đ In no particular order, some thoughts on the words which kept me occupied this year.
Digital Minimalism, Cal Newport
What I expected
Some useful takes on how to cut down digital clutter. How to sensibly edit down those 15GB of photos of pizza I have. All of those meaningless documents on Google Drive, and multiple lists scattered across various to-do apps I use/struggle to use to manage my life. How to balance having a dozen or more devices in my house that are connected to the internet.
What it was
Nothing new really, and less about âdigital minimalismâ and more about âsocial media is bad, mmkay, so use it lessâ. But that said, it has prompted me to make some changes in my life, particularly around social media usage. And surely, being genuinely life-changing is the highest honour of the impact a book can have? An easy read, either way, which took some of the ‘been there’ edge off.
Quote: âsimply put, humans are not wired to be constantly wired.â
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
What I expected
A long overdue one â seminal restaurant writing from one of the most revered food writers and personalities ever.
What it was
Seminal restaurant writing from one of the most revered food writers and personalities ever.
Though a little dated in places (think bro/hustle-chef culture), a gripping, visceral and often hilarious insight into how professional kitchens were run through the 80s, 90s and even early 2000s, as well as tales of drugs, women, violence, as well as food and drink of course.
Makes me want to be a cook, and yet detest the idea of working in a kitchen in equal measures, which is no mean feat. Not just tales of restaurants, but a look into the mind of the legend that was Bourdain make it an essential read, even for someone with only a passing interest in food.
Quote: âyour body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.â
Atomic Habits, James Clear
What I expected
Now touting itself as the biggest selling Amazon book of 2021, a how-to make more of your life, generic self-help book, that’s on as many ‘people who read this are insane’ lists as it is ‘this book changed my life’. Perhaps there’s a big crossoverâŠ
What it was
A nice quick read offering some thought provoking concepts on how to squeeze more out of every moment. I liked that it wasn’t too business oriented, instead offering up mantras to help gain time to spend doing more of the things you love â not necessarily just work more.
It’s easily digestible and all sounds like a great idea, entirely actionable and within anyones reach, but as with many books like this, much easier said than done.
Quote: âHabits are the compound interest of self-improvement.â
Hungry, Grace Dent
What I expected
A memoir of the life and career of one of my favourite food writers.
What it was
A bloody beautiful, unexpectedly touching, and funny read covering the pivotal times of the life of someone who really should be able to win anyone’s heart. I dunno if Grace’s ‘common as muck’ persona just aligns so well with mine, or if it’s a propensity to her Cumbrian/Scouse twang (I got this on audiobook just because it was read by Grace) but she’s just likeable through and through.
More memories told through the medium of food than out and out restaurant savaging, but surprising, warm, and captivating to the end. Really unexpectedly enjoyed it.
Quote: âOh, Grace, heâs not got dementia,â she sighed. âHeâs just a dickhead.â
My Last Supper, Jay Rayner
What I expected
I mean the cover does a good job here. A carefully curated telling of a meal of the things Jay Rayner would most love to eat *at the end*.
What it was
Exactly that, but so much more. Obviously Jay Rayner is an exemplary storyteller, and making the dozen or so components to a final meal as engaging as this from start to finish is testament to that. Equal parts food porn to anecdotes from a life very well lived and travelled, it’s a relatively short read that’s expertly paced and incredibly easy to blast though.
Quite heavily ingredient oriented and so aimed at the keen eaters at times, but the reasoning and narrative behind all of the parts of the last supper make this just as appealing to a casual reader.
Quote: âI have given my body to my job, and it hasnât always thanked me for it.â
Range, David Epstein
What I expectedÂ
As I tumble between my own specialisms and generalists in life and work, I hoped the subtitle ‘triumphing as a generalist in a specialist world’ would give me some kind of confirmation that it’s not always about being amazing at just one thing.
What it was
Quite a one sided take on exactly that. I love the concept, and in a proof that a great title is everything, the exploration of the idea.
But christ, each example just takes far too long. And from a fascinating first chapter hook of specialist Tiger Woods vs. generalist Roger Federer, the examples become incredibly tiresome after the slow pace of the following dozen. Which is a shame, because the core concept is sound, and well backed up, just not told in a captivating way.Â
As I saw in another review somewhere ‘would probably work better as a couple of blog posts’.
Quote: âIn a wicked world, relying upon experience from a single domain is not only limiting, it can be disastrous.â
Zero to One, Peter Thiel
What I expected
Hot takes on systems, processes, growing startup businesses and as my good colleague warned âit will make you feel quite bleak about workâ.
What it was
Pretty much that, but as you often get with ‘been there’ types, somewhat condescending in places. ‘I’ve done it, so everything I say just must be right’ makes Thiel a bit wankerish.
Nonetheless, a lot of the book makes a great deal of sense, whether it’s growing a company, why businesses fail, and that future-thinking which would have been great during the Dotcom boom, even if today, it’s nothing new.
It left me with lots to think about, which again, I guess is the hallmark of any good business read.
Quote:âAll failed companies are the same: they failed to escape competition.â
Essentialism, Gren McKeown
What I expected
Another twist on the minimalism trend. You’d think I could get enough of these books, alas, here’s another one. There’s a trend.
What it was
Another twist on minimalism, with a bit more of a business hat on. If Atomic Habits was about how to get more time to spend writing, or playing, or running, this is certainly more about getting ahead in business. Which is fine, as it was mostly grounded in reality, and McKeown seems like a fairly legitimate, likeable character.
Like many business books, it’s easy to think ‘this is all stuff I’ve heard before and know â I need help in the doing‘, but the minimalist spin on it at least ground the concepts in a tangible, and sometimes wholesome way.
Quote: âThe way of the Essentialist means living by design, not by default. Instead of making choices reactively, the Essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many.â
Far and Away, AA Gill
What I expected
Classic restaurant reviews.
What it was
An eye-opener into the other works of a truly incredible writer. I know Gill as far as the savage restaurant reviews he doled out over several decades, but some of the looser travel writing here was equally as interesting.
Bit of arsehole to say the least, but yâknow, some people can get away with it. Incredibly verbose at times, and almost any given piece requires a dictionary, but mind-expanding and really just another level of observational storytelling.
Not just a one trick, food describing pony, but honestly someone who was rightfully at the top of their game, and won’t be forgotten for their contribution to really, the world.
Quote: âI think PR is a ridiculous job. They are the head-lice of civilisation.â
Aiming to add some diversity and perhaps read something that isn’t minimalist self-help, or popular food writing in 2022, but we’ll see đ