Who reads books anymore?!
Me.
Suck it, hater!
First of all, #proud!
The fact that, after years of struggling to get back to my original love, the paperback (or hardback) book, I finally did it, it’s a BIG DEAL for me. I have a number, one that I can print, albeit virtually, in the title of this blog post, and be very happy with.
I read 22 books over the past 12 months or so.
And that, among other things, but not many, is one of the most amazing things I can say about the past 12 months!
And boy, was it a great way to spend my slow days, lazy afternoons, extremely hot summer breaks or splendidly cold winter holidays!
It was also tiring for my eyes.
I’m no Prince Charming anymore!
#oldbloke
And now, like any writer and influencer who’s doing his part in this world, here’s what I’ve learned from every single one of these xxx books. I will also delight you with a paragraph-long reason and description for each title.
Just so you can make up your mind easier if a particular creation is for you or #nah.
In this guide:
Do Nothing
This is one of my favourite non-fiction reads. And re-reads. This, alongside “Big Magic” and “A New Earth”, are my three bibles for life, the Universe, and everything else. Doing nothing, being bored, having absolutely no task on your to-do list is mostly frightening for our overstimulated brain. So this book is essential if you simply cannot stay put when you need to.
“The problem isn’t that we’re lazy; it’s that we’ve been conditioned to believe that our worth is tied to our productivity.”
Big Magic
This book is the ultimate permission slip for anyone who has ever felt “not creative enough” to try something new. I loved it because Elizabeth Gilbert treats creativity like a supernatural force. It gets „personified”, into a friendly ghost that wants to collaborate with you. It’s light, inspiring, and completely removes the “tortured artist” trope that usually makes writing feel like a chore. And yes, sometimes, creativity just hits you. And if you’re not ready, there she goes to the next block to find its maker!
“Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?”
How To Stop Time
I’m a sucker for a protagonist who has seen it all, and Tom Hazard has literally seen it all, having lived for centuries. It’s one of those books that makes me mad for not thinking about such a plot first! I liked this book because it’s a history lesson wrapped in a bittersweet romance, teaching us that while we can’t actually stop time, we can stop wasting it by being present. It’s a beautiful reminder that life is only precious… because it ends.
“The first rule is no falling in love. There are other rules, too, but that is the main one.”
Humans
I loved this book because it is the ultimate reality check for our species. It helped me tone down after a long day, even if the themes discussed in it are quite heavy. Somehow, Tom Phillips made it fun, taking me through a gallery of historical facepalms, from disastrous wars to environmental blunders, proving that while we think we’re sophisticated, we’ve mostly just been stumbling from one mess to the next. It’s a witty, fast-paced history of human fallibility that makes you feel much better about your own small mistakes.
“The history of humanity is, in large part, the history of people getting things spectacularly wrong for the most avoidable of reasons.”
The Warehouse
This one hit a bit too close to home with its dystopian “near-future” vibe that feels like it could happen next Tuesday. I liked it because it’s a gripping thriller that critiques our obsession with convenience and giant tech corporations. Think Amazon, or the merely innocent books store, but it goes completely haywire, and then a bloke finally overthrows the Goliath. It’s fast-paced, uncomfortable, and makes you think twice before clicking “Buy Now” on that midnight impulse purchase.
“The world didn’t end with a bang. It ended because we were too busy checking our delivery status.”
The Sleep Book
I had a few bad nights of sleep last summer. Like, bad, without being able to get any real rest for 3 or so nights. Eventually, I crashed, as my brain was simply unable to keep awake any longer, but not before me convincing myself I’m an insomniac. I’m not, fortunately, but I still felt anxious about sleeping issues I might have! That was until I got this book by genius Dr Guy Meadows, who teaches sleep like David Blaine teaches magic. It’s one of those books that grounds you by being both scientific (I love facts) and funny as heck that you simply can’t take your “disease” too seriously.
“Sleep is a natural biological process that cannot be forced; the more you try to control it, the more it eludes you.”
The Cat’s Gold
I loved this book, and am in love with these types of books in general, because it feels like a dream you don’t want to wake up from. Ioana Pârvulescu, a Romanian author I’d just discovered last summer, has this magical way of taking the 21st century, with all its cold technology and rules, and weaving a love story into it that actually defies the laws of time. It’s a story about a man and a cat sharing a strange, almost mirrored presence around the same woman, making you realise that love is the only thing that can survive the “traps” life sets for us.
“Time is a character so clear that you could almost say the novel is about a woman’s love affair with time itself.”
The Secret of Secrets
Dan Brown did it again. Wrote some new books, that’s what he did. Well, one. Because I wasn’t really too sure about this one. Yet by the end of it, I was a fan, especially about the whole “we die, but it may not be the end, and we have the science to prove it” theory! This was my deep dive into the mystical and the philosophical. I loved this book because it challenges the way we perceive reality and our internal selves. It’s a bit “heavy” compared to a coffee shop or train ride thriller, but if you’re looking to expand your consciousness, literally, and understand the ancient wisdom that connects us all, this is a must-read.
“The truth is not something to be found, it is something to be lived.”
Dracula
I’ll be honest, this book is quite scary! It opens scary, it continues scary, and it ends really terribly scary! Reading a classic like this reminds you why it survived for over a century. I liked it because the epistolary format (letters and diaries) makes the horror feel so much more intimate and “real.” It’s moody, atmospheric, and Bram Stoker’s version of the Count is infinitely more terrifying than any sparkly modern adaptation could ever hope to be.
“I am all alone and miserable, even though I have companions who are kind to me.”
About Writing
Whether you are a pro or a hobbyist, Stephen King’s insights are like sitting down for a beer with a master craftsman. I enjoyed this not-so-easy read because it’s half-memoir, half-manual, and completely honest about how hard (and rewarding) the writing life is. It’s the most practical of the books on writing advice you’ll ever get, on how to build a story from the ground up. And even though I never read King save for “Under The Dome” and “Doctor Sleep”, I still consider him the best horror writing factory the world has ever seen.
“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
This is a wake-up call for the modern soul. I liked it because it uses a simple fable to teach profound lessons about balance, purpose, and inner peace. It’s up there with books such as Siddhartha and A New Earth, but with a catchy title you’d find interesting over a layover in Istanbul. It’s the perfect read for anyone who feels like they’re winning the “rat race” but losing their own happiness in the process.
“Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.”
The Little Friend
This was by far the hardest to go through books from the one, the only, the legend, the girl who has no social media presence but is one of the greatest living authors of our times. Why? Too much. Too many details, characters, intriguing but overwhelming twists and turns. I went through with it, but not without having multiple mental breakdowns along the way.
“The world is full of things that are none of our business.”
The Richest Man In Babylon
I picked this up to get my financial house in order, and it turned out to be surprisingly good. And a lot of gibberish, as well. Books will be like that sometimes before they get good! I liked it because it uses ancient parables to explain modern wealth-building. Like, I can understand the world better through tales, like the Arabic one with death and fear, and how death kills 5,000, but 50.000 die? It’s proof that the rules of money haven’t changed in thousands of years. Save some, invest some, and don’t be a fool with the rest.
“Proper preparation is the key to our success. Our acts can be no wiser than our thoughts.”
The Stranger
Albert Camus has a way of making “nothing matters” feel strangely liberating. I liked this book because it’s short, punchy, and forces you to confront the absurdity of life. It’s a stark, sun-drenched narrative that leaves you questioning your own reactions to the world around you, long after you’ve finished the final sentence.
“I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world.”
The Fellowship Of The Ring
Coming back to Middle-earth felt like coming home. Although I’ve never been as there are no low-cost carriers offering flights there. I loved this because Tolkien’s world-building is the gold standard; every tree and hill feels like it has ten thousand years of history. It’s a slow-burning adventure about the power of friendship and the courage it takes to leave your comfortable “Shire” for the greater good.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
The Two Towers
The stakes get higher, the world gets darker, and the bond between Sam and Frodo becomes the beating heart of the story. I liked this book even more than the first because of its split narrative. One side epic battles, the other a gritty survival horror. It’s a masterclass in pacing and building tension toward an impossible goal. Cannot wait for the final of the three books now!
“There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”
The Man From Beijing
A weird one indeed! I mean, it’s written by a Swedish dude, so… yeah! This is a sprawling, intelligent thriller that connects 19th-century history with modern global politics. I ended up enjoying it because Henning Mankell moves away from his usual detective tropes to give us something much larger in scope. It’s a chilling look at how the sins of the past can travel across continents and generations to haunt the present.
“Justice is a fragile thing, often crushed by the weight of convenience.”
How Innovation Works
I’m fascinated by how we get from point A to point B as a species. I liked this book because Matt Ridley argues that innovation isn’t about “lone geniuses” but about people being free to collaborate and exchange ideas. Which today feels nearly impossible… although, why?! Revelation aside, it’s an optimistic, fact-filled journey through the history of everything from the steam engine to the search engine.
“Innovation is the child of freedom and the parent of prosperity.”
Midlife
As a self-proclaimed “old bloke,” this hit the bullseye. I liked this book because it’s a philosophical guide to navigating the “u-bend” of life. It’s not about buying a motorcycle; it’s about finding meaning when you realise you have more years behind you than in front of you. I don’t, but I do love some drama with my midlife crisis! It’s witty, comforting, and deeply insightful. A good re-read, as well, perfect for a depressing winter’s night.
“The midlife crisis is not a dead end, but a turning point toward a more authentic self.”
Surrounded By Idiots
We’ve all felt like the title at some point, haven’t we? This book, it breaks down human behaviour into four simple colours, making it much easier to understand why your boss is a “Red” (mine surely were, man or female, both cra… I mean red) or your partner is a “Green.” It’s a practical tool for better communication and a fun way to “type” everyone you know.
“Communication happens on the listener’s terms.”
Tales of Horror
You can’t go through a year of reading without a few good scares. And who better to scare the heck out of you than old Edgar Alan Poe, the craziest of them all. Literally! This collection is a buffet of the macabre, short, sharp shocks that stay with you when the lights go out. I hate it… but also can’t stay away from them! It’s a tribute to the power of the imagination to turn the mundane into something truly terrifying.
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”
The Phantom of the Opera
I only got the chance to see the West End musical, but my good grief, that was a SPECTACULAR thing. I will FOREVER remember that “Gentlemen!” shout, and then the grave music going, and the boom and the sparks… That’s the pinnacle of art. Much like the musical, I liked the book in the first place because it’s the ultimate gothic cocktail of obsession, music, and unmasking the monsters we hide behind our own “architectural” façades. It’s wonderfully dramatic, slightly eerie, and reminds you that even the most beautiful art often comes from a place of deep, lonely shadows.
“The ghost is a man who loves his art so much that he has become a prisoner of it.”
That’s it, those are the books I’ve read over the past 12 months or so. Regardless of what you think of the mix I’d chosen, they stretched my brain, tired my eyes, and reminded me that even an #oldbloke has plenty of room left to grow.
If you’ve been struggling to put down the phone and pick up a paperback, take this as your sign. Start with one chapter, one book, or even just one quote that resonates. Because at the end of the day, we aren’t just what we do.
We are the stories we choose to let inside.
Oh, by the way, are you looking for writing services? Shoot me an email, and let me be your phantom writer. Or ghostwriter. Whatever they call it!
