I reached a personal goal of reading 70 books this year. here are some of the best books I read this year (in no particular order but ordered by type):

SPIRITUAL

Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen

it was Garett and I’s second year in a row reading this book—it’s that good. Nouwen takes the reader through three practises of the desert fathers & mothers: solitude, silence & prayer. all of which are help bring you into the influence of God alone.

Nouwen writes simply about spiritual practises in a way that makes it not only seem doable but desirable.

Perpetuated in Righteousness by David Kikawa

this book was unforgettable in the way Kikawa presented the case for indigenous Gods (and specifically ʻIo, the God the first Hawaiian people believed in) sharing the qualities of the God of Christianity. as Hawaiʻi was irreversibly affected by the Christian missionaries in good and bad ways, this was a fascinating and impactful read.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer

Braiding Sweetgrass CHANGED me. this book made me long to touch the earth! I would read a chapter and immediately go outside and work on my garden. ha!

Dr. Robin presents Native American values around how people interact with land in a lilting narrative and story-driven way, sharing her research through experiences with her tribe and her family.

this book is beautiful and I believe especially profound for people living in Hawaiʻi, confronted daily by the ʻāina asking to be cared for and loved in ways Dr. Robin presents in this book.

POETRY

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

agh! Audre Lorde! she just knows what words to say to make us feel a certain way! this book of essays felt like poetry. in this book are themes of feminism, feeling like an outsider, her identities as a lesbian, a mother, a cancer survivor, a poet, an activist… her authority and passion is prominent in the way she writes and it inspires me to feel deeper, act radically, and write with abandon.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is another book that was written by a poet, and while being a novel, this book also feels deeply personal. it’s a story about the son of a Vietnamese immigrant discovers his own queerness and how his ill-fated romance begins and inevitably ends. you feel the swaths of life’s truth coming through in emotional droves. this story is at once passionate and dismal, beautiful and tragic—one of those rare books where the title becomes more and more poignant as you read through the story.

BIZ/SELF IMPROVEMENT

The Practise by Seth Godin

this book shook me when I read it in 2021, and it did not fail to disappoint when I read it again this year (and there is so much to unpack that it deserves a yearly read). Seth Godin has been an absolutely prolific writer and creator for the last 40+ years and this summation of his life’s learnings will have you highlighting every other page. it’s the best manifesto and kick in the butt for any creative professional looking to make and ship better work.

“The magic of the creative process is that there is no magic.”

Soundtracks by Jon Acuff

if you only read one “self-help” book this year, let it be this one. Acuff has said he likes to “put handles” on ideas to make them easy to carry out, and in Soundtracks, he puts handles on the idea of affirmations.

I am personally a huge fan of affirmations, visualising and speaking life into your ideal version of yourself, but I also understand the “ick” factor that comes with saying something that you don’t believe is true about yourself.

the basic idea is that you are in charge of the radio of your life, and you can change the soundtrack of your brain. for each thought that plays, ask yourself—”is it true? is it helpful? is it kind?” and only if it passes through those three yes’s should you let it stay.

you have nothing to lose and potentially much to gain just by spending an hour with this book.

HISTORY

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

in a stunning combination of deep scholarly research and visceral storytelling, Wilkerson makes a case that America has a secret Caste system, with the Black community at the bottom—the dalits or “untouchables”.

growing up in Hawaiʻi, it is somewhat difficult to fully understand the Black American experience. with the help of books like these, I am slowly able to better empathise with the Black community and begin to grasp the full horrors of racism in America. with that knowledge, I hope to be more aware of my own actions and influence as well as my responsibilities to champion the underrepresented and disenfranchised people in my own community. (for a very in-depth review I enjoyed, check this out)

FICTION

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

this book was compelling and complex, intertwining the lives and fates of five different characters through different periods in time. it could be confusing at times, and not every narrative struck a chord with me, but ultimately it made me think deeply about the importance of books and libraries. libraries are unique in their ability to hold past, present and future—they tell past stories, they provide a space to learn and be safe for people of all backgrounds in the present, and they contain our ideas for the future. altogether, I really enjoyed the winding journey that Doerr presented and many of the characters stay with me today.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa

this novel was unique beyond words, such a lovely story about unforgettable characters. translated into English from Japanese, there is a certain soft and quiet quality of the narrative that is rare in English fiction. a deeply moving slice-of-life story about a housekeeper’s relationship with the elderly homeowner which taught me to appreciate maths. it sounds strange, but when you read it you’ll understand.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

you know that trope where the Big City Business guy goes to a small town and meets a girl who is just so simple and sweet and ~small town~ compared to his crazy Big City Girlfriend? well, Book Lovers is a sweet, at times spicy, romance novel that features the “Big City Girlfriend” as its protagonist and it is a fun and easy ride combining all my favourite things—characters who are self-aware, riffing on common tropes, books about people who are in the book industry, a sharp heroine, and great chemistry… this was an instant favourite for me.

this is definitely the least thought-provoking book on this list and I won’t apologise for it. 😘




that about sums up the best reading I’ve done this year! how about next year? 128 books?! … actually, my goal for 2023 is to read 40 books that matter and write detailed notes.

I noticed that in trying to reach my goal, I read a lot of random books that didn’t really enrich my life or learning, so next year I’m going for quality over quantity. let me know what books are on your TBR and what I missed!