Here’s what I read in 2024 - in order of what I liked most (highest rated first):
Here’s what I read in 2024 - in order of what I liked most (highest rated first):
Author: Donald R. Kirsch, Ogi Ogas
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
“Drug Hunters” is an enthralling dive into the world of drug discovery, spanning from ancient healers to today’s big pharma. The stories of scientific breakthroughs (as unrelated as dye production) dramatically transforming drug development are gripping. I particularly loved the story on contraceptive discovery, blending scientific ingenuity & societal challenges.
It’s a vivid, engaging read that appeals to both experts & casual readers, offering a unique lens on the art of scientific zeitgeist and its life-saving impact.
Author: Neerja Chowdhury
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This book gives a fascinating insight into the complex decision-making in the Indian politburo. Every decision is an intricate balancing act and the immense personal will required to push through reforms is crazy. The book is impressively well-researched and manages to maintain an unbiased perspective. The impact of efficient decision-making or the lack of it is truly mind-boggling.
Author: Peter Thiel, Blake Masters
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Peter Thiel offers insightful frameworks for addressing fundamental questions in business while going from zero to one. It’s enriched with fascinating anecdotes from Silicon Valley. Unlike many business reads, the signal-to-noise ratio is refreshingly high.
Author: J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Author: Peter Attia, Bill Gifford
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Outlive is a great book on the science of longevity. It has sensible advice on nutrition, exercise, sleep & emotional health.
Author: Tim Marshall
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
“Prisoners of Geography” offers a compelling introduction to understanding global conflicts through a geographical lens. The chapters on the Middle East, Latin America, and Russia (& Ukarine) stood out for me.
Author: Cornelia Schaefer-Prokop
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Good insights into ICU radiology.
Author: Gad Saad
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
“The Parasitic Mind” by Gad Saad is refreshingly candid and unapologetically direct, devoid of any political correctness. Saad offers a compelling glimpse into the frustrations felt by the political right toward the extreme left, passionately arguing that the “pursuit of truth” should always take precedence over “not hurting feelings”. His examples highlight how scientific rigor has sometimes declined in the face of this fear. The witty and humorous writing style makes this a fun read - especially in light of incidents at the recent Olympic games.
Author: Thomas Cathcart, Daniel Klein
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
“Pluto and a platypus” is a light, fun intro to philosophy. The jokes work well, even if you are already familiar with philosophical concepts. A chuckling read!
Author: Eddie Jaku
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
A deeply moving story of a Holocaust survivor, showcasing an unwavering will to live with joy and kindness in face of unimaginable despair. Inspiring and full of resilience.
Author: राही मासूम रज़ा
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
आज़ादी के वक़्त की सियासत लिए गांव के इर्द-गिर्द कुछ परिवारों की पीढ़ियों के बनने बिगड़ने की कहानी है। कुछ रोचक मोड़ लेती है ये कहानी पर आपको पूरी तरह बांधे रखने में अक्षम।
Author: Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Good introduction to the Alderian philosophy. Useful ideas presented through breezing dialogue.
Author: Rob Fitzpatrick
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Easy to read with useful ideas on interacting with customers.
Author: Thomas Cleary
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
This book offers intriguing insights into war strategies. However, I found little to read between the lines and the hype didn’t resonate with me.
Author: Matt Haig
My rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Predictable, repetitive & borderline boring. The concept is novel but lacked depth in its exploration.
Author: Ramesh Soni
My rating: 1 out of 5 stars
नीरस एवं भारतीय पौराणिक कथाओं की गहनता का अभाव।