My Reading Goals for 2025
Setting ambitious but achievable reading targets for the new year.
Reading
My literary journey through technology, philosophy, fiction, and beyond
1 Reviews
45 Books Read
0 Words Read
📖 My Library
All the books I've read, complete with ratings, reviews, and recommendations
2025 (41 books, 3.4M words)
The Software Engineer's Guidebook
Navigating senior, tech lead, and staff engineer positions at tech companies.
TechnologyCareerSoftware Engineering
Meditations on First Philosophy
Descartes' exploration of doubt, certainty, and the nature of existence.
PhilosophyMetaphysicsClassic
Delivered from Distraction
Getting the most out of life with Attention Deficit Disorder.
PsychologyMental HealthSelf-Help
The Problems of Philosophy
Russell's introduction to the central problems of philosophy.
PhilosophyLogicClassic
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD
A comprehensive guide to understanding and managing adult ADHD.
PsychologyMental HealthSelf-Help
Discourse on Method
Descartes' foundational work on scientific method and rational thinking.
PhilosophyScienceClassic
Driven to Distraction
Recognizing and coping with Attention Deficit Disorder.
PsychologyMental HealthSelf-Help
Think
A compelling introduction to philosophy and critical thinking.
PhilosophyCritical ThinkingEducation
The Art of Impossible
A peak performance primer on the science of achieving the impossible.
Self-HelpPsychologyPerformance
Yes to Life
Previously unpublished lectures by the author of Man's Search for Meaning.
PhilosophyPsychologyMemoir
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels
Behind-the-scenes stories of how video games are made.
GamingBusinessTechnology
Recommended
Deeply engaging insider look at the gaming industry. Often a bit shallow, but potentially better for it.
Lessons in Stoicism
A modern introduction to the ancient philosophy of Stoicism.
PhilosophySelf-HelpStoicism
Recommended
Accessible introduction to Stoic principles and history.
Building a Second Brain
A proven method to organize your digital life and unlock your creative potential.
ProductivityKnowledge ManagementTechnology
Frankenstein
The original science fiction novel about creation, responsibility, and what makes us human.
ClassicScience FictionGothic
Getting Things Done
The definitive guide to stress-free productivity.
ProductivitySelf-HelpBusiness
The Gunslinger
The first book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series.
FantasyWesternHorror
Recommended
Fantastic, but weird af. No one warns you how weird this will be.
Rework
A manifesto for doing business differently in the modern world.
BusinessEntrepreneurshipProductivity
The Fellowship of the Ring
The first part of the epic Lord of the Rings saga.
FantasyEpic FantasyClassic
Recommended
The GOAT
Flow
Groundbreaking research on the psychology of peak performance and happiness.
PsychologySelf-HelpProductivity
Recommended
Foundational understanding of optimal experience. Changed how I think about work and creativity.
Choke
A darkly comic novel about a sex addict working at a colonial theme park.
Literary FictionDark ComedySatire
Recommended
Palahniuk at his darkest and funniest. Uncomfortable but compelling.
Digital Minimalism
A philosophy of technology use that focuses your online time on activities that strongly support things you value.
TechnologySelf-HelpProductivity
Fight Club
A dark satire about masculinity, consumerism, and modern alienation.
Literary FictionSatirePsychological Thriller
Recommended
A classic. Everything you expect from the movie, and more. Great introduction to the author.
Deep Work
Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
ProductivityTechnologyCareer
Diary
A surreal psychological horror about an artist trapped in a mysterious conspiracy.
HorrorPsychological ThrillerLiterary Fiction
Learn Faster, Perform Better
Neuroscience-based techniques to improve learning and performance.
Self-HelpEducationProductivityPerformanceMusic
Recommended
Dry at times, and difficult to immediately apply to your practice. Still, engaging and thorough!
Thinking, Fast and Slow
How our minds make decisions and the cognitive biases that influence them.
PsychologyScienceBehavioral Economics
The Magicians
A darker, more adult take on magical education and the cost of power.
FantasyUrban FantasyComing of Age
Recommended
Decent. Characters can be frustrating, world building is mediocre at best, but I still find myself enjoying the writing. Soft spot because of the show, so I am biased...
Make a Game By Yourself
A practical guide to solo game development.
GamingBusinessEntrepreneurship
Recommended
Short, and a bit shallow. But inspiring nonetheless for aspiring indie developers.
Dagon
Early Lovecraft story about a sailor's encounter with an ancient sea god.
HorrorShort StoriesClassic
Recommended
Absolute classic. Short but impactful. A great introduction to Lovecraft's style and themes.
The Call of Cthulhu
Classic cosmic horror short story about an ancient, sleeping god.
HorrorShort StoriesClassic
Recommended
Seminal work of cosmic horror. Lovecraft's masterpiece of existential dread.
The Brain
The story of you - an exploration of neuroscience and consciousness.
NeuroscienceSciencePsychology
Recommended
Perfect intoduction to neuroscience for curious minds. Eagleman is a fantastic communicator.
At the Mountains of Madness
A chilling tale of an Antarctic expedition that discovers ancient, terrifying secrets.
HorrorScience FictionClassic
Recommended
Masterful cosmic horror that builds dread through atmosphere and discovery. A bit long.
Man's Search for Meaning
Holocaust survivor's insights on finding purpose in suffering.
PhilosophyPsychologyMemoir
The Practice of Practice
How to boost your music practice with deliberate practice techniques.
MusicSelf-HelpEducation
Recommended
A solid introduction to deliberate practice for musicians. Practical and well-explained. Somewhat dated.
The Hobbit
A hobbit's unexpected journey to help dwarves reclaim their homeland.
FantasyAdventureClassic
Notes from Underground
A psychological and philosophical exploration of human nature.
PhilosophyPsychologyRussian Literature
The Inner Game of Music
Mental approach to musical performance and learning.
MusicSelf-HelpPerformance
Deep Learning
The definitive textbook on deep learning by leading experts.
Machine LearningTechnologyMathematics
Recommended
Decent introductory text, but somewhat dry and lacking in substance. Will feel repetitive after other resources.
He Who Fights with Monsters 1
A LitRPG adventure following Jason through a magical world of monsters and magic.
FantasyLitRPGAdventure
Recommended
Writing can be weak at times, and it often feels overly long. However it proves the fundamentals of the LitRPG genre done well, and so for me it will remain a classic.
The Inner Game of Fingerstyle Guitar
Mental approach to mastering fingerstyle guitar technique.
MusicSelf-HelpPerformance
The Biggest Ideas in the Universe: Time, Space, and Motion
Space, Time, and Motion explained for curious minds.
PhysicsScienceCosmology
2024 (4 books, 817k words)
Inheritance
The final battle between Eragon and the evil King Galbatorix.
FantasyYoung AdultAdventure
Brisingr
Eragon forges a new sword and uncovers shocking family secrets.
FantasyYoung AdultAdventure
Recommended
The best book in the series, a classic for me.
Eldest
Eragon continues his training while the war against the Empire escalates.
FantasyYoung AdultAdventure
Eragon
A young farm boy discovers a dragon egg and becomes a legendary Dragon Rider.
FantasyYoung AdultAdventure
Recommended
A meme for a reason, but it has a special place in my heart.