Someday, I would love to write a book. I think I would prefer to write fiction. The process of writing a book seems like an overwhelming laborious task. Sometimes after finishing a book I will think how astounding it is that someone out there had this whole story in their head and translated their thoughts to paper. Hundreds and thousands of pages. A 200-page book contains on average 50,000-60,000 words. Of course, not every word in these grand stories exists all at once in the minds of their authors. Every plot line and sentence is developed over time and evolves as the story grows. Ultimately, there is no greater mechanism for complex storytelling than a simple written book. While I have not written a book yet, here are some of my favorites:

The Count of Monte Cristo: The greatest pure plot for any book I have ever heard. This is an older, classic book with a narrative tension that builds and builds and builds. It is a phenomenal story of revenge, providence, and the mysterious forces that compel people to behave maniacally over decades. It is a thousand page, page-turner that always brought me back eager for the next plot development. Justice, revenge, redemption, love. Murder, prison, betrayal, and deceit. This will always be one of my favorite books. 

The Speaker for the Dead: This is my most recommended book for when people ask for what to read. It is a futuristic sci-fi that serves as the next chapter (set thousands of years later) to Ender’s Game. It presents some unique questions about how we define sentient-life as humans and how we would communicate with other life we might not completely understand. Moreover, it explores how we as humans so often define our life as limited by biological death, maybe that doesn’t tell the whole story. My favorite part of this book, however, is the characters and how they all grow and struggle from different perspectives when confronted with questions about life, human fears, and how we interact with other species. 

When Breath Becomes Air: This book was written by neuroscientist, Paul Kalanithi, after he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He wrote the book over the last ~two years of his life before passing away. The end of the book and epilogue are written by his wife. As you can imagine, the book is extremely emotional and I definitely cried multiple times throughout its pages. Due to his profession and medical condition, Paul had an extremely intimate relationship with death and life that he writes about beautifully. 

Letters from a Stoic, Discourses, and Meditations: More than any other books, these three philosophy books have changed the way my mind works and how I go through life. The three books are written by Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, respectively. While the history and collection of these three books is complex, their combined modern renditions give the most holistic understanding and tangible practices for the philosophy of Stoicism. The books are rooted in questions not concerning the overall nature of the universe, but in the shared struggles of being human. What is our nature as human beings and what should we do as human beings?

Red Rising series: I had to include this series because I have read them so many times over the last few years. These books are sci-fi, action-packed thrillers. Galactic conflict, rebellion, and endless twists and turns. I am eagerly awaiting the seventh and final book release either later this year or in 2026. 

There are so many books to read, and not enough time in this life to get to them all. If anyone reading this has any books that you think I just have to read, please text me and I will add it to my list. Someday, it can hopefully end up in my library.