A New Chapter

All 52 Books I Read in 2016: Rated, Reviewed and Ranked

Body of Truth by Harriet Brown ★★★★★ This book is an exceptional research based look into the culture of weight and health. Brown discusses the ways that mainstream media, along with doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals, have warped the data to keep us consuming weight loss products and spending money to “fix” ourselves. Among the staggering statistics in this book: “the average forty-five-year-old American woman has been on fifty diets in her adult life.” If that doesn’t scare you, I’m not sure what will. Our cultural obsession with dieting and weight loss has created an epidemic of self loathing that will only continuing to grow unless we address it head on.

Furiously Happy by Jenni Lawson ★★★★★ If you or anyone you love has ever battled against mental illness, READ THIS BOOK. It will make you smile, and it might make you cry. Jenni’s writing style, more like a compilation of essays or blog posts, is prime for the lunch-break reader. You can consume tid-bits of the rollercoaster ride without needing to devote hours at a time.

No god but God by Reza Aslan ★★★★★ Here Aslan offers the fascinating history of the life of Muhammad and the birth and solidification of Islam as a dominant theological system in modern time. Given the growing political climate toward those of Muslim faith, this book offers a much needed look into the similarities between Jesus and Muhammad, as well as between the destruction of their legacies by greedy and selfish men after their deaths.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman (Fiction) ★★★★★ I’ve grown up in a family of Saab owners, so the fixation on the Swedish car immediately won me over. Soon after, Ove’s character swelled into one of my all time favorites. The depth of his character, revealed through well constructed flashbacks, is immense. I look forward to whatever Backman writes next.

The Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Dragin’ Dixie Outta the Dark by Trae Crowder, Corey Ryan Forrester, and Drew Morgan ★★★★★ If you (like me…) have a hard time taking anyone with a southern accent seriously, you should almost certainly listen to this book on tape. Trae, Corey, and Drew are all true southern boys, but each of them has a solid head on their shoulders. We all know that The South’s economy collapsed and never fully recovered after the end of the Civil War, but as a northerner I’d never considered the broad impact of this fact and how it continues to shape individuals from The South as well as the collective American understanding of what it means to be southern. Also, these three are stand-up comics, so be prepared to laugh your ass off.

The Night of the Gun by David Carr ★★★★★ This is a fascinating autobiography. Carr is a Minnesota native with a rough history of drug abuse. This book follows him as he tracks down those he wronged while under the influence and tries to make sense of the world he once lived in. Carr is raw in his reporting of his prior life; not shying away from the grim details of life as an addict. An excellent read.

We Who Are Alive and Remain by Marcus Brotherton ★★★★★ Based on follow up interviews with the men behind HBO’s Band of Brothers, this book digs deeper into Easy Company’s campaigns throughout their involvement in World War II. Many of the men that served in Easy are no longer with us, either lost in combat or to old age, but here the remaining few share their experiences before it’s too late for them, too. We follow the men chronologically on their journey from Camp Toccoa and Mount Currahee, onto the Santamaria, through Normandy, Carentan, and Bastogne. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as the HBO miniseries always leaves me wanting more.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown (Fiction) ★★★★★ This series is something of a cross between The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones. We’re dropped into a world in which individuals are defined by their caste: Reds at the bottom and Golds at the top. I don’t want to spoil it by providing much more than that, but trust me you want to read this.

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson ★★★★★ I read this book, by far, faster than anything else I’ve read all year. I was immediately enamored by the author’s life’s work. There are so many facts cited that are shocking, absurd, and infuriating all at once. I would recommend every American citizen (and anyone else interested in the American criminal justice system) read this book. It will enhance your understanding of the twisted, cruel reality that is our legal system. Stevenson is an exceptional person and this book is an amazing showcase of his life thus far.

Two Lives by Vikram Seth ★★★★★ This book offers such a unique perspective of WWII. It had me considering the number of incredible stories that are slowly being lost forever because no one has thought to tell them. This is the account of an Indian man studying abroad in pre-war Germany who falls in love with a German Jewish woman. Through her betrothal to another man she is lucky enough to flee the Third Reich (and avoids marrying that man, as she does not love him). The two spend the war years apart– Shanti loses an arm serving as a dentist with the Allies as Henny hides out in England to avoid persecution. In the years post war, through letters between her and some German Gentile friends, it is revealed that her entire family has perished in concentration camps. We are given the unique opportunity to follow both lives as they cope with the impact of such a heartbreaking reality. A lengthy read, but an exceptionally well written and researched account of the impact of the second world war on two fascinating lives.

There’s a song that’s been proven to reduce anxiety by 65%. It’s called Weightless by Macaroni Union, and it was specifically designed to slow your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and lower cortisol levels. It’s so effective that it’s dangerous to drive while listening to it because it can make you drowsy. Source Source 2 Source 3