February Reads

Atomic Habits by James Clear

This book was fantastic. I decided I would read at least one chapter a day every morning and follow that up with some journaling. The ideas in this book have inspired me to be more intentional with my time and lit a fire in me to take control of my routines.

The biggest takeaway I got from reading this book was that tiny actions could have a huge impact on me over time. Checking my phone between tasks at work can easily result in me spending way more time on my phone than I expected. Conversely, placing my phone out of sight in another room right before work results in a massive boost to productivity and concentration. Daisychain enough of these days together, and I'll have two very different outcomes depending on my chosen path.

Journaling after reading a chapter first thing in the morning was a fantastic combination. Sometimes I would write about what I'd just read and would explore how I might implement some ideas in my life. Other times, I would write about what came to mind after reading. Either way, I found that coupling journaling with reading made it incredibly easy for me to stick to a daily journaling habit. I've been tweaking many other little areas in my life since reading this book, and I'm excited to look back and see how much has changed over time.

Reading this book was a great experience, and I highly recommend you read it too.

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

As a whole, the Red Rising trilogy is amazing. Morning Star felt quite different from the second book, but it was so exceptionally well done that I could not put this one down. Pierce Brown wrapped up the storyline damn near perfectly. The twists and turns along the way had me freaking out most of the time.

This is a situation where every book was just better than the last. Fantastic reading experience. Highly recommend.

There Are No Facts by Mark Shepard

A part of me enjoyed this book and its exploration of how data is collected, presented, and manipulated to construct reality, any reality. However, another part of me felt that there was too much material without enough of an engaging narrative. The topics covered in the book are essential to read about, especially in our day and age, but ultimately, I was left wanting more.

While I may not have thought this book a page-turner, I’d recommend reading it to learn more about how companies and governments use data. One idea that has stuck with me is thinking of smart devices and social media as instruments that companies and governments use to place themselves into the daily lives of ordinary citizens – not just in public spaces but also in their private homes. There is a lot to explore there, and the book covers a lot of great examples.

The Lost World by Michael Crichton

Speaking of being left wanting more. The Lost World did the same damn thing. I absolutely loved the first book and couldn't put it down. There were parts of that book that kept me up way past my bedtime. I was excited to read the sequel, and while I enjoyed it, I felt that the sequel was a bit too disconnected from the original for my liking. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book. I did! It just left me wanting more. I wish there were a third book, and I am finding myself generally wishing more DinoFic existed. The good parts of The Lost World are terrifyingly awesome and well worth the read. If you enjoyed Jurassic Park, you'll likely enjoy The Lost World.