Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
418 Pages, Published In 2016
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In his Pulitzer Prize-winning Evicted, Desmond follows 8 families in Milwaukee as they struggle to keep a roof over their heads, revealing how eviction is not just a symptom of poverty but also a cause—not just an family misfortune but a systemic issue. “Without stable shelter, everything else falls apart.” Eviction is not just about losing a home—it disrupts employment, education, and health, trapping families in a vicious cycle of instability & hardship. A nonfiction reads like a novel.
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
351 Pages, Published In 1985
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Often hailed as one of the greatest American novels ever written, Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian (1985) is an epic historical novel set along the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s. It follows a 14-year-old boy, the Kid, who flees Tennessee and joins the infamous Glanton Gang—a ruthless band of scalp hunters who massacre Indigenous people and anyone in their path. Brutal, violent, dark, and deeply philosophical, Blood Meridian stands as a towering masterpiece of the American Western novel.
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
304 Pages, Published In 2023
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“This is who we are: the richest country on earth, with more poverty than any other advanced democracy.” Following his Pulitzer Prize-winning Evicted, in Poverty by America, Desmond explores why poverty persists in the US despite its vast wealth. Examining how American society exploits the poor, subsidizes the affluent, and concentrates wealth in private hands, he argues that Poverty is the result of deliberate policies and choices that benefit the wealthy while keeping the poor in place.
Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ
320 Pages, Published In 2020
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Set in 1938, during Taiwan’s period under Japanese colonial rule, the story follows a Japanese novelist journaling his travels across the island, accompanied by a knowledgeable local translator. Each chapter is named after a local dish, blending culinary exploration with the unfolding events and the intricate interactions among locals, colonists, and Taiwan-born Japanese. Ultimately, it is a tale of friendship and love, only under the shadow of Japan’s Southern Expansion policy pre-WWII.
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
288 Pages, Published In 1936
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First published in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is a timeless self-help book that offers principles and practical advice on dealing with people: - Don’t criticize, condemn, or complain - Give honest and sincere appreciation - Become genuinely interested in other people - Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely - Remember a person’s name - Be a good listener - Smile. Warren Buffett took the Dale Carnegie course when he was 20 years old.
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
176 Pages, Published In 2011
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More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa is a charming sequel to Days at Morisaki Bookshop. This time, the focus shifts to the protagonist’s aunt, who suddenly disappears, leaving her and her uncle to uncover the truth of her past. Like the first book, it’s comforting, heartwarming, and deeply reflective. I connected with the characters just as much as in the first book, and their stories resonated deeply with me. Another beautiful example of Japanese fiction that I love.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
150 Pages, Published In 2000
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Days at Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa is a heartwarming Japanese novella about healing and self-discovery through the magic of books. When a 25-year-old woman loses her boyfriend and falls into deep depression, her eccentric uncle offers her a place to stay in his cramped bookshop in Jimbocho, Japan’s famous book town. Surrounded by literature, she slowly rediscovers herself through books and unexpected connections. Felt deeply and loved many characters. Comforting and reflective.
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
324 Pages, Published In 2024
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The Life Impossible tells the story of a 72-year-old English widow who has endured unimaginable grief and loss. When unexpectedly inherited a house in Ibiza from an old friend, she embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries surrounding her friend’s life and death. Along the way, she also confronts and comes to terms with her own unresolved past. Blending elements of fantasy and realism, it explores themes of loss, acceptance, and the purpose of life. It reminds me of The Secret Garden.
The Good Life by Robert Waldinger, Marc Schulz
352 Pages, Published In 2023
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The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. A comprehensive exploration of what defines a “good life,” this book draws from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, an 80-year (and still ongoing) research project that began in 1938, tracking generations of hundreds of individuals. The authors, psychiatrist Robert Waldinger and clinical psychologist Marc Schulz, delivers a simple yet powerful conclusion: Good relationships keep us healthier and happier.
The Stand by Stephen King
1153 Pages, Published In 1978
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An epic tale of a superflu pandemic that wipes out 99% of the population and the aftermath as humanity rebuilds. A gripping battle between good and evil. Richly developed human & nonhuman characters. A classic (post-)apocalyptic and horror with themes of love, hope, friendship, and resilience, and philosophical insights on human nature, morality, and society. A Christmas scene at the end is a heartwarming retreat amidst the chaos. Both chilling and thought-provoking. One of King’s finest!
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
352 Pages, Published In 2023
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A WWII novel follows four characters—two Jewish brothers, a Greek girl, and a Nazi officer—through the Holocaust and the decades that follow, to post-war America. Narrated by Truth, the story centers on a boy who never tells a liar but transforms into a pathological liar, exploring profound themes of truth, lies, forgiveness, and redemption. An enticing opening, a well-crafted plot, and a dramatic ending. However, certain scenes and transitions between events could be developed further.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
453 Pages, Published In 1961
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Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is a darkly satirical masterpiece. Set during WWII, it follows an Army Air Corps Captain John Yossarian, stationed on a Mediterranean island, as he navigates the absurdities of war and military bureaucracy. No conventional hero—his primary goal is simply to stay alive, against the war’s senseless slaughter and the dehumanizing effects of endless contradictory rules. Catch-22 is now a common term for a no-win situation created by contradictory rules or conditions.