In terms of volume, 2011 was an average year, with 23 books read. It was also average in terms of quality – no good or bad stand-outs.
- The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court – January, 2011 – An interesting behind the scenes look at the Supreme Court. I was surprised to see how Thomas in particular is portrayed as very ineffectual because of his strict interpretation and application of the Constitution toward all rulings. And a few justices’ ended up having very different political stances from the presidents that appointed them, much to their surprise.
- The Life and Times of Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir – January, 2011 – An enjoyable memoir, but not as funny as earlier Bryson works. Kindle book.
- Consent to Kill – February, 2011 – One of the Mitch Rapp / SEALs series and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Probably because I could imagine how much my SEAL friend would hate every page.
- The Hunger Games – February, 2011 – One of the hot new young adult series. Interesting premise, might have enjoyed it more if it were a little darker.
- The Man Who Would Be King – February, 2011 – I liked the movie better. Kindle book.
- The Girl Who Played With Fire – March, 2011 – Second of the Lisbeth Salander / Blomkvist series. I thought this was much better than the first. Kindle book.
- The Book of Love – March, 2011 – Good refresher, encouraging to see that many of these recommendations are part of our daily life. The pictures were an enjoyable diversion too!
- The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944-1945 – March, 2011 – I just didn’t find this to be that compelling of a story, despite my love of all things WWII.
- How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale – April, 2011 – The Jenna Jameson story. This was not as scandalous as I thought it would be.
- Braniac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs – April, 2011 – Very enjoyable read from Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings. I’m looking forward to picking up Maphead next. Kindle book.
- Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 – May, 2011 – Amazing story. This was incredibly well researched and one of the densest books I’ve read. There are so many parts where you want to scream into the past or bang your head against the desk.
- Just Tell Me What to Say: Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents – June, 2011 – Great reference guide for raising good kids. We have it dog-eared in our bedside table.
- Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heros of SEAL Team 10 – June, 2011 – Incredible survival story, but raises a lot of questions in my mind. This will need a discussion with my SEAL buddy. Kindle book.
- Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School – July, 2011 – Insightful, but I can’t remember most of it. I think one of the principles was to repeat / relearn something at specific intervals, but now I can’t remember. Kindle book.
- Will Rogers: A Biography – August, 2011 – One of the very few books I’ve re-read. Love this man, he inspires me to be productive, kind, and love those around you.
- Darkness at Noon – September, 2011 – This was a book I picked up at the library, trying to get back into the Modern Library 100 best novels.
- Neutral Buoyancy: Adventures in a Liquid World – September, 2011 – Tells the history of diving through several specific stories of innovators, etc. Probably would have been fine serialized in Outside or some other outdoor magazine.
- The Mountain Between Us – September, 2011 – A recommendation from a friend. I liked it a lot, much better than some of the other books that get hyped so much (I’m looking at you, Hunger Games)
- The Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World – October, 2011 – This was a tough read because of some of the macroeconomic concepts involved, but ultimately very educational. I just hope this isn’t a blueprint for our current global debt crisis.
- The Road – October, 2011 – This got so much hype from friends and media, but I didn’t care for it. I’m going to call this one “worst of the year” only because I was expecting so much more.
- Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth – November, 2011 – Very interesting story. It is hard to grasp the dangers and difficulties these cavers undergo during their exploration.
- Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missle Crisis – November, 2011 – A good authoritative account, but you could watch the movie if you’re looking for an abridged version.
- The God Delusion – December, 2011 – Very thought-provoking. I catch myself thinking about this book several weeks after reading it. It’s a tough call, but I’m calling this one “best of the year” because it has stuck with me for a while now.