In 2024, I read 50 books: 11 non-fiction and 39 fiction. The heavier lean toward fiction was deliberate—I’m about halfway through writing my second book, Superwealth: How to Find Happiness in a World Obsessed with Money, and I’ve found that reading non-fiction disrupts my writing style. Fifty books is a bit below my usual count, mainly due to the hours I spent writing..

Here’s the full list of what I read this year: Books I Read in 2024.

And here are my six favorites in no particular order:

The Lessons of History, by Will and Ariel Durant. This book was published in 1968 by two of the 20th Century’s most respected historians and thinkers. They had previously written a multi-volume history of the 5,000 years of civilization. As they looked back on their work, they realized that there are themes in history that tend to persist or repeat. This short (about 100 pages) book is their summary of these themes. The Durants explore recurring themes such as the impact of geography, economics, and politics on civilizations and the interplay of progress and decline. They emphasize the cyclical nature of history, offering wisdom on human nature, societal trends, and the enduring patterns of human behavior.

The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin. This is the first book of a trilogy that is widely considered one of the greatest fantasy series of all time (some lists rank it above Lord of the Rings). And I agree. This book does not disappoint. This gripping, award-winning novel is set in a world plagued by catastrophic earthquakes. It follows Essun, a woman with the power to control seismic activity, as she searches for her missing daughter in a land on the brink of collapse. The story weaves themes of survival, oppression, and the bonds of family in a richly imagined, geologically unstable world.

Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke. Piranesi is a mesmerizing and enigmatic novel set in an endless labyrinth of halls filled with statues and tides, inhabited by the protagonist, Piranesi, and the enigmatic “Other.” The writing is lyrical and haunting, weaving a surreal atmosphere that feels both intimate and immense. The plot unfolds like a puzzle, revealing strange truths about the world and Piranesi himself, as he navigates the beauty and peril of his unique existence. Clarke’s prose is hypnotic, drawing readers into a story that is as much about isolation and discovery as it is about the labyrinthine nature of memory and identity. A deeply strange and unforgettable reading experience. I LOVED THIS BOOK!

The Plot: A Novel, by Jean Hanff Korelitz. I loved this book! When a writing teacher is entrusted with an ingenious book idea from a late student, he passes it off as his own work to achieve literary success. But as his novel becomes a bestseller, the dead student’s friend uncovers his deception, leading to a cat-and-mouse game over the origins of the stolen plot.

Big Swiss: A Novel, by Jen Beagin. This captivating novel centers around the life of a transcriptionist working for a therapist in a rural New York town. As she listens to the therapy sessions of various patients, she becomes particularly fascinated with one patient’s complex life and issues. This obsession leads her into a web of personal involvement and emotional entanglement with a woman whom she dubs “Big Swiss.” The story unfolds with sharp wit and dark humor, exploring themes of voyeurism, identity, and the quest for personal transformation.

The Secret History, by Donna Tartt. This is the second time I’ve read The Secret History, the first being shortly after it was published in 2011. It’s one of my all-time favorite books, and it didn’t disappoint on a second reading (and enough time had passed that I had forgotten most of the details). The book is about six friends at a small liberal arts college in Vermont. Five of them conspire to kill one of the friends. Really great character development and a wonderful, building plot. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.