Books read in 2018

This is more of a listing than anything else.

The Waste Lands -- Stephen King

Finished book 3 of the Dark Tower series. Still exciting, but need a break from this storyline.

Den eneste ene -- Jørn Lier Horst

A quick crime novel from a Norwegian ex-detective who can really dish these novels out.

Ready Player One -- Ernest Cline

This was incredibly geeky and fun. I'm a bit sad that I didn't have personal experiences with all the pop culture references in this book.

I wasn't aware the movie was underway before I finished this. Good timing. I did watch the movie as well. My first experience with 4DX cinema, with rumble seats, water sprays, air cannons, etc. Nice to have experienced it, but I wouldn't recommend it for movies where you would like to pay close attention to details.

For this movie it was quite fitting, though. The movie adaptation mixes in a bunch of more recent pop culture references and alters the story quite a bit to make it more Hollywood friendly (I mean, the main character was practically obese in the book, not so much in the movie). Good entertainment, but the book was better.

You Are Not So Smart -- David McRaney

Enlightenment Now -- Steven Pinker

I saw this recommended in several contexts, including Bill Gates' reading recommendations.

I would also recommend reading this, if only to counter the negative spin on any world news we are subjected to these days. The state of the world is improving in many areas, which is easy to forget.

The Time Machine & Other Stories -- H. G. Wells

Diving into the classics for a bit. The Time Machine was fantastically original and a fresh take on the sci-fi genre for me. Some of the other stories was also thought provoking and borderline grotesque (actually, they crossed the line).

Quick read, would recommend.

The Girl on the Train -- Paula Hawkins

Not sure why I picked this up, but it was a fun crime novel with some twists and turns. Easy read.

The Name of the Wind -- Patrick Rothfuss

This was recommended to me by a friend, and it did not disappoint. The story and world in this book are fantastically written. It keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

This is the first part of the story of Kvothe, an apparently magnificent and famous character in this fantasy world. It is written as a story told by Kvothe himself, after settling down and retiring from his previously dramatic life. He recounts his tragic early life and his journey into the university where he studied sympathy, the alias for magic in this world.

While the constant money counting may get a bit tedious at times (yes, we get that he was poor), it's a great read that creates vivid pictures of the main characters.

The worst part of this series is that it isn't complete, and Patrick Rothfuss doesn't seem to be nearing an end anytime soon.

How to Lead When You're Not in Charge -- Clay Scroggins

Unfu*k Yourself -- Gary John Bishop

Listened to this on Audible. While the book is a bit shallow and repetitive, I must admit I like the way Gary John Bishop's reads this.

12 Rules for Life -- Jordan B. Peterson

I felt thrown back quite a few decades when listening to this. Not my cup of tea... Not sure why this person has such a following, but it cannot bode well for the world.

Animal Farm -- George Orwell

Yes, that one. I came across this in a shop and realized I had actually not read this. It's a short novel and it gets the point across. Worth reading, if only to know what people are referring to.

Outliers -- Malcolm Gladwell

Short inspiring stories about people doing magnificent things throughout history. I think the morale he tries to convey in this book is a bit sparsely backed by the examples, but it's both entertaining and motivational.

Becoming -- Michelle Obama

I would definitely recommend this book, especially in it's audio book form, read by Michelle Obama herself. Her soft and assuring voice is delightful to listen to.

The story of her and her husband's lives and path to and through presidency was just intriguing.