My 2024 non-fiction books of the year
My final newsletter of 2024
I really love “work.” Which for many will be an odd sentence in itself, but I like the study of work – and of course more broadly business – as much as the act of doing it itself.
My team joke with me that when I go on holiday, I don’t really stop working because I spend so much time reading “work books,” but that for me is indulgence, relaxation and switching off.
So as a result I get through a reasonable number of non-fiction and business books throughout the year. Here is my end of year list if you’re looking for a last minute gift for someone who enjoys non-fiction with a business slant.
1. Impossible City: Paris in the 21st Century. Simon Kuper.
One of my favourite books from last year was about Paris too: might give you an insight into my passions. This is a great read from the FT’s man about Paris Simon Kuper, a brilliant history of the evolution of a city.
2. The Trading Game. Gary Stevenson
When the critics of a book mostly focus on the author’s ego, rather than the book itself, that’s usually a good sign. A highly readable account of banking even if it can suffer from unreliable narrator syndrome. Well well worth a read.
3. Very Good Copy. Eddie Shleyner
Not many books enter our Grad Scheme reading list but this was a definite one. I’ve long read Eddie’s blog and always liked it. Now it’s been condensed into 200+ micro lessons.
4. On The Edge. Nate Silver
This book has already changed how I think about experimentation. We now apply game theory and way more probability to the decision making than before, thanks to what began with learnings in this book.
5. Goodbye Globalization: The Return of a Divided World. Elisabeth Braw
I’m such a pro globalist at heart that this was a bit of a sad read, but also one which felt important to reflect on the downsides of what I see very techno-optimistically.
6. The Geek Way. Andrew McAfee
I actually read this after my reading list closed last year but a brilliant book. All about how geeks have taken over business. Great for anyone working in a corporate wanting to understand tech startups a bit better.
7. The Whole Story: John Mackey.
The story of Whole Foods. A really nice read that follows the unlikely story of organic grocer to Amazon-acquisition story.
8. Luxury Strategy Handbook. Jean-Noel Kapferer
Do you think you’re luxury? Hint if you’re reading this blog you almost certainly are not. At least not by the definitions of this book. For anyone playing in premium or “luxury” this is essential reading.
9. Supercommunicators. Charles Duhigg.
A great book that helps you with customer interviewing, line management, and just generally being a good human being.
10. Scientific Advertising. Claude Hopkins
Re-read this this year, it’s only short and had been over a decade since my last read. Still on point, though admittedly quite dated now.
11. Corporation in the 21st Century. John Kay.
A great exploration of what it means to be a corporation. A great Anglo-centric reflection on the history of corporations and importantly what the public think about them.
12. Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There. Tali Shaarot & Cass Sunstein.
“Self help for business people” said one friend I recommended this pop-psychology text to. For anyone into behavioural science, this will be enjoyable.
13. Read Write Own. Chris Dixon
The first half of this is epic: a history of the evolution of the internet as told through its various phases (from read, to read write, to read write own). All packaged up in a story that ends in web3. As it gets into the depths of that I lost interest bubt loved the beginning.
14. Filterworld: How algorithms make everything the same. Kyle Chayka
This is a book that angered me and made me want to write a counter to it, but just haven’t got round to it yet. A great read though and thought-provoking for anyone who works with the internet today.
Didn’t enjoy
1. Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making. Tony Fadell
Not the right level for me, this feels very entry-level to product and startup thinking, so was ended up skipping lots then quitting early.
2. The Everything War. Dana Mattioli
A book about Amazon that started better than it finished. Really good insight into the public affairs/governmental level battles that take place in big corps. Didn’t finish.
3. Billionaire, nerd, saviour, king: the hidden truth about Bill Gates. Anupreeta Das
Again didn’t finish this. There was nothing inherently bad about it, but I just never found myself wanting to pick it up.
4. I Can't Believe I lived the Whole Thing. Howie Cohen
Didn’t finish this either. Shame as great memoirs about advertising are hard to come by.