2023 Reading List

A few months into 2022, I not only lacked a goal, but reading was challenging. My focus was shot. Wrestling with burnout was reflected in the types of books I read in 2022 and the number of abandoned books (way more than what I finished). In 2023, I’m looking forward to reading several memoirs, not to mention books about film and creativity. I’m open to surprises and the joy of reading.

Notes:

  • All links below are affiliate-free.
  • Some of these books were started in the previous year.
  • Here are my previous reading lists.
  • If there is a book you think I would love, let me know.

January (12)

  1. The Artist’s Journey: The Wake of the Hero’s Journey and the Lifelong Pursuit of Meaning by Steven Pressfield
  2. 21st Birthday (Women’s Murder Club, No 21) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
  3. 22 Seconds (Women’s Murder Club, No 22) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
  4. Undistracted: Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your Joy. by Bob Goff
  5. Along Came A Spider (Alex Cross, No 1) by James Patterson
  6. Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, No 2) by James Patterson
  7. Jack & Jill (Alex Cross, No 3) by James Patterson
  8. Cat & Mouse (Alex Cross, No 4) by James Patterson
  9. Pop Goes the Weasel (Alex Cross, No 5) by James Patterson
  10. Roses Are Red (Alex Cross, No 6) by James Patterson
  11. Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross, No 7) by James Patterson
  12. Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross, No 8) by James Patterson

February (11)

  1. The Lives of Brian: A Memoir by Brian Johnson
  2. The Cartographers: A Novel by Peng Shepherd
  3. The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross, No 9) by James Patterson
  4. London Bridges (Alex Cross, No 10) by James Patterson
  5. Mary, Mary (Alex Cross, No 11) by James Patterson
  6. Cross (Alex Cross, No 12) by James Patterson
  7. Double Cross (Alex Cross, No 13) by James Patterson
  8. Cross Country (Alex Cross, No 14) by James Patterson
  9. Alex Cross’s Trial (Alex Cross, No 15) by James Patterson & Richard DiLallo
  10. I, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, No 16) by James Patterson
  11. Cross Fire (Alex Cross, No 17) by James Patterson

March (16)

  1. Kill Alex Cross (Alex Cross, No 18) by James Patterson
  2. The Book of M: A Novel by Peng Shepherd
  3. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, No 19) by James Patterson
  4. Alex Cross, Run (Alex Cross, No 20) by James Patterson
  5. Cross My Heart (Alex Cross, No 21) by James Patterson
  6. Hope to Die (Alex Cross, No 22) by James Patterson
  7. Cross Justice (Alex Cross, No 23) by James Patterson
  8. Cross the Line (Alex Cross, No 24) by James Patterson
  9. The People vs. Alex Cross (Alex Cross, No 25) by James Patterson
  10. Target: Alex Cross (Alex Cross, No 26) by James Patterson
  11. The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
  12. Dessert Can Save the World: Stories, Secrets, and Recipes for a Stubbornly Joyful Existence by Christina Tosi
  13. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
  14. Criss Cross (Alex Cross, No 27) by James Patterson
  15. Deadly Cross (Alex Cross, No 28) by James Patterson
  16. Fear No Evil (Alex Cross, No 29) by James Patterson

April (12)

  1. Triple Cross (Alex Cross, No 30) by James Patterson
  2. Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari
  3. The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library, No 1) by Genevieve Cogman
  4. The Late Show by Michael Connelly
  5. Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono
  6. Say Yes: Discover the Surprising Life Beyond the Death of a Dream by Scott Erickson
  7. Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly
  8. The Masked City (The Invisible Library, No 2) by Genevieve Cogman
  9. The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams with Gail Hudson
  10. The Night Fire by Michael Connelly
  11. Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
  12. Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad by Steven Kotler

May (8)

  1. Like a Rolling Stone: A Memoir by Jann S. Wenner
  2. The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly
  3. Desert Star by Michael Connelly
  4. The Burning Page (The Invisible Library, No 3) by Genevieve Cogman
  5. The 23rd Midnight (Women’s Murder Club, No 23) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
  6. The Nineties: A Book by Chuck Klosterman
  7. The Lost Plot (The Invisible Library, No 4) by Genevieve Cogman
  8. Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

June (5)

  1. Science Communication in a Crisis: An Insider’s Guide by Christopher Reddy
  2. The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library, No 5) by Genevieve Cogman
  3. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
  4. Broken Faith: Inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, One of America’s Most Dangerous Cults by Mitch Weiss and Holbrook Mohr
  5. Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins

July (5)

  1. The Secret Chapter (The Invisible Library, No 6) by Genevieve Cogman
  2. All the Living and the Dead: From Embalmers to Executioners, an Exploration of the People Who Have Made Death Their Life’s Work by Hayley Campbell
  3. How to Be an Artist by Jerry Saltz
  4. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
  5. The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer by Steven Kotler

August (7)

  1. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
  2. The Dark Archive (The Invisible Library, No 7) by Genevieve Cogman
  3. Don’t Believe It by Charlie Donlea
  4. The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro
  5. The Untold Story (The Invisible Library, No 8) by Genevieve Cogman
  6. Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past edited by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer
  7. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

September (3)

  1. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
  2. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
  3. Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould

October (3)

  1. All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley
  2. Fever House by Keith Rosson
  3. Mister Magic by Kiersten White

November (3)

  1. Hide by Kiersten White
  2. The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz
  3. Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver

Updated November 29, 2023