As a writer, I’ve always been an avid reader, and I usually manage to get through about 80 books a year. However, this year I only managed to read 50. I’ve noticed that my reading preferences have shifted towards history, literature, and self-improvement, even though I run a travel website and usually enjoy travel books. I’ve found myself more drawn to destination-specific travelogues rather than personal ones, which led me down a fascinating history rabbit hole.
Here are some of my favorite reads from this year:
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Sahara Unveiled by William Langewiesche: This beautifully detailed book from the 1990s takes you on a journey from Algeria through Niger and Mali, offering deep insights into the culture and history of the region.
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Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing: This riveting account of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 journey to cross Antarctica is a testament to the strong will and skill of the men involved.
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The Deepest South of All: True Stories from Natchez, Mississippi by Richard Grant: This book offers a fascinating look at the quirky town of Natchez and its struggle with its past.
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The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific by Brandon Presser: This book provides an interesting recap of the famous Mutiny on the Bounty from the 1700s.
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Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: This life-changing book taught me that there will never be enough time to do everything, so don’t try.
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Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving by Celeste Headlee: This book emphasizes the importance of separating work and play and creating room to be “bored.”
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Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life by Luke Burgis: This book explores how we mimic all behavior we see and how there’s really no such thing as independent thought.
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From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke: This captivating story of love lost and found is set in the lush Sicilian countryside.
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How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr: This dense but illuminating book chronicles the history of the United States empire.
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Northland: A 4,000-Mile Journey Along America’s Forgotten Border by Porter Fox: This book offers vivid descriptions and historical background of the US/Canada border.
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The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: This book tells the tale of Achilles from the perspective of his love, Patroclus.
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How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together by Dan Kois: This book offers hilarious prose and astute observations about a family’s journey around the world.
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The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by Candice Millard: This book traces Theodore Roosevelt’s journey through the River of Doubt.
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30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans by Karl Pillemer: This book distills life lessons from hundreds of seniors across various aspects of life.
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The Vagabond’s Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel by Rolf Potts: This book showcases how travel is a way of life and not just the act of “going somewhere.”
Those were my favorite books of 2022. Now that I’m settled in Austin for the next few months, I’m looking forward to getting back to my usual reading pace. So many books, so little time!
