Here’s a list of books I started, finished, quit, and paused this year. Yes, I am a heathen. I don’t finish books, I take long breaks from some of them, and I skip entire sections.
I think a lot of people can relate to this. University ruined reading for me. I grew up with books. I loved books. Then university crushed my spirit of reading. In the past few years, I have finally rediscovered the joys of reading, and damn AM I LOVING IT.
Part of how I rediscovered my passion for reading is when I gave myself permission to read however I want. I no longer follow silly conventions of reading, such as having to read every page, reading in chronological order, finishing my current book before I start a new one, etc.
Instead, I give myself the permission to pursue my reading interests. Which means not forcing myself to finish reading a book I don’t enjoy, and starting new books that interests me. I also take breaks on some books, with the intention to (eventually) return to it.
So if you want to read more, but find it hard to start reading, I recommend that you start with your interests…and not pressure yourself to have to finish the book. Like, heck, if you read five pages of a book and stopped, then you succeeded at enjoying five pages of reading!
So don’t feel pressured to have to be “perfect” at reading. Enjoy the process of it. Start and stop whenever you want!
Ok, enough of this preamble. I included my entire 2022 book and manga list, and my best picks for the year.
Book Picks For The Year
Most Practical Book (for my life)
When: The Scientific Secrets Of Perfect Timing, by Daniel Pink
This book inspired me to integrate naps in my weekly routine, and informed me on when to schedule different kinds of tasks/work in my day.
Most Captivating
Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari
“Sapiens” really appealed to my inner anthropologist self.
Most Enjoyable
Ping Pong The Animation, Matsumoto Taiyō
Yes, it’s an anime and not a book. But I had to share this here. It’s an anime with incredible character depth. I watched it twice this year and enjoyed it even more the second time around!
Most Excited To Finish
Minor Feelings, by Kathy Park Hong
I love the way Kathy Park Hong writes. I am really taking my time to read it, because it inspires so many topics for my blogs and newsletters! By the way, if you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, do so here!
The Book That I Really Wanted To Like But Just Can’t Seem To Be Interested In
Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity And Community, By Larry Yang
I think I’m just not ready for this book. I grew up in a Buddhist family, and I have some conflicting views on spirituality.
Booklist
Books That I Read Every Page Of
The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel
Chillpreneur, by Denise Duffield-Thomas
Quit Like A Millionaire, by Kristy Shen
The Big Leap, by Gay Hendricks
Well, That Escalated Quickly, by Franchesca Ramsey
Steal Like An Artist, by Austin Kleon
The Genius Zone, by Gay Hendricks
Show Your Work, by Austin Kleon
When: The Scientific Secrets Of Perfect Timing, by Daniel Pink
Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari
Books That I Read Most Pages Of
< I skip over some chapters/sections of these books, because it is stuff that I already know, info that isn't relevant to me, or simply because I am just not interested. >
The Personal MBA, by Josh Kaufman
Find Your Genius Zone, by Laura Garnett
Effortless, by Greg McKeown
The Creative Habit, by Twyla Tharp
Books I Haven’t Finished Reading But Plan To Return To
< I start and take (long) breaks from books. That’s just how I read. >
Minor Feelings, by Kathy Park Hong
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About The World, by Hans Rosling
Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy, by Susan McConnell
Patriarchy Blues, by Frederick Joseph
Decolonizing Wealth, by Edgar Villanueva
Jameela Green Ruins Everything, by Zarqa Nawaz
Self-Care For Adult Children Of Emotionally Immature Parents, by Lindsay Gibson
My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma And The Pathway To Mending Our Hearts And Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem
Scarborough, A Novel, by Catherine Hernandez
Difficult Women, by Roxane Gay
Books I Started And Don't Plan To Finish Reading
< These are books I started, but lost interest in it for various reason. >
Racial Castration: Managing Masculinity In Asian America, by David L. Eng
Rocket Fuel, by Gino Wickman
The 3rd Alternative, by Stephen Covey
How To Win Friends And Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
Polysecure, by Jessica Fern
The Ascent Of Money, by Niall Ferguson
Thursday Is The New Friday, by Joe Sanok
Awakening Together: The Spiritual Practice of Inclusivity And Community, By Larry Yang
We Were Feminists Once, by Andi Zeisler
Hello, Habits, by Fumio Sasaki
Anime, Manga, and Graphic Novels I Read This Year
Ajin, by Miura Tsuina (completed)
Bastard, Hwang Youngchan (Completed)
Beastars, by Itagaki Paru (Quit)
Blue Period, by Yamaguchi Tsubasa (Quit)
Dandadan, by Tatsu Yukinobu (Quit)
Jujutsu Kaisen, by Akutami Gege (Quit)
Ping Pong The Animation, Matsumoto Taiyō (completed)
Sex Criminals, by Matt Fraction (Completed)
Ongoing Manga and Graphic Novels That I Read
Attack On Titan, Isayama Hajime
Chainsaw Man, by Fujimoto Tatsuki
Destroy All Of Humankind. They Can’t Be Regenerate., by Ise Katsura
Hajime No Ippo, by Morikawa Jyoji
Kingdom, by Hara Yasuhisa
One-Punch Man, by ONE
Saga, by Brian Vaughan
To Your Eternity, by Ōima Yoshitoki
Tokyo Revengers, by Ken Wakui
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Harry Au
Therapy for Asians
MSW, RSW | he/him
I help Asians go from feeling trapped to becoming self-liberated.
