Genre: Memoir, Graphic Novel
A second-generation Indian-American and New Yorker, Mira Jacob is an author and illustrator who writes about her experiences growing up in America with an immigrant family, clashes between her American and Indian culture/values and how all of her unique experiences has impacted her development and relationship with family members and friends.
She later marries a Jewish man and has a half-Indian, half-Jewish child, who asks a ton of questions about his identity and family, especially during the years leading up to Trump’s election. This opens up difficult discussions about what his presidency means for people that look like him/her, and the deepening political divide among the American population.
The book is one that’s hilarious, relatable, emotional, endearing, and thought-provoking as it highlights conversations between Jacob and her mixed race son about the world (the good and the bad!) and the tough realities of being a minority in America. My favorite part is that the book is in graphic novel form, and it uses art to emphasize the severity/awkwardness/emotional nature of certain chapter. I think Jacob does a great job of depicting her own life experiences/aging timeline through her illustrations as well!
Genre: Historical Fiction
This book was suspenseful, hard-hitting, emotional, and really educational - one that made me realize I love historical fiction reads! I Must Betray You is a story about a young boy who lives in Romania during the Cold War under Ceaușescu’s dictatorship & communist rule. He plays an active role in the revolution and witnesses the liberation of Romania and how communism tears apart his family, friends, and country during his fundamental years as a teenager. Sepetys talks about her research for the novel consisting of TIME magazines from that time period, radio/news publications in Europe, interviews with various Romanians who have lived through the revolution themselves, and primary sources from political leaders, diplomats, and other visitors of Romania during the years of 1965-1989. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested, as it sheds light into an important piece of history that is not covered commonly in history textbooks.
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Historical Fiction
This was a book I read with my book club, and one of my favorites this year! An extraordinary story of love, loss, and discovery, exploring contemporary topics like living with a permanent disability, the struggles of a woman in entrepreneurship, a woman in the video game/arts industry, as a mother, and as a victim of abuse, this novel was one where I felt quite sad at the end because I felt as it I experienced the loss and grief alongside them. Extremely relevant for the reader today (the book was published in 2022!), it also makes references to art, video games, and historical events that happened in my lifetime, which I found super relatable and the cherry on top of a captivating book!
Genre: Memoir
I watched iCarly religiously growing up — it was my favorite show on Nickelodeon and I idolized the characters of Carly and Sam, dreaming that I would one day be selected for the fame and opportunities that they received as a child star. After reading this book, I learned that what my 10-year-old self didn’t know at the time were the struggles and sky-high expectations placed on these young actors/actresses that would negatively impact their self-image, mental health, and career. Jennette McCurdy writes one of the most vulnerable, real, memoirs I’ve read, revealing the struggles she had as a child actress to try and support her family financially, appease Nickelodeon casting staff and directors, maintain a close relationship with her toxic mother, recover from a crippling eating disorder coupled with anxiety, and try to have some semblance of a childhood in between. I think she’s incredibly brave for sharing her story with the world, and thought this book was an incredibly worthwhile read for all!
Genre: Memoir, Business
One of the most famed entrepreneurs of the Pacific Northwest, Phil Knight has been a name I have been hearing about since grade school. His achievements extend far beyond building Nike from the ground-up, and I was always curious what the story behind the company was truly like. My brother starts college this fall as a track athlete (Knight’s collegiate career started the same way), so I bought this as a gift to my brother to inspire him to make the most of his freshman year. After reading the book myself, I was thoroughly surprised by the depth in which Knight describes the obstacles he faced as a founder, the various countries he visited that inspired him to start Blue Ribbon (now Nike), as well as the instrumental people he placed his trust in to work on this project together.
Genre: Fiction, Humor
I picked this book up at the Vancouver Flea Market, from an old man who told me that the Vinyl Cafe used to be one of his favorite radio shoes on CBC Radio. I later learned that the host, Stuart McLean, features stories on the show from 1994-2016 and writes about a fictional character (Dave) and his family, and humorous personal experiences. Dave owns a secondhand record store called “The Vinyl Cafe”, as the name suggests. The show was later converted to book form, including first-hand excerpts from the individuals each story was inspired by. From the moment I read the first page I couldn’t stop. I went through every emotion reading the book — I laughed (uncontrollably), cried, felt angry, and wished the book had another 300 pages when I got to the end.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Self Help
Only after moving out of my apartment in college did I realize the difficulty of moving from place to place — ESPECIALLY when you own a lot of stuff. Had I done it on my own, I would have thrown away at least half of the clutter that was building up in my room. The experience left me wondering why and how I accumulated so much stuff to begin with. This book, conveniently located in my childhood bedroom when I got home, was a great call to action to become minimalist. Including personal stories about Becker’s family and friends on their experiences living with less and empirical evidence on why this lifestyle promotes a healthy, low-stress lifestyle, the book was a great start to my minimalism journey!
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historic
A fascinating personal and historical account of the history and origins of Juneteenth, historian Gordon-Reed does a fantastic job illustrating the history of Texas and its fight for independence as the Republic of Texas. She begins by describing how instrumental slavery was to the development of Texas, the overlapping history of Native Americans, Mexicans, and Black-Americans in Texas, and finally the Emancipation on June 19th — how it changed the fate and freedom of slaves in Texas at the time forever. She also dives into popular media in Texas and why she describes the ‘White Man’ to be the symbol of Texas to this day, as well as other personal experiences she’s encountered as a Black woman growing up in Texas and her experiences in public schooling in a post Brown v. Board of Education state.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Business, Self-Help
This book is a compilation of 10 of the most impactful and popular articles by Harvard Business Review on emotional intelligence. It was a fantastic airport read for me, as it discussed topics like the downsides of promoting young talent too early, to building resilience at work, to learning how to navigate incivility to ensure your organization does not pay the price of letting incivility continue. I thought the takeaways were extremely applicable, precise, and backed by multiple examples across industries. I would highly recommend any book in HBR’s On____ series and will definitely be adding another to my collection!
Genre: Fiction, Sci-Fi
After reading Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go book, I was eager to check out more of his work — Klara and The Sun was at the front table of almost every bookstore I had visited in recent months, so I finally decided to make the plunge when I saw it was 50% off at Barnes and Noble! This book had similar themes of humanity and fate as Ishiguro’s other books, including soft plot twists and heart-breaking moments of despair and loss. I loved the book’s interesting plot and the gradual uncovering of the significance of the title up until the very last page, and would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes Sci-Fi and Realism reading.
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Coming-Of-Age
I started this book earlier this year and got through 20% before putting it down because the plot was moving pretty slowly and I had a feeling the romance boiling would be a predictable one. It wasn’t until a couple months later, when people recommended the book to me, that I binged the entire novel in a day last week and realized it was one of the best fictional books I’d ever read. A book with a murder mystery, innocent romance, coming-of-age story, and poetic descriptions of nature all in one, Where the Crawdads Sing left me reeling after the turning the last page. The author, who works as a biologist and zoologist and spent much of her career in animal research, does a fantastic job of intertwining scientific knowledge into an interesting plotline to create a book that I am confident will make a wonderful movie this upcoming July! I’ll be first in line at the ticket booth!
Genre: Self Help, Non-Fiction, Autobiography
I was recommended On Purpose: A Podcast by Jay Shetty by my little, Alex after having a ton of conversations about our career, lifestyle, friendships, and wider aspirations for life based on what we want our personal impact to be both in social relationships and at work. Do I listen to it every day now? Yes. Shetty does a wonderful job of explaining how to navigate and pinpoint positive/negative social interactions and relationships in a world where media and FOMO dictate a lot of our actions, but his novel dives deeper into his experience as a monk, and how it has shaped him into the person he is today. I found it incredibly relevant to being a better friend, partner, and world citizen — and also was surprised to notice many overlapping values between Christianity (my personal religion) and the teachings of the monastery Shetty was a part of. Would highly recommend to those who feel a little lost in their daily routine or have listened to Shetty’s podcast and have enjoyed it!
Genre: Non-Fiction, Philosophy, Educational
A fantastic introductory book to philosophy for those who are interested in learning about different theories in a concise and digestible way! The book was structured linearly, with each chapter presenting a new philosopher and his/her point of view, including visual graphics as well. Although the book focused mostly on European and Western philosophers, it instigated my interest in philosophy and was an incredibly good read!
Genre: Non-Fiction, Art History, Informational
Also a great introduction to art history/art for those who are interested in learning about famous artworks, artists, and themes in art at a beginner level. The book is split into four sections, reviewing all art movements from Prehistoric Art to Conceptualism, as well as famous artworks that defined each period and the artist’s inspiration behind creating the piece! While on a trip in France, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this primer throughout — luckily enough, a lot of the paintings covered in the book were also on display in French museums, which was incredible to see!
Genre: Non-Fiction, Psychology, Self Help
I think this book came at the perfect time in my life — as I was reflecting on my approach to teaching (after accepting a substitute teacher position at a school for underprivileged students), learning (after working a few months at a my new job), friendships, and relationships as my senior year is coming to a close, I realized that much of my thinking was in alignment with the fixed mindset as Dweck describes. There were aspects of the growth mindset I had identified and started to unconsciously nurture while spending time with people I look up to & by sticking to my values this year. However, this book identified a new set of growth opportunities for me through anecdotal evidence that even the best in their field have rooms to improve. Dweck also does a great job of writing in examples from students young and old — making her theory easily relatable and understandable for readers at any stage of their personal development.
Genre: Fiction, Magical Realism, Philosophy
Inspired by a friend’s Instagram handle, I picked this book up from my boyfriend’s personal library because I had heard a ton of people talk about this book and really enjoy it! An incredible story about a young Japanese boy running away from home to escape an oedipal prophecy, this story explores ideas of fate, spirits, and dreams vs. reality. Weirdly awesome, I will definitely be rereading this book in the future!
Genre: Fiction, Professional Memoir
A female Asian-American writer!!! Living in NYC and working in big law. This book was introduced to me by a friend, and immediately piqued my interest when she said it would be relatable and shed light into work politics that exist at large corporations. This was indeed true— Ingrid, the protagonist, grapples with conflicting goals throughout the book: whether the prestige of making partner is worth breaching her ethics, self-respect, and sacrifices of having a family and love in her 30s. A great story with some hilariously unbelievable (but all based on true events) scenarios, the book dives into dynamics between Asian-Americans in the workplace, the idea of blending into old-boy corporate culture, and how to finally stand up for yourself when it matters.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Coming-of-Age
Grabbed this one at Costco because I had seen it on Obama’s book list! Since reading, it has become one of my favorites of 2022. A gripping tale about a girl who grew up in a survivalist family in Idaho, Westover writes about her childhood experiences without an education, isolated from mainstream society. After seeing one of her brothers pursue an college education, she begins a cross-continental journey that takes her from Brigham Young University, to Cambridge University, and Harvard University. One of the greatest outliers of all, Westover’s story teaches all of us the power of an education, and the sacrifices she had to make along the way.
Genre: Self Help, Non-Fiction, Psychology
I’ve listened to Brene Brown’s podcasts for some time now, and have always loved her openness and ability to unpack situations based on others’ emotions and behavior. This book was essentially an encyclopedia to 85 different emotions, many of which I hadn’t heard of, to help people better express themselves in difficult situations and process their emotions in a more authentic way. As someone who always struggles to find the right words to describe how I feel, Atlas of the Heart has helped me immensely to recognize my own shortfalls and be more cognizant of those around me.
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian
Set in near-future England in a totalitarian state centered around a Commander and his wives (who don’t have any rights or freedom), this book was both frightening and powerful. I thought it was quite graphic for a book featured in many high school curriculums, but a good one nonetheless!
Genre: Historical Fiction
I picked this up in a thrift shop in Orange County and was super surprised to see that the Downtown Abbey screenplay had been published! I’ve heard a ton about the show and the writer, for his upbringing in England and his ability to translate family dynamics of England on screen in a very digestible and authentic manner. Episode 1 starts at the sinking of the Titanic, and many of the scenes/interaction between family and servants were pulled from Fellowes’ own personal experience which I loved. Also lots of brilliant one-liners in the script! I look forward to binging the show in the future.
Genre: Spiritual, Adventure Fiction, Fantasy
An easy to read book, The Alchemist was a fantastic novel with a great story, exploring concepts of religion, spirituality, fate, love, and self-actualization as it follows the protagonist (Santiago) on his journey to find life’s treasure. Along the way, both Santiago and the reader discovers the true meaning of finding one’s life purpose, and other lessons that guide Santiago’s heart and mind to the true treasures of life.
Genre: Fiction, Coming-Of-Age, Romance
I bought this book in Foyles in London, hoping to read a book based in contemporary England to learn a bit more about English culture and history. What I got in addition to that was a dystopian novel about a heart-breaking love story and friendship that made me incredibly emotional upon finishing the novel. The book was beautifully written, full of detailed descriptions of anguish and hope. If you are interested in dystopian novels and discussions/debate around humanity and fate, I would recommend this book to you!
Genre: Non-Fiction, Educational
I picked this book out at a bookstore in Chelsea Market thinking it would inspire me to talk to strangers more. Surprisingly, this book convinced me to do the opposite — using case studies like Cuban Spies in the CIA to the Sandusky Sexual Harassment case, Gladwell dives into the misconceptions we have about strangers and how out our society is one that defaults to trust. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it brought me new perspective on human behavior and the US court system!
Genre: Fiction, Coming-of-Age
I’d like to think I have no regrets — each experience and mistake I’ve made has become a very valuable lesson learned and shaped me into who I am today. If you’ve ever wondered what it’d be like to live infinite variations of your life, this novel takes you on a journey through a young woman’s experience doing just that. A fascinating read that left me introspective for days after, The Midnight Library was definitely worth the read.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Educational
Recommended to me by a Professor my freshman year, the Prisoners of Geography taught me two things: (1) How to memorize a World Map, and (2) How Geopolitics plays a role in all things international relations: from culture, to border policy, to trade and politics. This book made me wish every college textbook was as interesting as this one.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Autobiography
The former CEO of DIsney, Robert Iger writes a powerful account of his career, from a student at Ithaca College, to a crew member at ABC Studios (which eventually got acquired by Disney), to the President of ABC, to the CEO of Disneyland. After a tumultuous and rewarding journey serving the company during its greatest entertainment expansion period, Iger talks in detail about his relationship with other members of the business world, like Steve Jobs, as well as his roles during the Pixar and Lucasfilm acquisitions. I enjoyed the book because it gave an insider perspective into the politics of being CEO of a large public company, in addition to the importance of having good mentors/leadership in each stage of your career. Would recommend to those who love Disney and are curious about the company’s history!
Genre: Non-Fiction, Educational
A must-read for those in their twenties, The Defining Decade is split into 3 sections — (1) Love, (2) Career, and (3) The Mind and Body to make up three crucial aspects of your 20s that should be cherished and planned ahead. All of my friends who have read this book have found the lessons applicable and have integrated it into their daily life— after I read the book I became a more long-term thinker, making the most out of my years as a twentysomething rather than starting when it’s too late!
Genre: Non-Fiction, Essay
My boyfriend and I, both from the west coast, have taken home-grown and locally-sourced fruits and vegetables for granted all our lives. After moving to NY and realizing that groceries are not only overpriced but also simply don’t taste the same, I picked up this book at a used book store to dive deeper into the issues underlying our food supply. Pawlick does a good job of highlighting major problems in the wholesale buying process & incentives that encourage farmers to preserve food aesthetic/durability over nutritional value, while also explaining the harmful effects of additives and modern farming and poultry techniques that will make you think twice before shopping at your local grocery store!
Genre: Non-Fiction, Educational, Art History
I picked this book up in Foyle’s, London, after visiting a ton of art museums and becoming interested in both art history and the use of color in certain pieces. Though the book is dense, Fox does a great job walking through 7 primary colours and presents varying perspectives on what colors have represented in different cultures over time, as well as the origins of colors. For example, he talks about new shades of purple like magenta, its historical significance in contemporary England contrasting royal purple to younger, counterculture magenta, as well as the split use of yellow in ancient India with saffron yellow and tamarin yellow representing unequal statuses to describe religious deities in artwork. To put his writing into perspective, Fox also includes colored images of each painting he references, making the reading experience one that is both colorful and heavily educational!
Genre: Fiction, Historical Tragedy
Born in Tokyo and an immigrant of Italy, the U.S., and Canada, Umezawa writes a powerful account of the scars remaining on a Japanese family from American attacks during the War, as well as the pains of growing up as immigrant children in Milwaukee, WI. This book hit home for me in a lot of ways — touching upon topics like death, love, family, and identity through an immigrant lens.