This is one resolution that I have kept and proud about it - read 26 books in a year. Actually, ending the year having read 27. I have read physical books, ebooks and audiobooks - I like all the formats as they all have advantages and there are no disadvantages with any of these formats.
Here is the list in no particular order and my simple recommendation. But some will entice you from the title or the description itself (example, the first one). I have not limited myself to any particular genre or author, but I confess I am more biased towards non-fiction.
1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury | Highly Recommended - Fiction : The title refers to the temperature at which paper catches fire. Set in a 1984, Orwellian kind of dystopia where the government wants to burn all the books. How can one resist this in the current political scenario.
2. Open - An Autobiography by Andre Agassi | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : An engrossing bio of one of the most successful sportsperson and his turbulent life from childhood.
3. Inquilab - Bhagat Singh on Religion and Revolution by Irfan Habib | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : This book should be a compulsory reading for every Indian. An extremely intelligent young leader who has had immense influence on the youth of his time - not because of being militant but an intellectual. We have never been taught about it.
4. The Upside of Irrationality by Dr. Dan Ariely | Recommended - Non-Fiction : A book for self-help, motivation or behavioral analysis.
5. Papillon by Henri Charriere | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : A non-fiction about a long time prisoner, which is sometimes criticised for being fictional. A classic and good read, nonetheless. This is one of the books which I had heard spoken about highly (Marathi translation) during my teenage.
6. The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley | Average - Non-fiction : This is about a conservative view of the world including denial of climate change. I do not subscribe to this, but it always enriches oneself to understand the other side.
7. The Launch Pad by Randall Stross | Recommended - Non-fiction : For the technology folks, this has stories from the startup world, specifically from Y Combinator. I am a regular follower of Hacker News.
8. Bird Box by Josh Malerman | Recommended - Fiction : This is a Netflix movie, which is rather underwhelming. I listened to the audiobook and will strongly recommend listening to it rather than reading. Gripping.
9. Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass by Isak Dinesen | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : A mesmerising autobiography of an European in colonial Africa. There are a lot of learnings from this book.
10. Predictably Irrational by Dr. Dan Ariely | Recommended - Non-Fiction : Also, a book on behavioral analysis like #3 above.
11. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : One of the best autobiographies by a businessmen/ entrepreneur. I was skeptical to read about Nike. But, it was mentioned on some honorable reading lists viz. Bill Gates'. And, it was not a mistake.
12. The Inevitable - Understanding the 12 technological forces by Kevin Kelly | Recommended - Non-fiction : An interesting book about future trends. I got interested because I was hungry for more after reading Harari's Sapiens and Homo Deus last year and found this one. But then Harari also came out with '21 Lessons for the 21st Century'.
13. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson | Recommended - Non-fiction : Another provocative self-help book which has become very popular. Though one may not agree with everything, it is surely enjoyable and may help in reinforcing beliefs that generally self-help and motivating books full of positivity do not work for self.
14. Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : Amazing autobiography to help understand the American white working class.
15. Hit Refresh by Satya Nadella | Average - Non-fiction : I like Microsoft, Bill Gates and Satya Nadella. But, of course I compared this book with Shoe Dog and found it very underwhelming. As is expected from active people in corporate world, they would not want to antagonise anyone with negative opinions. So, it ends up being selective about the life events.
16. Algorithms to Live By by Brian Christian | Recommended - Non-fiction : This is a subject on which I wish to builda new career (Algorithm Auditing viz. AI/ ML). So, I always look out for something to read about it. Though not as provoking as 'Weapons of Math Destruction' by Cathy O'Neil, it is a good read (maybe even more practical).
17. The Soul of America by John Meacham | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : Another book to understand America. This one is with focus on history through various presidents. A compelling read.
18. Birthday Stories by Haruki Murakami | Recommended - Fiction : It is fashionable to read Murakami. So, I decided to pick the easy one instead of 'Norwegian Wood' or 'Kafka on the Shore'. And it turned out to be a Murakami which is not a Murakami - it is an anthology of interesting short stories by various writers around the world.
19. Permanent Record by Edward Snowden | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : A complex tale of a technologist told in simple words. Snowden tells us about technologies and practices that the governments are using to snoop on us and it is scary - almost '1984' or 'Fahrenheit 451' dystopia.
20. Maximum City by Suketu Mehta | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : It is a must read for Mumbai fans such as me. A non-fiction which is stranger than fiction and almost a thriller.
21. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yual Noah Harari | Highly Recommended - Non-fiction : A very interesting book about gazing into the near future and what we may need to do as individuals and society to be prepared for the continuing disruptions.
22. The Young and the Restless by Gurmehar Kaur | Recommended - Non-fiction : If you are an Indian who wants to understand what the youth of this country might be thinking about, this could be a good start. The author interviews a few young leaders of this country and gives an account along with her expectations and opinions.
23. Democracy on the Road by Ruchir Sharma | Recommended - Non-fiction : It was a very interesting book to read during the Indian Elections 2019. I recommend picking this up during the build up of next elections.
24. The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown | Not Recommended - Non-fiction : A fitness book with a simple message repeated at least one thousand times.
25. Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines | Not Recommended - Non-fiction : Sugary self-praise under the garb of being self-critical. Best to avoid.
26. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson | Recommended - Non-fiction : Not in the league of 'A Short History of Nearly Everything', but interesting personal account of growing up in a small town. I can relate to this e.g. my father used to send me to the shops to get cigarettes, which was not wrong in those days. Now, the parents will be ostracized for doing anything similar. It is absolutely funny to think about it now and Bryson gives many such examples.
27. 21 Short Tales by Franz Kafka | Not Recommended - Fiction : It is extremely audacious for me not to recommend Kafka. I am a big fan of Kafka (and suggest everybody to read Metamorphosis). But, I can't recommend this as it is extremely abstract and difficult to interpret. Those who thrive on such books won't need my recommendation anyway.