Welcome to my review of my favorite books of 2022! It has been an exciting year for literature. After much contemplation, I narrowed down my list to a selection of titles that stood out to me. These are the books that kept me up late at night, the ones that made me laugh and cry and think, and the ones that I know I will be returning to time and time again. In this review, I will be sharing my thoughts on why these particular books made such a lasting impression on me, and I hope that they will do the same for you. So without further ado, let’s get started on my favorite books of 2022!
(Note: the above introduction is generated by ChatGPT🤯)
My Top 5 List
“Shoe Dog” is a memoir written by Phil Knight, the founder and former CEO of Nike. In this candid and thought-provoking book, Knight reflects on the early days of Nike and the many challenges he faced as he built the company from the ground up. The incredible ups and downs of the story make it one of those books I cannot put down once I start reading. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in entrepreneurship, business, or the history of Nike.
2. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
“Man’s Search for Meaning” is a memoir and psychology literature written by Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and founder of logotherapy. In this relatively short read, Frankl recalls his experience in Nazi concentration camps and the lessons he learned. By the end of the book, Frankl reflects on the keys to a meaningful and fulfilling life. I believe this book should be on everyone’s reading wishlist since it gives a close-up look at the cruelty of wars as well as the beauty of human experiences.
3. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
“The 5 Love Languages” is a self-help book written by Gary Chapman, a marriage counselor and paster In the book, Chapman illustrates the 5 different ways people express love through examples and personal experiences. He argues speaking the other person’s love language is the key to a healthy relationship. I applied lessons from the book to my personal relationships and I’m shocked to witness the profound effects of these simple principles. This book is a must-read for those who want to improve personal relationships or want more fulfilling relationships.
4. The Metaverse by Matthew Ball
“The Metaverse” is a book by Matthew Ball, an influential pioneer and advocate in the metaverse industry. In his book, Ball talks about the current status, challenges, and future outlooks of the metaverse. Despite being familiar with the field, I gain deep insights and new perspectives. Ball also raises and addresses a lot of questions regarding the metaverse that I previously had. As the metaverse era approaches, this thought-provoking book is a fantastic read for those who want to learn about the emerging industry, whether you’re familiar with it or not.
5. The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins
“The First 90 Days” is a business and leadership book by Michael Watkins, a professor and consultant. This book discusses strategies for professionals who are starting a new role and provides a detailed framework for the first few months. I started a new job this year and this book offers tremendous help for making a smooth transition to my new role. I recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about or is already taking on a new role.
Honorable Mention
“Snow Crash” coined the term “metaverse” and this reason alone is enough to get me to pick up this book. I don’t read a lot of science fiction but this book offers an intriguing story based in a cyberpunk setting where people live in virtual worlds parallel to the physical one. This book is an interesting read for those who enjoy science fiction or want to study the original concept of the metaverse.
2. A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa
“A River in Darkness” details the experiences of growing up in North Korea. Through his own story and the stories of his family, Ishikawa gives a rare and intimate look at life in North Korea, including the harsh realities of poverty, censorship, and repression. This book brings me into a world that the outside has no access to and offers unique perspectives on freedom and humanity.
3. Measure What Matters by John Doerr
“Measure What Matters” is a business and leadership book written by John Doerr, a venture capitalist and chairman of Kleiner Perkins. I picked up this book as OKR gains popularity in my organization. In the book, Doerr discusses the concept of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), a goal-setting framework that he has used with successful companies such as Google, Intel, and LinkedIn. I initially thought OKR would just be another leadership gimmick but was pleasantly surprised by its power to achieve goals. I started to incorporate OKR into my personal goals and had great results. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get into leadership and goal setting personally and professionally.
Thank you for an incredible 2022. Follow me on https://jackyangzzh.medium.com/ for more content in 2023!
