The 5 best books I read in 2024 (in no particular order)

1. Yuval Noah Harari - Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

   Why it is on this list: It provides an in-depth overview of what the future may hold, referencing the past in order to substantiate the logic of the educated guesses Harari makes along the way. The book connects the dots between the socio- cultural status quo we find ourselves in today and the historical context that led to said status quo. Keeping in mind that most of the book is speculation, albeit one that was properly researched and grounded in data, it never fails to keep you intrigued and offers food for thought for both the layman and the well-read. A must - read for anyone with curiosity about the world around us.

2. Gabriel García Marquez - The Autumn of the Patriarch

   Why it is on this list: It delves into the psyche of the archetypal Latin American autocrat/despot, who rules the land with an iron fist. The book is a brutal read, offering little in terms of hope and cheerfulness, instead relishing in offering a constant sense of doom and hopelessness.

   
   

3. James Clavell - King Rat

   Why it is on this list: It recreates the gloomy, yet somewhat hopeful environment of a POW camp in the Pacific during the closing stages of WW2. The author makes an effort to build the personas of the book's characters and does so masterfully, oftentimes describing scenes and situations in fine detail. Loosely based on Clavell's own experience as a POW in a Japanese internment camp, the book describes the dynamic between the imprisoned Allies and the ruling Japanese. An intriguing read, better perceived as a novel, rather than as a work of historic non-fiction.

   
   

4. Margaret Synge - A Book of Discovery

   Why it is on this list: It offers a masterful overview of the history of human geographical exploration, carefully picking out the more eventful discoveries history has to offer. The book employs a storytelling style that is straight to the point with the author's occasional deviation from the narrative in their goal of briefly conveying their thoughts and informing the reader about further historical context. Reading more like a well put together story than a history book, its attention to detail and context offer an immersive experience to the history buff as much as to the average, unacquainted reader. A thoroughly enriching read for everyone who is interested in how exploration shaped the world as we know it.

   
   

5. David Attenborough - A Life on Our Planet

   Why it is on this list: The book is a thought - provoking exploration of the history of humanity's impact on our planet through the eyes of the then 94-year-old legendary natural biologist and broadcaster David Attenborough. It offers a glimpse of the significant changes that the planet has undergone throughout the author's lifetime and ponders what the future may bring given the increasingly omnipresent nature of humanity's role in climate change and our responsibility to change our ways for our sake first. The book is a thought-provoking read that offers a glimpse into the mind and thoughts of one of the greatest and original "influencers" of our lifetime.