BookMark: Books of 2024
“And on I read. Until the day was gone...”
When I spend time reflecting at the end of each year, one of the things I enjoy most is looking over everything I've read and considering how the books have quietly reshaped the way I see things. In a world full of distractions and demands, carving out time for long-form reading feels increasingly rare, but there are few better investments in my opinion. Where else can you access experience and lessons across centuries, edited and condensed into something you can engage with at your own pace?
Scrolling through everything below, I'm happy with what I was able to get through this year. The journey these books have taken me on has been wonderful - I don't always recognize it, but I've absorbed so much of these words into my way of thinking. It's not necessarily about the number of books read, but the concepts learned, assumptions evaluated and questions considered.
I'm grateful to the authors who have put their sweat, tears, energy and creativity into crafting these books, and I hope that you find something to connect with below!
P.S. If you’d like to receive my top reads from the year and join BookMark for 2025, I’d love to share this reading adventure with you. I have a lot of great books in store! Drop your email below, and you can expect a monthly note filled with reading recommendations to inspire your next great read.
If you are still curious, you can also check out the lists I put together for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
On to the books…
Biography
Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan
I dedicated a significant amount of time to dive into the world of Bob Dylan, immersing myself in his writing & music for the first time. Listening to the Founders podcast about Oracle founder Larry Ellison, I learned Ellison and Steve Jobs were close friends. I discovered the two would often have long discussions about individuals who changed the world the most during the course of a lifetime. There was an almost casually mentioned remark that captured my attention, where Jobs said he would trade all of his technology to have an afternoon with Bob Dylan. This got me curious- what was I missing? Thankfully, I could spend a few afternoons with Bob Dylan myself through his writing. Coincidentally, Founders podcast had done another episode on Dylan, which I loved, and which led me to this particular autobiography. It gave me a deeper appreciation and understanding of where the admiration for this iconic figure comes from.
Down with the System: A Memoir (of Sorts) by Serj Tankian
This memoir took me down a bit of a rabbit hole. Serj Tankian is the lead singer of the band System of a Down, whose members are all from Armenian descent. I loved this book, and one of the highlights after reading it was watching the concert System of a Down played in Armenia in 2015. It was an incredible show, performed on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, with a setlist of almost 40 songs. From 1915 to 1923, more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire, and much of Serj's activism work throughout his life centers around the fact that the Turkish government still doesn’t recognize that the massacre happened. Serj was also on a podcast with Rick Rubin, where they discuss the book and their years spent working together. Additionally, Serj took Anthony Bourdain to Armenia for an episode of his Parts Unknown show, which helped me learn even more about this complicated part of the world.
White Line Fever by Lemmy Kilmister
They just don't make them like this any more. These are some of my favourite types of books- first hand perspectives from interesting characters, especially if they are music related. As the frontman and founder of Motörhead, Lemmy has no shortage of wild stories to reminisce about. I've mentioned my admiration for Metallica's James Hetfield in previous months, which in some ways inspired me to pick up this book. James is such a Lemmy fan himself that he recently had Lemmy's ashes incorporated into a tattoo (!)
Messengers: The Guitars of James Hetfield
I received this beautiful collection of "Papa Het's" guitars as a birthday gift earlier this year. On a side note, the video of Metallica playing through a thunderstorm in Germany, complete with lightning strikes, was epic.
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
I usually like to mix up my reading with some narrative non-fiction, and this was one of the best. Books are often described as "gripping", and that word perfectly describes this story of the crazy journey Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men undertook. It's hard to find anything to complain about after reading about what they went through. The whole thing is absolutely crazy, but the ending of Shackleton getting in a 23 foot boat with 5 of the crew and navigating 800 miles through the roughest ocean in the world to find rescue was incredible. You couldn't make up a better story.
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard
This is one of those books that kept coming up enough times that I finally had to read it. I'm always on the lookout for some great narrative non-fiction, and this one was mesmerizing. There were a lot of parallels with Endurance, the story of Shackleton's Polar exploration that I read back in February, and it was just as gripping. I enjoyed getting to know more about Roosevelt, and the twists and turns this expedition takes while attempting to be the first to chart and navigate a previously unknown river through the Amazon Jungle. On a side note, the author Candice Millard has a great podcast conversation with Ryan Holiday if you're looking to dive deeper into the background of this story.
Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II by Robert Kurson
Unexpectedly riveting. Ryan Holiday has described this as one of his favourite nonfiction books ever, so it's been on my list for a while- I love a good narrative nonfiction read to get lost in. It's about two deep sea divers who discover the wreck of an unknown German U-Boat in 1991, and dedicate the next five years to diving over 230 feet down to the wreck in order to uncover its identity (as well as the stories of the remains on the boat). I might just be getting old, but I'm enjoying learning more about history- however, as the characters in this book go to great lengths to prove, the commonly accepted version of facts or history is not always accurate. Also, the writing and pacing about some of the dive stories is fascinating.
Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself by Rich Roll
As I got ready to compete in my first Ironman triathlon earlier this year, I found myself re-visiting some previously read books to help me prepare my mindset. Rich is one of my inspirations for becoming a plant-based athlete over the past 5 years. The story of his "Epic 5" challenge is wild - five back-to-back Ironman-distance triathlons on five different Hawaiian islands in under a week.
A Man in Love: My Struggle: Book 2 by Karl Ove Knausgaard
I find Knausgaard's writing strangely soothing and engaging, even though it's really just a collection of completely mundane, ordinary things. I find myself up late at night reading about what is essentially nothing, these everyday moments he has described in almost painful detail. One of the reviews puts it well: "If his first volume was his struggle to cope with death, this is his struggle to cope with life."
Boyhood Island: My Struggle: Book 3 by Karl Ove Knausgaard
I found myself returning again to Karl Ove's "My Struggle" series, this one about his childhood memories. I'm fascinated with his writing, the way he weaves memories and vivid storytelling from his childhood as if the events are actually happening in real time. Not just stories, but the thoughts and emotions associated with them. It's intensely personal, often uncomfortably so, but strangely relatable.
Dancing In The Dark: My Struggle: Book 4 by Karl Ove Knausgaard
Why would you read a six-volume, 3,600-page Norwegian novel about a man writing a six-volume, 3,600-page Norwegian novel? The short answer is that it is breathtakingly good, and so you cannot stop yourself, and would not want to ... Arrestingly beautiful. (The New York Times Book Review)
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel
This was another Ryan Holiday recommendation, and it did not disappoint. What a crazy story about Stéphane Bréitwieser, the most prolific art thief of all time, who stole over two billion dollars worth of art (!!!), in order to decorate the attic apartment in his mother’s house. The twist with what happens to all of that stolen art is as wild as the thefts themselves.
Philosophy
Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday
This is the third of Ryan Holiday's books on the 4 stoic virtues (Courage, Temperance, Justice, & Wisdom). I eagerly read anything he puts out, as I know how much thought and research goes into his writing. There are some great stories and historical figures throughout this book on Justice, and he masterfully weaves them together. Thought-provoking and insightful!
Useful Not True by Derek Sivers
Derek remains one of my favourite modern writers. This short read is easy to get through in an afternoon, but its impact will linger for years. You can tell he has spent a lot of time narrowing down the ideas to their simplest essence.
Business/Other
Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire - by Andrew Wilkinson
Andrew Wilkinson is the co-founder of Tiny Capital, a long term holding company for internet businesses. I travelled to Victoria again this year to attend their Annual General Meeting, where I met Andrew and received an early copy of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, reading it in just a couple sittings. One of the quotes of his that resonated with me is "most successful people are just a walking anxiety disorder harnessed for productivity." This book stands out because it doesn't just focus on making money but also delves into what to do after you have it—spending, managing, investing, and finding fulfillment. On a related note, there's a new podcast called MoneyWise covering this topic as well that I've been enjoying.
The Dhandho Investor by Mohnish Pabrai
The Dhandho investment strategy can be summed up as: "Heads, I win! Tails, I don't lose that much." I started to become aware of Mohnish when I discovered an article about his home library remodel. I also followed this rabbit hole through to a few podcast interviews with him, where he has been dubbed the "Indian Warren Buffett". Overall, I enjoyed this book, as it's packed with ideas I will revisit frequently.
The Road Less Stupid by Keith J. Cunningham
Over a year ago, I mentioned entrepreneur Noah Kagan's youtube video called Asking Private Jet Billionaires How They Got Rich. It's a crazy video where he basically hangs out at a private airport in Austin asking if the people driving in would be willing to give him a tour of their jet. After initially being turned down by one of the people, he asks "is there any way?"... and ends up hitching a ride. They recorded a conversation during that trip which is really worth watching in its entirety. I hadn't heard of Keith Cunningham until this conversation, but both Noah & James (the jet owner in this case) lit up while discussing Keith and his books. After James mentioned "I would rather spend four days with Keith than 18 months at a business school, hands down," I was curious to find out more. Overall, I found the book to be very insightful, and it's a resource I'll return to often for thinking time questions.
The Narrow Road: A Brief Guide to the Getting of Money by Felix Dennis
I've previously enjoyed Felix's other book, "How to Get Rich" (despite the cheesy title, it’s insightful and honest). This book provided a well-written, no-nonsense follow up, packed with practical advice and a sharp perspective. It was a nice injection of "business" reading.
Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy
I've heard others refer to this as the best parenting book they've ever read. I tend to agree- it's packed with great strategies, stories and examples of how to manage the challenges (and joys) of parenting. There are wonderful tools in here, which apply to much more than navigating relationships with your kids. Dr. Becky has also been on many podcasts, which serve as a helpful follow up.
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford
This book had been on my radar for a long time, and I finally took the opportunity to read it. Much of my reading and idea exploration comes in waves, and I tend to try to let it lead me to interesting and unexpected places. A while ago, I had listened to the Hardcore History podcast's excellent series titled Wrath of the Khans, which prompted me to delve further into Genghis Khan's history. Ryan Holiday also had the author Jack Weatherford on his podcast, which is a good listen and introduction to why studying Genghis Khan might be worthwhile. The Netflix series Marco Polo has been a surprisingly great follow up to this book.
Hackers & Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age by Paul Graham
Paul Graham is known for a number of things, perhaps the best of which is Y Combinator, the startup accelerator for early-stage companies. The collection of essays on his site are masterful, and I had long wanted to read this highly recommended book. Again, David Senra from Founders has some excellent episodes on Paul Graham, including one on what he learned from this book. It's exceptional.
The Anthology of Balaji: A Guide to Technology, Truth, and Building the Future by Eric Jorgenson
Balaji Srinivasan is a fascinating character. Similar to Eric Jorgenson's last book on Naval Ravikant, this takes all of Balaji's wisdom and collects it into one book. I've listened to a few lengthy podcasts with Balaji, and it was nice to have all of these ideas collected in one place. There are plenty of threads to follow here.
Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet by Chris Dixon
This book has been described as "Crypto 101". Chris is a general partner with Andreessen Horowitz, and he and Balaji actually recently had a conversation that captures a lot of what this book is about. I don't know if it's just me, but even after many hours of podcasts and a few books like this one, I still have a difficult time understanding the blockchain or things like Bitcoin and Ethereum. I'll have to keep following that curiosity.
Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends by Tim Sanders
This book introduced me to a new term: lovecat. You become a lovecat by sharing your intangibles- your knowledge, your network, your compassion. Entrepreneur Dan Martell has mentioned this book many times as one that shifted everything for him at a young age. I haven't heard of it much outside of his recommendation, but it deserves to be widely read. As a side effect, since reading it I've found myself using the word "lovecat" as a mantra. Whenever I'm annoyed with someone or I pass someone with bad vibes, I think, "lovecat, lovecat, lovecat..." and it actually really helps. It's shifted my focus towards helping and adding some brightness to someone's day- the world needs more lovecats.
Noma 2.0: Vegetable, Forest, Ocean by René Redzepi, Mette Søberg & Junichi Takahashi
I came across this in the library and decided to start exploring René Redzepi & his restaurant Noma again. I find it fascinating to learn and incorporate things from people at the top of their craft. René's book " A Work in Progress" is one of my favourites, and I admire a lot of what they do at Noma to foster creativity. His blurb sums up a lot of what interests me about reading things like this: "This book is about the new Noma, its people and spaces and, of course, the food. But it’s also about the invisible structures we set up to sustain creativity, innovation, and surprise." It reminds me of Rick Rubin and his quote from Robert Henri: “The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.”
Fiction
For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
I thought a lot about what I should read during our trip to Spain, and decided it was the perfect opportunity to finally spend some time with this one. It was wonderful to read this story set during the Spanish Civil war while travelling the Spanish countryside. Hemingway spent quite a bit of time in Spain as a journalist covering the war, and more than once I closed my eyes and asked for “Don Ernesto" to guide me.
In Madrid, we had a great time at this bar called La Venencia, where Hemingway used to frequent as a correspondent to get updates on the war. It’s much the same as it was back in those days, with the same decor and limited menu of sherry served out of casks. We were definitely guided by the ghosts of that place, as we met up with a friendly group that led us to a local Spanish fiesta, ending up as one of the most memorable evenings of our trip.
On a related note, one of the other things that sparked my interest in this book was the Metallica song inspired by it. I saw them in Seattle shortly after reading this, and when the intro to “For Whom the Bell Tolls” thundered out, I had an added connection to it.
MONKEY: New Writing From Japan
I'm a big fan of Japanese fiction, and this little collection was a perfect mix of short stories to expand my imagination.
Replacement by Tor Ulven
I came across Norwegian writer Tor Ulven through one of the Knausgaard books. Replacement is his only novel, and I've seen it described as a "miniature symphony," which makes sense. As I try to reflect on a way to describe it, the word "weird" comes to mind. It's like reading a strange dream.
The Third Realm by Karl Ove Knausgaard
I've raved about my enjoyment of Knausgaard's writing in the past, so it's no surprise I read this as soon as it came out. He has a gift for giving seemingly meaningless things meaning. There's a lot going on in this book, with many intersecting stories- I won't give much of it away, and it might not be for everyone, but this whole Morning Star series he is crafting is excellent in my opinion. To hear his perspective directly, there's a great podcast conversation from September. It's worth checking out just to hear his Norwegian accent.