It’s that time of the year again - the buzz towards the last few weeks of the month filled with holiday cheer, gift giving, tons of food, company and time for self-reflection. A part of me is still in denial that the year is coming to a close. It felt like 2018 came and went by quickly.
And so wraps up another year in books! Looking back, I didn’t realize how many I’ve gone through, a thought which makes my inner book nerd sing! Here are my top picks of the year.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
Why I read it: Short, easily digestible and relevant for what I needed at that time
Why it was valuable: Patrick Lencioni writes business books as tales, ones most who work in office environments can relate to. In addition, the model was loosely based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which made it easily digestible.
Ambient Findability
Why I read it: I wanted to understand the history and application of the process of discovery. Specifically how it related to designing technology products
Why it was valuable: Though some examples may come across as outdated (an ode to the Palm Pilot reference!), much of the history and concepts are relevant. Everything from the history of wayfinding to modern day search engine design had useful applications for product managers and designers alike.
Tiger (by John Vaillant)
Why I read it: On recommendation! I had mistakenly thought this was a work of fiction (spoiler: it’s not… really).
Why it was valuable: The writing style was deep and methodical and the storyline was thrilling. The author also goes deep on Russian geography, rural Russian life, the history of tiger conservation and the nuances of tiger/tigress behaviour. All topics were new to me
The Red Rising Trilogy
Why I read it: I was indulging on my love for dystopian young adult science fiction. Not hard science fiction, but something more of an easy read.
Why it was valuable: Explores life in space - to a degree, some of the author’s descriptions may not be scientifically sound. HOWEVER, a main theme was whether or not autocracy is better than democracy, and how well-intentioned change can spiral out of control.
Becoming
Why I read it: On recommendation by several people, and I’ve long admired how poised and graceful Michelle Obama has been as a public figure.
Why it was valuable: I appreciated the genuine voice in the style of the narrative. She had been very candid about her struggles, and insecurities which made it relatable in its own way.
What have you read in 2018? I'd love to hear your thoughts on good reads. Is there anything I should pick up in 2019?