As always, these are the books I enjoyed most in 2024, not necessarily books that were released this year.

Non-fiction

Question 7, Richard Flanagan — A (mostly) non-fiction book from an incredible novelist blending personal memoir and meditations on the invention and use of the atomic bomb. Highest recommendation for this one, especially if you’ve read his The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Civic Solitude, Robert Talisse — The third in Talisse’s unintended trilogy on what ails American democracy and what to do about it. This one is more about cultivating personal habits than systemic fixes, which some readers may find dissatisfying given the vast urgency of the problem. It works as a standalone volume as it also refreshes his earlier work, but I’d still recommend starting with Overdoing Democracy for his analysis of polarization (which he revisits in the current book).

The Harm Reduction Gap, Sheila Vakharia — Solid statement of harm reduction principles from a practical and academic perspective. Unlike some other harm reduction advocates, Vakharia follows the principle through to tobacco and nicotine.

The Absinthe Forger, Evan Rail — A few years ago, the niche community of absinthe enthusiasts was rocked by a grifter who abused their trust, meticulously forging fake pre-ban bottles and selling them to collectors for thousands of dollars. Rail spins an engaging tale digging into how and why he did it, with informative absinthe history too.

Black Hole Survival Guide, Janna Levin — Short, fun, very readable introduction to black holes, how they work, and what we still don’t know about them.

Second Act, Henry Oliver — A mix of case studies and social science examining the lives of notable late bloomers. Review forthcoming!

All That Happiness Is, Adam Gopnik — Gopnik’s The Real Work was one of my favorite books last year. This is a delightful, super short (62 pages) companion piece on the pleasures of learning new skills and pursuing secondary passions.

How to Write One Song, Jeff Tweedy — I’ve not yet completed the aim of the title, but I’ve made progress! A case for demystifying and democratizing songwriting.

Fiction

The Friend, Sigrid Nunez — Highly recommended for writers and dog lovers. Don’t be put off by the synopsis if you’re expecting a sappy pet story, it’s much sharper than that. Read it before the movie comes out in 2025.

Wrong Way, Joanne McNeil — Topical exploration of self-driving cars, innovation hype, and the laborers who make it work from one the most insightful writers on the internet and technology

Land of Milk and Honey, C Pam Zhang — A private chef invited to cook sumptuous meals for the ultrarich after a global environmental catastrophe with a stockpile of the last of the world’s great ingredients? I’m in.

Intermezzo, Sally Rooney — If Rooney’s latest is divisive, count me on the pro side. I’ll second this NYT review .

North Woods, Daniel Mason — Whenever I travel somewhere new, I enjoy reading novels set there on the trip. This year that was the forests of New England. Remarkably stylistically versatile, I loved these interconnected tales of the various people who came to inhabit a single secluded cabin in Massachusetts over centuries.

The Lathe of Heaven, Ursula Le Guin — And finally, though unintentionally, I found a favorite novel set in my home of Portland, Oregon.