Reading and listening in 2024

As we come to the end of the year, I wanted to share a random list of books I enjoyed reading and podcasts that caught my fancy (in no particular order).

Books

This is a partial list of the books I acquired during the year and either completed or gave up on. Also, they are not listed in any specific order. It also does not include the books I purchased but have yet to read…(maybe one day!).

I am sharing these because I am always on the lookout for book recommendations myself and, indeed, got to know of many of those listed here because they were recommended by someone/somewhere.

1. Absolute top of on my list are three books by David McCloskey, a former CIA analyst, the best spy novels I have ever read (and I have read tons). The first, Damascus Station was recommended by John Sawers, the former Head of MI6, on a podcast, and when I googled it, I saw that it had received glowing reviews, including from worthies like David Petraeus, the former CIA Director. I got it right away, followed by Moscow X, and had no hesitation in getting The Seventh Floor when it came out. I finished that one just yesterday. All books are fantastically written, with gripping plots, compelling characters, and wonderful writing style.

2. Lust For Life by Irving Stone is a semi-fictional biographical novel that chronicles the life of Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh's struggles with poverty, mental illness, societal rejection, and his relentless pursuit of artistic expression and meaning. The book portrays his relationships, his creative journey, and the emotional turmoil that fueled his art, culminating in his tragic yet inspiring legacy as one of history's most celebrated artists

3. The Golden Road by the historian-writer William Dalrymple is a captivating exploration of India’s profound influence on global civilization, particularly from 250 BCE to 1200 CE. The book emphasizes India’s role as a cultural and economic hub, shaping art, religion, mathematics, and trade, across Asia and beyond.

   The book is a romp - Dalrymple’s vivid storytelling brings historical figures and events to life.

4. A Murder is Fixed by Madhav Nayak, a Desi murder mystery set in Mumbai, revolving around the murder of a lawyer investigating match-fixing in the Mega Cricket League by Russi Batliwala, a retired umpire turned amateur sleuth. The book explores the glamour and dark underbelly of cricket and has many Mumbai gems, twists, colorful characters, and a dramatic climax.

5. The Upside-Down World: Meetings with the Dutch Masters by Benjamin Moser is an illustrated blend of memoir and history about the Dutch Golden Age art from the vantage point of an expatriate in the Netherlands. Through his reflections on artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Hals, Moser extend to themes of belonging, creativity, and the purpose of art.

6. Global environmental change is the most pressing problem facing humanity today. The Best of Times, The Worst of Times by Paul Behrens catches you by the throat and keeps shaking you as it explores humanity's environmental and societal challenges, offering both pessimism and hope through its grim analysis, balanced with optimism for transformative progress. The book underscores that while the challenges are immense, there is still hope if humanity acts decisively and collaboratively.

7. In the mystery novel set in a rural Irish town, The Hunter, the always amazing Tana French masterfully uses a combination of slow-burn pacing, intricate character development, and atmospheric settings to explore themes of revenge, family bonds, through nuanced dialogue and use of unresolved questions that draw the readers into the emotional and moral complexities of the narrative.

8. Digesting India is an engaging exploration of India's diverse culinary traditions by Zac O'Yeah, a Scandinavian-origin Indian novelist. He chronicles his adventures with Indian regional cuisines, blending humor, historical research, and cultural insights.

9. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (translated from Japanese) is a heartwarming collection of five stories, gently told, about individuals at a crossroad who visit a community library and meet the enigmatic librarian. Along with books, she offers recommendations that transform their perspectives and help them discover new meaning and direction in life. The book celebrates the transformative power of books, kindness, and human connection.

10. The acclaimed neuroscientist and primatologist Robert Sapolsky's interesting book Determined argues that every action and decision results from preceding factors beyond individual control, and free will is an illusion. He argues against the traditional notions of moral responsibility, agency, and justice, proposing that society should rethink blame and punishment and that this understanding can lead to a more compassionate and equitable world.

11. I became aware of the The Art of Explanation: How to Communicate with Clarity and Confidence when the author - the BBC presenter and journalist Ros Atkins visited our UK office. The book has practical advice for all of us who strive to explain complex ideas. It outlines ten key attributes to ensure clarity, engagement, and effectiveness in communication through simplicity, precision, and audience awareness, and emphasizes clarity of purpose as the foundational element for making communication purposeful and impactful.

12. Curious about the unpredictability of life and how small actions can have outsized consequences? Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters by the American political scientist Brian Klaas explores the role of randomness and chance in shaping individual lives, societies, and history. Using examples from chaos theory, history, science, and philosophy, Klaas demonstrates how small, seemingly insignificant events can trigger massive ripple effects, challenging our belief in predictability and control.

Podcasts

This is the era of podcasts. I regularly listen to podcasts during my walks, in a car and during exercise. I have started and abandoned many, but some of the ones I have stuck to for at least a year are

1. The Empire, hosted by Willian Dalrymple (see above) and Anita Anand, explores the rise, fall, and legacy of empires throughout history. Start with the first season that covers British India and a bit of the Mughal times. Later episodes cover the Ottoman Empire, the history of slavery, East Africa, Indian soldiers in World War I, and Jahangir’s art revolution. It is a romp, with lots of nuggets that surprise you. The hosts have wonderful chemistry and clearly enjoy what they do!

2. Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! is an irreverent and highly entertaining podcast thinly disguised as a news show, running for over 20 years. It combines humor with current events (mostly American), featuring a panel of witty comedians, celebrity guests and audience participants asking questions of each other. Whether you’re a news trivia junkie or just love clever banter, this podcast is sure to brighten your day!

3. On the Media is an American Award-winning podcast that critically examines how media shapes public perception. It delves into media bias, censorship, disinformation, and freedom of speech. Its USP lies in its transparency about the "media-making process," offering clarifying critiques of news coverage while fostering media literacy and empowering listeners to navigate complex narratives. Even though it focuses on American topics, the principles are of global relevance.

4. If you want to see a humorous/serious take in Hindi, try टिप्पणी by Newslaundry - a blend of sharp analysis, satire, and cultural commentary hosted by Atul Chaurasia. It has thought-provoking takes on current events and dissects the biases and sensationalism prevalent in mainstream news channels.

5. The BBC's More or Less podcast, hosted by the economic journalist Tim Harford, examines the accuracy of numbers and statistics in public discourse, debunking misconceptions, providing clarity on complex topics, and enhancing statistical literacy through engaging analysis, making sense of figures that shape public debates.

6. The NY Times podcast Hard Fork, hosted by tech journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton, explores the rapidly evolving world of technology - including artificial intelligence, social media, cryptocurrency, and the future of the internet. You get a mix of news, analysis, interviews, and humor, and hopefully, a sense of what’s real versus hype in the tech industry.

7. Cricket et al., hosted by journalists Gideon Haigh and Pete Lalor, blends cricket commentary with discussions on music, books, movies, and life, offering a casual, eclectic approach, prioritizing storytelling and cultural commentary over rigid structure.

Websites

I stumbled across an interesting nature-focused website this year - Moss and Fog - an incredible platform for visual inspiration. It showcases a wide range of visually striking content from cutting-edge design, fine art, nature, science, technology, and travel, combining aesthetic appeal with intellectual stimulation. If you want to take a moment and celebrate beauty and creativity, you could do worse than to visit this site. You can sign up for a daily dose of relaxing content in your email.

Marginal Revolution is a fantastic blog co-authored by Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok, both professors at George Mason University. I discovered it recently, but it has been running for over 20 years and offers daily posts covering a wide range of topics, including economics, public policy, culture, and global affairs.

That’s it for now, folks.

Happy New Year, dear readers! 🎉 Here’s to a fresh chapter filled with curiosity, inspiration, and all the stories that make life brighter in 2025! 🌟