April Reading List 2021
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
Hey friends,
It’s amazing we’re over a year into the pandemic. This time last year, most of us were in the middle of a lockdown adjusting to this new reality. Now, for most of us in the western world, we’re on the edge of restrictions being lifted and some form of normality returning.
The disaster unfolding in India, and the ongoing situation in Brazil are reminders the virus isn’t finished with us yet. For all the progress we’ve made, there’s still a lot that can go wrong.
With all the spare time the pandemic gave me, I’ve been able to read more and more during the past year. While you should never count the books you read or read to say you’ve read x amount of books, it’s still nice to get through a good amount of books.
That said, I only got through last month. They’re listed below along with the book I’m currently reading and a book I read a while ago which deserves a mention.
Chernobyl - The Chernobyl disaster was an incident which changed the face of history forever. It hastened the fall of the Soviet Union, which collapsed five years later and started a move away from the nuclear industry which hasn’t reversed. We’ve all heard of Chernobyl, but I wonder how many of us know what happened there? This book is a fantastic account of what transpired on that fateful day and the aftermath. It’s a gripping read and one which does a fantastic job of looking at the disaster from the angle of those involved, the people living in nearby Priypat and the big bosses in Moscow.
Straw Dogs - This is the first of three John Gray books I’ve been reading recently and this was the best. The book is an examination of many of the beliefs we hold as humans. Gray is no fan of liberal ideology and launches a raging polemic against many common views in the modern world. He’s scathing about progress, morality and the idea humans are above animals. He makes forceful points and makes you reconsider beliefs you hold dear. It’s an uncomfortable read in that regard and many people won’t like it but I found it intellectually stimulating. Easily one of the best books I’ve read this year.
The Silence of Animals - This is the sequel to Straw Dogs. An odd way to describe a book but that’s what it says on the front cover so I’ll roll with it! The arguments are similar to Straw Dogs, but they venture out into new terrain. Gray looks more at the extremities of the world and how various writers have tried to reconcile our place in it. Although I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t as good as Straw Dogs. It felt like Gray was going over old ground in parts and I’m not sure he needed to elaborate further on the points he made previously. Still, it was an interesting and stimulating read.
The Soul of the Marionette - The third of Gray’s book and the one I’m currently reading, The Soul of the Marionette explores human freedom. This is one of the most interesting questions concerning humanity, just how free are we? Gray explores this and questions whether we want to be free at all? Do we desire choice or do we want them to be made for us or easier? Again, it’s a thought-provoking read and if you’re interested in philosophy one you’ll enjoy.
I hope you get around to reading a few of these selections. Whether you read them in the next month or year, I’m not bothered. The idea of my reading lists is to encourage you, the reader, to read more.
If more of us read, and read books outside of our comfort zone, the world would be a better place. You don’t know what you don’t know. Reading is one of the best ways to fill in those gaps in your knowledge.
If you have any comments about the books, maybe you’ve read one before. Or if you have some recommendations for me, I’m all ears. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Until next time,
Tom