Back in 2016, with a lot of time on my hands while recovering from a bone marrow transplant, I posted a list of favorite books after a friend suggested that we exchange lists of books that had “moved us.” With one exception, I get all the books I read from a small group of friends whose judgment I trust. The exception is that once a year I look at Barack Obama’s annual list of favorite books (along with his list of favorite tunes). I count the former President as a member of the small circle whose judgement I trust when it comes to books. In any event, while I’m obviously no Obama, here’s a list, in no particular order, of my favorite fiction and nonfiction books over the past few years:
Fiction
- The Guest Book—Sarah Blake
- The UnAmerican Stories—Molly Antopol
- My Dear I wanted to Tell You—Louisa Young (the first in a trilogy)
- Olive Again—Elizabeth Strout
- Jayber Crow—Wendell Berry
- Washington Black—Esi Edugyan (also an Obama pick)
- The Women in the Castle—Jessica Shattuck
- Snow Falling on Cedars—David Guterson (published in 1994, I just read and loved it)
- The Essays of EB White—old but timeless (especially Here is New York)
Non Fiction
- The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabbotarge, and Fear in the Cyber Age—David Sanger
- The Fifth Risk—Michael Lewis
- Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City—Matthew Desmond
- The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found—Bart van Es
- Churchill: Walking With Destiny—Andrew Roberts
- Leadership in Turbulent Times—Dorris Kearns Goodwin
- Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup—John Carreyrou
- Hitler: A Biography—Ian Kershaw (disturbingly relevant today!)
- Just Mercy—Bryan Stevenson (2014– I should have read it long ago)
- Educated—Tara Westover (an Obama 2018 pick)
Please comment with your favorite books in either category, or with thoughts about these picks. And if you want to see the books on my earlier list, click here
Thank you Rich,
I never want to join a book club (I like to read, too much) but I’m happy to jump into this forum and recommend Trevor Noah’s ‘Born A Crime’ for your non fiction list.
And any of Alice Monro’s (Nobel Lit 2013) short story collections for your fiction list. ‘Carried Away’ is a collection chosen by the author. Like a painter’s self portrait, maybe that should be given foremost attention…
Hi Rich,
Thanks for the recommendations. I have read some of these, and will definitely check out some others. A few books I have read recently that I have enjoyed:
1. The Soul of America by Jon Meachem- a look at some of the darkest periods in American history and how courageous political leaders and citizens were able to push back the forces of extremism.
2. Tightrope by Nicholas Kristol – a disturbing but moving examination of the social and economic disintegration of the author’s home town
3. In the Hoffa’s Shadow by JackGoldsmith – the author, who is a Harvard law professor, was he step son of Chuckie O’Brien, Hoffa’s right hand man who for many years was accused of playing a role in his death. A fascinating look at the history of the labor movement and the danger of unfettered government surveillance, but also a moving description of the author’s renouncing his stepfather and their eventual reconciliation.
4. Do Morals Matter by Joseph Nye – an examination of the foreign policies of FDR through Trump, and an interesting exploration of how national interest can (must) be leavened by moral considerations.
Play it loud – An examination of the instruments and musicians that played them in Rock n’ Roll history