano playing, despite having no prior musical training.