It’s been over a year since I posted my last reading pile. I read so many books last year and intend to keep it up in 2020.
The Anarchy is the latest release from one of my all-time favourite authors, William Dalrymple. I read Koh-I-Noor last year and it was fascinating – it’s the violent, complicated history of the Koh-I-Noor diamond. I honestly couldn’t believe what I was reading most of the time.
I feel it’s going to be the same with The Anarchy; a deep delve into the story of the East India Company from its humble beginnings in the last 1500s to its eventual demise in 1874. I can’t wait to get stuck into this one.
At the other end of the spectrum, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish has been recommended to me so many times, I caved in and ordered it. It’s full of tips and tricks for entrepreneurs with growing brands. I don’t know if I’ll use the tips per se, but as I have a finance degree, business strategy does interest me.
Another book that has been recommended to me is The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. It takes the reader through sports inspired disciplines to create order and optimize their work weeks so that they get more done in less time – sounds too good to be true, but I’ll let you know…
Travelling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor is a mother and daughter dual memoir that follows them through turning points in both their lives. Set against the backdrop of the sacred sites of France, Turkey and Greece, I think this is going to be a page-turner.
Unthinkable by Helen Thomson is a collection of real-life stories by the award-winning science writer. She travelled the world in search of the most bizarre and rare brain disorders, nine of which she shares in this book. This will be fascinating and scary in equal measure.
I’m already half-way through Lonely Planet Curiosities and Splendour. It’s a beautiful anthology of classic travel literature from 29 travel writers and explorers. Insightful and exciting, I’m loving being able to dip into each writer’s style to see if I want to read more.
Completely down on their luck, Raynor Winn and her terminally ill husband decided to walk the 630 mile South West Path from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall. The Salt Path is Raynor’s account of this journey, their new existence and liberation. I feel it’s going to be a remarkable story.
Travels with Epicurus by Daniel Klein caught my eye because I love Greek mythology and it just sounded bonkers. This travel memoir to the Greek Island of Hydra takes the reader through ‘aging through the ages’ from ancient philosophers to current day octogenarian inhabitants of the island.
Another book that caught my eye for many reason was Erebus, the story of a ship by Michael Palin. Firstly, Michael Palin…Secondly, my dad is a captain, and I remember him talking about the HMS Erebus. After travelling further south than any other ship had done at the time, she disappeared in the Canadian Arctic along with her company of 129 crew. Their fate remained a mystery for 160 year until she was discovered in 2014.
And last, but undoubtedly not least, is If I Could Tell You Just One Thing… by Richard Reed. The tag line describes this as, ‘Encounters with remarkable people and their most valuable advice.’ The book is a collection of profound, practical, funny and sometimes crazy advice from some of the most successful and influential people in the world. Think Stephen Fry, Anthony Bourdain, President Bill Clinton, Dame Judi Dench and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I’ve only read a few so far, but if it’s inspiration you’re looking for, this is the book to get your hands on.
I’ve linked all the books in their titles to their pages on Loot. I get my books from Loot or Exclusive Books. Loot is always cheaper, but I love being able to hold the book and read the backs of each of them in real life rather than on a screen.
What are you currently reading?