The list below is my year’s reading, apart from one or two books I started but abandoned, and whatever I’ve read for work. I seem to count years from Christmas to Christmas: the long week from Christmas eve to new year’s day is like the year’s sabbath.
- Gascoigne, B. (2003) Short history of the dynasties of China (china)
- Derry, J. (2013) Vygotsky: philosophy and education (philosophy)
- Scruton, R. (2011) Beauty, a very short introduction (philosophy)
- Matthews, D. (1985) Beethoven (music)
- Pinkard, T. (2012) Hegel’s naturalism (philosophy)
- Bolz-Weber, N. (2013) Pastrix (Christianity)
- Einstein, A. (1915, 1952) Relativity (physics)
- Jia, M. (2002/2014) Decoded (novel)
- Kadano, E. (1985/2003) Kiki’s delivery service (novel)
- Austen, J. (1813) Pride and Prejudice (novel)
- Schlingensiepen, F. (2009) Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906-1945: Martyr, Thinker, Man of Resistance (Christianity)
- Lukacs, G. (1962) The destruction of reason (philosophy)
- Ferreira, P. (2014) The perfect theory (physics)
- Solzhenitsyn, A. (1967) Cancer ward (novel)
- Farmelo, G. (2009) The strangest man (physics)
- Ethridge, S. (2012) The Fantasy Fallacy: Exposing the Deeper Meaning Behind Sexual Thoughts (Christianity)
- Vermes, G. (2012) Christian beginnings (Christianity)
- Isaiah (Christianity)
- Bonhoeffer, D. (1940/1982) The Psalms: prayer book of the Bible (Christianity)
- Moore, W. (1989) Schrodinger: life and thought (physics)
- Clarke, A.C. (1973) Rendezvous with Rama (novel)
- Mann, T. (1902) Buddenbrooks (novel)
- Jeremiah (Christianity)
Comments
- Reviewing one’s year’s reading is such a pleasant way to be mindfull! :D Thanks to people out here for specific recommendations and for the inspiration to try and be wide-awake in a calm way.
- A couple of dozen is not a lot of books, but when I counted up I was surprised it came to that many. I love reading and I am prone to self-pity, bemoaning my lack of time to curl up with my book.
- Not many novels. I’d recommend any of them apart from 8 (forgettable). The Kadano (9) is an almost perfect children’s novel, about a trainee witch leaving home and setting up on her own. The Clarke was recommended to me by my son, so I could hardly refuse.
- The physics (13,15,20) was a bit of a detour but the book that started it off, the Perreira, was fantastic — possibly the best popular science book I’ve ever read. Readable prose; good explanations; no hard maths; no excitable gee-whizz silly metaphors; proper international scope.
- The religious books affected me deeply, especially the Bolz-Weber, the Ethridge, and the Bonhoeffer biography. I can imagine reading each one again. Bolz-Weber helped me open out my conception of Christianity. Ethridge was a bold, direct challenge — specifically a reminder to think about my relationship with my wife.
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