The Outsider by Colin Wilson validated a lot of the doubts I’ve had my entire life and showed me a courageous way forward embracing my nature.
This is a recommendation that applies to very few people but the misfits, the philosophers, the hermits, the compulsive thinkers. Those that feel they are meant to peer behind the veil of the world rather than dance to its tune.
Differential Privacy (2025) by Simson Garfinkel. This is an accessible and enjoyable introduction to differential privacy from the MIT Press essentials series.
The Philosopher in the Kitchen (1825) by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. This is a primer on gourmandism or the art and science of cooking, eating, and hosting. An interesting look at the French intellectual milieu at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Relativism and the Foundations of Philosophy (2006) by Steven Hales. This book argues for relativism about philosophical propositions, e.g., metaphysical statements. I came across this book and picked it up after enjoying a few articles from Hales' blog [0].
I usually put up a list at the end of each year. Here's the list from last year [1].
Between River and Sea by Dervla Murphy (her final published book). It (and admittedly a few other things) completely altered my view on the relevant issue, and despite being a very serious topic, the book is enjoyable and heavy considering.
I enjoyed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke the most this year. It has wonderful world building that was reminiscent of The Library of Babel. I'm currently really enjoying We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor. So far it's a very fun spacefaring adventure.
Reading books does not align with my interests as much anymore.
And I realize as I write this, my favorite fiction authors have mostly all died off…and if they were already dead when I discovered them I have already read about as much of their work as seemed worth reading.
But in the bigger picture, I quit moralizing over my reading a few years ago…it started with giving myself permission to not finish books.
It’s absolutely insightful for adults as well. Especially when paired with the other horsemen of the attention apocalypse “Dopamine Nation”, “Irresistible”, and “The Shallows”.
Returned my treatment of the internet from “the thing” to just another tool.
1. Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: or, How Capitalism Works--and How It Fails
2. Writing to learn. People who are scared of writing like me must listen to this every year :)
3. Made to stick
4. Million dollar weekend
5. Surrounded by idiots
The Outsider by Colin Wilson validated a lot of the doubts I’ve had my entire life and showed me a courageous way forward embracing my nature.
This is a recommendation that applies to very few people but the misfits, the philosophers, the hermits, the compulsive thinkers. Those that feel they are meant to peer behind the veil of the world rather than dance to its tune.
Here's my list so far:
Differential Privacy (2025) by Simson Garfinkel. This is an accessible and enjoyable introduction to differential privacy from the MIT Press essentials series.
The Philosopher in the Kitchen (1825) by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. This is a primer on gourmandism or the art and science of cooking, eating, and hosting. An interesting look at the French intellectual milieu at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Relativism and the Foundations of Philosophy (2006) by Steven Hales. This book argues for relativism about philosophical propositions, e.g., metaphysical statements. I came across this book and picked it up after enjoying a few articles from Hales' blog [0].
I usually put up a list at the end of each year. Here's the list from last year [1].
[0] https://hilariusbookbinder.substack.com
[1] https://bcmullins.github.io/interesting-books-2024/
Between River and Sea by Dervla Murphy (her final published book). It (and admittedly a few other things) completely altered my view on the relevant issue, and despite being a very serious topic, the book is enjoyable and heavy considering.
Stand out books for me that I've read this year:
* The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler (Short, but a great read)
* The Incandescent by Emily Tesh
* The Armchair Universe by A.K.Dewdney (First read this one many years ago, but I've been reading it again)
* Final Orbit by Chris Hadfield (third book in a series, so you'd want to start at the begining with The Apollo Murders)
I enjoyed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke the most this year. It has wonderful world building that was reminiscent of The Library of Babel. I'm currently really enjoying We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor. So far it's a very fun spacefaring adventure.
Piranesi has been on my shelf for a while, guess it's time I give it a go
- Philosophy of Software Design by John Ousterhout
- Leviathan Wakes by James Corey
- UNIX: A History and a Memoir by Brian Kernighan
- Efficient Linux at the Command Line by Daniel Barrett
- One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford - Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky - The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera
I keep a reading list at quinnkeast.com/reading. Would love to see others’ if any has one to share!
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The Creative Act, Rick Rubin
But I do not read a lot of books in a year anymore.
This why I love HN, my next book will be creative act
> But I do not read a lot of books in a year anymore.
Why?
Reading books does not align with my interests as much anymore.
And I realize as I write this, my favorite fiction authors have mostly all died off…and if they were already dead when I discovered them I have already read about as much of their work as seemed worth reading.
But in the bigger picture, I quit moralizing over my reading a few years ago…it started with giving myself permission to not finish books.
Basically I stopped keeping a list.
As a parent, I found "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt insightful and eye-opening.
It’s absolutely insightful for adults as well. Especially when paired with the other horsemen of the attention apocalypse “Dopamine Nation”, “Irresistible”, and “The Shallows”.
Returned my treatment of the internet from “the thing” to just another tool.
Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
Animal Farm by George Orwell (a reread)
Night by Elie Wiesel
How I Wish I Had Taught Maths by Craig Barton. it really is how i wish.
1. Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: or, How Capitalism Works--and How It Fails 2. Writing to learn. People who are scared of writing like me must listen to this every year :) 3. Made to stick 4. Million dollar weekend 5. Surrounded by idiots