I realize, I’ve been reading but haven’t been writing about the books I’ve read so far. That does no good, considering the short term memory I have. 🙄 So last weekend, I spent some time reminiscing my kindle collection.
I’ve read twenty eight books since last year and I might as well write about them all at some point but this post is dedicated to my top five reads since 2019.
They had a deep impact on me. (& my perspective). I highly recommend these, if you haven’t read them already.
1. One flew over the cuckoo’s nest
Category – Fiction
Mental Institution has always been a stranded Island and one can’t imagine what goes on with the lives of patients in there. This book offers a whole new window to that world. It is actually setup in a psychiatric hospital, narrated by a patient in there.
It details very well, the mundane routine of patients, how they become used to the bureaucratic hospital regime and why they accept their fate in this mental asylum.
Will they ever get better? Will they be a part of normal society again? You will doubt the answers to above throughout this read.
The plot of this book takes an interesting turn when a new admit enters this psychiatric center and challenges the rules and authority.
This book is marked in fiction category but the characters drawn out in this book seem so real that I found it largely alluding to real life situations.
Overall rating – 4.5/5
(not 5 b’coz I found a small part of this book, a bit flimsy)
Note: There is a also a movie on this book from 1975.
2. Midnight in Chernobyl
Category – Non Fiction
Just about the time, I was reading this book, they launched an HBO series showcasing this nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. It was a five episode series and although they captured the central plot impressively, they didn’t do enough justice to “the making of Chernobyl”.
Years before the actual nuclear explosion happened (26 April, 1986), the inadequacies of this nuclear plant made it vulnerable to fail. It managed to bypass all security standards. The Soviet government was aware of this and at the same time very competitive.
The aftermath of this crisis was equally disastrous. (largely due to the fact the Soviet govt hid the disaster from its own people and the world). This severely affected the reputation of Soviet Union.
This book uncovers the whole story, detailing all events that went into the making of world’s worst nuclear disaster. (till this date)
Not to forget the character build up in this book, which is so strong that I found myself boiling in anger in many scenes.
Today, Chernobyl is open to tourists. They built a giant dome covering this radiation site. The Ukrainian government is trying to capitalize on this abandoned site, citing that it is completely safe. I would like to go (visit), but I doubt if it really is safe. Could it be a propaganda to promote revenue?
Overall rating – 5/5
3. Educated
Category : Non Fiction
I’ve read this book somewhere in Dec 2019 but I can still reckon clearly, the struggles of Tara Westover (the author of this book). I found this book remarkable coz the experiences that Tara shares in this book are very personal and extraordinary.
Tara was not registered at her birth. She didn’t exist in any government records up until she was nine.
Her family (including her parents and six siblings) was mormonic and extremely rigid. They boycotted all public amenities (including doctors, hospitals and even schools). Tara was loosely home schooled.
In spite of this large disconnect, Tara held on to the conviction of existence of a world outside this bubble. She understood the value of education. She tried by all her means to be educated. This book is a beautiful story of Tara’s journey from her life in isolation to life in real society.
She ended up pursuing an MBA in the University of Cambridge. She now lives a life away from her family.
Overall rating – 5/5
4. Maybe you should talk to someone
Category – Non Fiction
To be honest, I picked this book to understand a therapist’s perspective on his or her patients. I’ve always been intrigued about what really happens in a therapy session. I have not been to any. (not that I want to ). But this book, just gives enough insights.
It is actually a therapist’s account of her patients (disguised) as she details her sessions with those patients. She is candid in expressing her view about the situation and how she relates those to her own life.
What is interesting to see is that the author (therapist herself) consults another therapist to tackle the problems of her own life. The vulnerability with which she shares her own experience with this other therapist helps you visualize therapy in general, as a third person.
I loved this book as it was a perfect bedtime read. I finished this very quick.
By the way, for those who do not know – American TV show “In treatment” is another popular fictionalized account of therapy sessions.
Overall rating – 4/5
5. Sapiens
Category – Non Fiction
There never has been a simplistic view of Human history described before Sapiens. Now, I am not a fan of reading history (I find it hard to remember chronology), so I didn’t pick this one for six months.(even though I had a hard copy). But I have to admit, I was glued to this after I read its first few pages.
Sapiens is the kind of book that will help you understand why we are, the way we are. It feels like history demonstrated by someone who understands psychology. It explores the basics like why we (the homo sapiens) survived while all our ancestors became extinct? How agriculture changed our lives? How industrial and scientific revolution shaped our complex society? What challenges lay ahead of us? (and other interesting questions)
I liked this book as it helped me understand the present and what lies ahead of us, while reading the history.
.Overall rating : 4/5
Appendix :
Full list of books I read since 2019
- Predictably Irrational – Dan Ariely
- How to win friends and Influence people- Dale Carnegie
- I can’t make this up life lessons – Kevin Hart
- One flew over the cuckoo’s nest – Ken Kesey
- Educated – Tara Westover
- Resilience – Eric Greiten
- The Gene – Siddhartha Mukherjee
- Me talk pretty one day – David Sedaris
- Dreams from my father – Barack Obama
- Unbroken – Laura Hillenbrand
- The four agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz
- Brexit – Ian Dunt
- Switch – Chip and Dan Heath
- Maybe you should talk to someone – Lori Gottlieb
- A river in darkness – Masaji Ishikawa
- Hyperbole and a half – Allie brosh
- Humans – Tom Phillips
- Man’s search for meaning – Viktor E Frankl
- Boundaries – Dr Henry Cloud and Dr John Townsend
- Becoming – Michelle Obama
- Sapiens – A brief history of humankind – Yuval Noah Harari
- Don’t sweat the small stuff – Richard Carlson
- Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom
- The Peter Principle – Laurence J. Peter & Raymond Hull
- Midnight in Chernobyl – Adam Higginbotham
- Thinking, person’s guide to Autism – Shannon des Roches Rosa (and others)
- Shantaram – Gregory David Roberts
- Adulthood is a myth – Sarah Andersen
© Copyright 2020. Megha Gupta. All rights reserved.
Comments
25 responses to “My Top Five Reads since 2019”
“Maybe you should talk to someone” by Lori Gotlieb was a near-to practical portrayal of how a therapist conceives perspectives. Gotta read “Educated” by Tara, Thanks much for the recommendation.
Glad to hear that you liked it too. 😀I hope you enjoy the other reads.
That was a fantastic writeup especially on the Chernobyl dissaster as I can very well relate to it because I was an Electrical Engineer in Nuclear power stations of RAPS,Rawatbhata and Narora from Sept 1981 to Nov 1999 and had to work inside the Reactor buildings!After the incident we were very concerned although the IAEA MADE MORE STRINGENT PROVISIONS FOR REACTOR AND PERSONNEL SAFETY!I got transferred from nuclear plants to Research projects and retired in Jan 2019.We also went into the details of Chernobyl mishap and it was such a nervous issue for we nuclear scientists!Thanks Megha for raising such an important issue!
Thanks for sharing your experience. It is not very often when I hear from someone about the experience of working inside a nuclear reactor building. The incident of Chernobyl must have made all others risk averse. I’m glad that turned out okay for you.. 🙂 hope the safety of reactors is better nowdays. (Also in Ukraine and similar countries)
Yes you are very much right about that! Safety parameters are adhered to quite stringtly!Working in Nuclear ☢️ power involves maintenance of thousands of equipment & machinery on power as well in reactor shutdown!We have to monitor the radiation hazards and in the event of overexposure are taken out of reactor services till the time the radiation comes down to acceptable limits after some time!
A very meticulous job indeed! 😬
Yes ,it was a tough period of 18 yrs in Reactor services and we came out safe being exposed to Radiations within permissible limits as per IAEA guidelines Then I was transferred to research division of BARC and it was a cakewalk of 20 yrs Theron before my retirement in jan 2019!Just before retirement I completed my MSW degree to engage in Social work
Hyperbole & A Half was the book that made me realize I had depression. Of course, I didn’t do anything about it for a long time after that, but naming the beast sure did wonders for my health.
I loved that book and that chapter indeed. I couldn’t have imagined someone can describe depression through cartoons. So impactful. I wish she writes more. I follow her blog very often. 🙂
Such a fantastic list😁 I have read the second one and boy it was amazing
I’m glad you liked it too! One of my best reads.
Good list, I am reading Educated and Sapiens currently ❤️❤️
Thank you! 🙂 Glad you picked them too. ☺️
It’s so amazing that you really read all these books in a span of a year. Absolutely praiseworthy.
Hey, thanks. Last year was great especially since I read mostly while I was travelling to work. ☺️
Great… You have awesome list of books here ! I have read a few. How did you like Shantaram ?
Nice to hear that you’ve read some of them. Which was your favourite read since last year? Was it shantaram? I loved the book.. it was huge..and moved like a movie for most parts. The part of afghan war was a bit of a drag. What I loved about shantaram was that it portrayed a side of India without polishing it with rich culture and fineness. (as is normally advertised)
Correct ! Shantaram has become a favourite of mine. I have already read it 3 times now( excluded the Afghan war last 2 times) .
I also think author was able to see India and people here in their raw nature and has describe that superbly in the book. Also this observation comes from a foreign author, that makes it even more awesome.
Wow.. 3 times.. thats a lot considering that it is a very thick book. Kudos! 🙂
I like Sapiens too. It showed a totally different perspective of the human evolution.
Have you read more books from Yuval Noah Harari. His other books are awesome as well.
Nice, you liked it too. I haven’t read others from Yuval though. Thanks for reminding.. I will check which other ones exist. 🙂
That’s an amazing list. 28 books.. That’s inspiring 📚❤️
Hey Thanks. I’m glad you liked the list
Thanks for this. I’ve always wanted to know more about the chernobyl disaster, but have not had the time. Your book review has convinced to go for that book. Thanks much, megha!
I’m glad you’re planning to read one of my favourites! 😀