Best of 2021... Books

Even when the world might feel like it's in disarray, people are still creating dope things. Here's the best of the good stuff I experienced this year.

Today, I'll be diving into books, but note, not all of them came out in 2021.

They are just the ones I read this year that resonated most with me. In other words, these are ones I think are more than worth your time to read, own, and experience.

Without further ado... 🧮

Best Books

Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm

Non-drinker but hear me out. This book is a phenomenal intro to the world of wine that's beautifully designed and beautifully informative. You'll thank me later.

And yes, I have a pretty strong wine recommendation game.

WILL by Will Smith

Will Smith has been famous for a long time and not just "you look familiar on the street" famous, but a megastar, "we have to book whole floors of hotels when we travel" famous.

So how did he get there? Simply put, it was his will (pun intended).

Brick by brick he achieved his dream and you know what happened after he reached it? He hated it. The good news is he didn't completely fall off. The better news is he's shared his lessons learned in his autobiography.

Lots of wisdom in this one. You WILL like it.

100 Truths You Will Learn Too Late by Luca Dellanna

I ran across Luca Dellanna via Twitter and though I'm not sure how he ended up on my timeline, I'm glad he did. I read his book Ergodicity (I'd explain it poorly so see examples here) and found it fascinating so I dove into his other books.

In 100 Truths You Will Learn Too Late, Luca shares his mental models for navigating life.

Here's an example of one of his truths, "Success comes from maximizing feedback loops. [...] Every time you receive feedback, focus on the fact that you are receiving a piece of your future success."

There's 99 more gems in there for you.

The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous

You should care more deeply about money than you do today. Not in just attaining it (though having enough is important), but in understanding what money actually is and why we use it.

In the Bitcoin Standard you'll learn so much more about the history of money and why crypto is such an important concept today. You don't need to be a Bitcoin Maximalist after reading, but having a strong, foundational understanding of why cryptocurrencies matter will serve you well in the coming decade.

The New Black Vanguard by Antwaun Sargent

I liked how the author described this book better than what I would've wrote:

In The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion, curator and critic Antwaun Sargent addresses a radical transformation taking place in fashion and art today. The featuring of the Black figure and Black runway and cover models in the media and art has been one marker of increasingly inclusive fashion and art communities. More critically, however, the contemporary visual vocabulary around beauty and the body has been reinfused with new vitality and substance thanks to an increase in powerful images authored by an international community of Black photographers.

In a richly illustrated essay, Sargent opens up the conversation around the role of the Black body in the marketplace; the cross-pollination between art, fashion, and culture in constructing an image; and the institutional barriers that have historically been an impediment to Black photographers participating more fully in the fashion (and art) industries.

It's a great read and looks good on the coffee table.

Principles for Dealing with The Changing World Order by Ray Diallo

Ray Dalio is at the stage in life where all he cares about is his legacy. He's trying to pass on all of the information he's ever learned in his Principles series and is sounding the alarm on where he is seeing regression in America and more broadly capitalism.

He's made his money as a capitalist but also recognizes that they system is not working as intended due the ever widening wealth gap. So, what does this mean for our nation?

The short answer: America is in decline now and will be irrelevant if we don't correct soon. We're underinvesting in the things that matter like education.

This book packed full of information and gives you a much better understanding on what to look for in macroeconomic trends across the world.

It is also a call to action to reform capitalism as we know it from a capitalist.

What are some of your must-read books from the year?

Let me know so I can add them to my list!