2021 Top Books that I Read and Loved
Oh hi there. I know I am a bit late to the game with writing this post, but I have a good reason. In late December of last year, I started my first FT role! It’s been a whirlwind to take in all the information that is being thrown at me. I have no more brain juice left by the end of the day so it’s been an adjustment from having no job to full-time job. Extremely grateful for this opportunity!
2021 was an interesting year to say the least, for the world and me. It had its highs, like finally seeing my friends in person or dining out or graduating with my Masters! The lows included struggling with my job hunt (but persevered!) and losing friends. But during the lows though, besides honoring my feelings, I also used it as a chance to reflect and heal. It’s through those moments I feel like I grew the most, leaning into my spiritual awareness. Sitting with the pain, recognizing it, and analyzing where do I go from here.
If anything, I resonate with this post. This is the year I start blossoming, after all the work and care I’ve put in. I’m excited to where it takes me :)
Burying my head into a book was not always the appropriate outlet for me through all the messiness of last year. I ended up journaling to brain dump and help with my anxiety. It ended with me reading 71 books, which is still dang impressive.
As per my last post, I have been making a more conscious effort to read work by BIPOC authors (Michelle Zauner or Etaf Rum). It feels good to support their work and something I’ll continue doing moving forward. Without further ado, my top reads of 2021. Happy reading folks!
Top Books of 2021
In no particular order. Included links where you can get a copy yourself.
Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham
Amazing read. I watched the HBO mini-series first and then read the book. The show did a fantastic adaptation. It was one of those reads that was too good to be true. I’ve heard about Chernobyl and looked into it before, but it was through this book I truly understood the depth of what happened that night. How poor decisions by leadership affected the lives of millions and shaped the science community today.
2. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
A classic for a reason. I know wherever I end up going, this is a book that I want to keep with me and flip through from time to time. It’s an easy read filled with knowledge that can take you far. Some of the techniques Carnegie highlights are a bit outdated, but overall still useful in the modern age.
3. Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez
I do not know how I discovered this book, but this is probably one of the most important books I read in a long time. It’s about how research done in the past and sadly in the present favors the male body. As a female researcher, it was an infuriating read in the lack of belief in women’s health issues for example. I hope to uncover and advocate for solutions that will benefit the female population as I progress in my career.
4. The Making of Asian American by Erika Lee
In light of the Atlanta shooting, Asian American history was thrusted into the spotlight. It felt like a culmination of the past year with the rise in Asian hate crimes across the country. Asian American history was barely covered in my K-12 education. Reading this book broadened my perspective and understanding of where do I fit in amongst the American melting pot. It helped me understand through historical contexts why certain cities in America are a hub for certain Asian groups; how at the end of the day, many of these immigrants were in search of a better life from home. An important read that needs to be read.
5. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
A modern romance that I devoured. If you are into Star Wars, the story was originally a Reylo fan fiction. The premise is about a biology PhD candidate at Stanford who ends up fake dating an uber hot professor to pretend to her friends that she’s dating someone. It has its tropes and predictable romance, but I like the fact it’s about nerdy people who are semi-socially awkward that end up falling in love. I consider myself a bit nerdy and sometimes a bit awkward so maybe another reason why, ha! Warning: this book does contain adult content and sexual assault.
6. The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Ah another heart warming read. This time it’s about a semi-reclusive former famous actor living in Palm Springs. He finds out his college best friend dies of cancer and her husband/his brother is an alcoholic, who ends up entrusting his two kids to his care while he goes into rehab. He’s called Guncle because after his niece and nephews start calling him that via their mom because he’s gay. He starts sharing with them stories about his time in Hollywood and teaching them how to be more with the wealth of experiences he’s seen. Just one of those reads that makes you feel good at the end.
7. The Terror Years by Lawrence Wright
I was 6 years-old when 9/11 happened and still living abroad in Taiwan. My only memory of it was watching the smoke coming out of the towers on TV, not fully grasping what was unfolding. Last year was really the first time I started reading into pre and post 9/11 to satisfy my curiosity. Wright, who also wrote The Looming Tower, has been on my radar for a while. With this book, it gave me an understanding who the other key players that were part of this historical shift, outside of the big names that are usually talked about.
8. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
While I technically finished this book last week, I did start it on December 30 so slipping this in. Grann wrote The Lost City of Z, which I am a fan of too. Another investigative journalism piece by him, this time Osage tribes in the Midwest and how they were getting murdered under mysterious circumstances in the 1920s, centering on one particular Osage family. It also dives into the creation of the FBI. I’m not going to reveal what happened because you should read it. However, this book made me think about the injustice of colonialism and white supremacy. It gave me Watchmen (2019) vibes. Martin Scorsese is in post-production right now for adapting this book into a movie, which will feature heavy hitters like Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Read it before it comes out!
Runner Ups
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe (This book is already getting a lot of hype, so decided to put this here instead. But fantastic read!)
Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman
The Body Keeps Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
How to Not Die Alone by Logan Ury
American Royal Series by Katherine McGee
Clarity & Connection by Yung Pueblo