Favorite books of 2024

Who needs a moment of levity this week? Happy January 439th! Doesn’t it feel like a long month? Reading can feel like a luxury right now. But for me, it’s an escape and an act of resistance. So here we go…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Book list time! It delights me to no end when you all ask me about this list. Every year, I usually try to ‘read my age’. So, this year included 43 books and some were awesome while others were doozies. I’ll try to condense my thoughts in a top-10-ish list. (Fun fact: My publisher asked if I wanted to include a list of my Top 10 books on neighboring at the end of my own book. I couldn’t list just 10 so I got it down to ten-ish. The title of that section in the appendix is named the same too: “My Top Ten-ish Book”. And because my editor and publisher were/are amazing, they published it as is.)

Without further adieu, here we go on my 2024 favs (full book list at the end):

1. Top books of the year:

   1. Chasing Hope by Nicholas Kristoff - This pick will probably not surprise anyone here. I have followed Nicholas’ work since I first read “Half the Sky”. In fact, that’s where I first heard of Dr. Edna Adan in Somaliland who I now work with and I talk about so often in my own book. So, I was waiting for “Chasing Hope” to come out, pre-ordered it, and then devoured it. Excellent!

   2. Unreasonable Hospitality - I listened to this on audio through the library and then promptly ordered myself a copy. I love reading business and leadership books (and have read a lot of them), and this one is my favorite so far. To me, the book talks about servant-leadership and neighboring in an extravagent way for others. I LOVED it! Highly recommend if you need some encouragement these days.

2. Other top books of the year:

   1. No Ordinary Assignment by Jane Ferguson - Whoa, this one was good. It reminded me of Ari Shapiro’s book (which was a fav) I read in 2023. This was a phenomenal read.

   2. Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad - Whew, this was poetry and prose and story-telling all in one. Beautiful book!

   3. Radio Free Afghanistan by Saad Mohseni, Jenna Krajeski - I listened to this on audio too and it was read by Mr. Mohseni. Whoa, this was a powerful book on Afghanistan with stories not often heard. The writing is also excellent and keeps you wanting to read another chapter.

3. Favorite book that is nerdy but approachable

   1. Coffeeland - I’m starting work in Latin America and wanted to know more about the history of the countries. This was an excellent book, full of facts but presented through story.

4. Favorite memoirs

   1. Breaking Through by Katalin Kariko - This is written by Dr. Kariko, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, whose decades-long research led to the COVID-19 vaccines. You might know her name because she was pivotal in the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Her book was inspiring as a woman in science and just incredible in general.

   2. On Call by Dr. Fauci - I mean, y’all. Stand up and clap. I’ll be honest. The parts of the book during the pandemic years took me forever to get through because they were so raw and triggering. But, worth it. This is an outstanding book! It was also really fun to hear about his work prior to the pandemic which includes DECADES of groundbreaking research (like when HIV/AIDS was first being studied, etc). Bonus: If you listen to the audiobook, he reads it!

5. Favorite quirky book

   1. The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson - I’m not sure where I heard of this book. I think I just saw it at the library and got it. And, LOVED it! It’s so niche and weird though, so not everyone will like it. This is a book that you’ll ask yourself, “Why am I even reading this” but can’t stop. ha! At least for me it was.

6. Book that made me feel seen

   1. Why We Read by Shannon Reed - This reminds me of Anne Bogel’s book “I’d Rather by Reading” which won this category for me in previous years.

7. Book that made me break out in hives (jk, kindof)

   1. The Hot Zone - As an epidemiologist in global health, I’ve avoided this book for years! It hits a little too close to home. But, I decided to finally read it this year because my students asked me about it. And, it made me wake up in the middle of the night in panic. ha! It’s a great book. But, beware if you’re an epidemiologist and reading it at bedtime.

8. Books I read every semester and recommend to my students

   1. Well, I recommend all of these to my students and am known for putting these lists on my door at work. But, one book that I read as an academic every year is Cal Newport’s “Deep Work”. I also read his newest “Slow Productivity” and liked it as an addition to his other books. I didn’t like it as much as Deep Work, but it was a good read.

9. Favorite book for a snow day

   1. The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin - What a delightful book! It reminded me of how much I loved reading “Remarkably Beautiful Creatures”. This is a get yourself some coffee and snuggle with a blanket in your favorite reading chair type of book.

10. Favorite book on equity

    1. An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo - This book was similar to Suleika’s book in that I read it slowly. The poems are powerful and perspective-shifting. Gorgeous book.

11. Favorite book by an author I know in real life!

    1. Stars for Jesus and Other Jobs I Quit by Kimberly Stuart. I met Kimberly when I went on her podcast during my own book launch. And, we were fast friends, sharing our love of Anne of Green Gables, books, joy, and faith. She wrote her first non-fiction book and it was roll-over-laughing-quality. It was so good and encouraging and real.

12. Books I told my mom about. All of them. =)

13. Books that were not my jam.

    1. How to Walk Into a Room; and, Tomorrow, Tomorrow and , Tomorrow. I’m not quite sure why these were not my thing this year. But, alas. Perhaps it was just 2023.

Here’s to the 44 books to read this year! If you want to follow along, let’s be friends on GoodReads. Happy reading, neighbors! Tell me your book recommendations!

I would also be remiss to not mention my own book. This little book is like a love letter to neighboring. Thank you to those of you who have read it, shared it, and left reviews.

-Emily

PS: Here’s my list from 2023 if you need a bazillion more books to get. =)