I read a tonne of books every year, and track all of my reads, from 5-star to 1-star, on Goodreads (check out my profile and reading lists here.)
And because I religiously track what I’ve read, I’m always asked for recommendations by friends and colleagues. So, I thought, “Why not put them all in one place?”
Herewith, my lists of 5-star reads of 2024, split into non-fiction and fiction. If you’d like the plain-text version, with no links, images, or reviews, check it out here.
Non-fiction 5-star reads of 2024
Aroha by Hinemoa Elder
Lyrical, thought-provoking, and personal, this book of whakataukī and whakatauākī (Māori proverbs/sayings) is something I will keep close at hand. There are so many beautiful and deep concepts in this book that are worthy of meditation and contemplation, then action.
And that’s one of the things I like most about this book – the author encourages the reader to note only think about the issues and concepts, but also to take some small, immediate, tangible action to really get the goodness out of our insights.
Better by Christina Wedgwood
This book is a game-changer for anyone who wants to change the world (or even a corner of it) but feels like they don’t fit the mould of an “influencer” or “thought leader”.
We don’t need to hear more of the same from the usual big mouths, we need to hear from more people with big ideas. In this book, the author presents practical strategies to help people with big ideas to get them out into the world without feeling like they need a personality transplant.
Highly recommended, and going straight onto my re-read regularly list!
Beware Invisible Cows by Andy Martin
A mind-blowing, funny, and thought-provoking romp through the science of existence.
Blindingly Obvious by Minnie Baragwanath
Enlightening, challenging, and inspiring. This book has given me a great deal of things to think about, and take action on, in my professional and personal spheres.
Code Dependent by Madhumita Murgia
By turns frightening and fascinating, this book is an excellent overview of the rise of AI, and all kinds of impacts that stem from its design, training, and deployment. Extremely thought-provoking.
Cult Trip by Anke Richter
Fascinating and horrifying – the author takes us into deep dives of several different cults around the world, revealing how the construction of deliberately unequal power dynamics inevitably leads to abuse and coercion, with the heftiest price usually paid by women and children.
Don’t Sweat It by Nikcy Pellegrino
A mixture of science and anecdotes that left me feeling better informed and more hopeful about aging well and walking the transition with knowledge, self-compassion, and perhaps even my sense of humour intact!
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
Another Klein masterpiece. Through the metaphor of the doppelganger, this book is an exploration of not only the author’s experience of having her identity confused and conflated with someone else’s, but how we have all constructed (individually and communally) dopplegangers to serve particular purposes, which aren’t always good.
I’m going to be thinking about this one for a long time to come!
Good Work by Howard Gardner, William Damon, and Mihály Csíkszentmihályi
Deeply thought-provoking, even 20-plus years after it was written. A meditation on how to create work that is both good (ethically, intellectually, financially, etc) for those who engage in it, and for those who receive its outputs.
Hidden Potential by Adam Grant
Another excellent book from Adam Grant. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of the section on how to create systems that provide the greatest opportunity to the greatest number of people
It’s all well and good to do what we can as individuals to fulfil our potential, but until we dismantle the systems that prevent some groups from being able to fully participate in society and explore their potential, and build new systems that are fairer, we are ALL losing out.
How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner
At times hilariously horrifying in terms of just how bad big projects can go, but full of insights into why they go wrong, and what we can do about it. The perfect book to read as I embark on the planning for a significant home renovation!
How to Work with (Almost) Anyone by Michael Bungay Stanier
Like all MBS books, this is pithy, fun, and practical. And I love that the word “almost” is in the title because, let’s face it, not everyone WANTS to get along with others.
This book will help you up your interpersonal skills and recognise opportunities to make things work better at work, home, and with friends and family.
Inner Critic to Inner Coach by Bex Bell
If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t good enough, or that you’d somehow fooled other people into thinking that you’re better than you really are, this book is for you.
Dr Bex shows us that feeling this way is completely normal, AND it doesn’t have to stop us from persuing our dreams and sharing our special brand of magic with the world.
Written with the warmth and empathy of someone who has done the deep work of building a functional relationship with her “imposter-flavoured Inner Critic” and who has learned how to dial up her Inner Coach to help her navigate the curveballs of life, Dr Bex offers practical tools, tips, and strategies to help you thrive.
Note: some of my own work is mentioned in this book. This review is my genuine, independent, honest opinion – I was not asked, and did not offer, to provide a favourable review in exchange for being mentioned in the book.
Normal Women by Philippa Gregory
Equal parts a fascinating read of so much of the history that isn’t often taught, and a source of frustration as you realise just how much women’s contributions to history have been deliberately overlooked, if not outright suppressed.
Out of Our Minds by Ken Robinson
This book has sat on my shelf for years, and I finally got around to listening to the audiobook. I’m so glad I did, because now I’ll be grabbing the copy of my shelf and reading again, while taking notes.
Lots of thought-provoking points and principles, that we would all benefit from incorporating not just into the education system, but at work and home too.
Positive Provocation by Robert Biswas-Diener
A practical, insightful, and positively-provocative book for new and experienced coaches alike.
The thing I most appreciate about this book is the author’s encouragement to define, after careful reflection, your own position on the topics, rather than being a mere list of best practices you “should” follow because the ineffable “they” say so.
The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier
Yes, this is the second MBS book on the list – his work is that good!
Simple, powerful advice (!) for how to stay in curiosity a little longer than we otherwise might.
I love MBS’s books because they’re straight to the point, and really practical. I’ll be coming back to this one regularly for a tune-up!
The Antidote by Oliver Burkeman
A thought-provoking romp through theories and practices related to positive thinking, happiness, and the meaningful life.
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
So much of what is published about leadership these days seems to focus on how to be the “best” leader, and how to run the “best” team or organisation, and yet leadership practice doesn’t seem to improve, and people are as disengaged and disillusioned as ever.
This book clearly articulates why the win/lose mindset can’t get us the results we’re after, and how a switch to a continuous improvement/infinite/growth mindset can.
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
A tale of what can happen if you just don’t stop moving forward. I’ve walked some long paths in my time, but the South West Coast Path is much longer and more difficult than anything I’ve tackled – and I wasn’t doing my walking later in life, having lost almost everything. Deeply moving and inspirational, with plenty of quirkiness, grace, and laugher along the way.
Tragedy at Pike River Mine (2022 edition) by Rebecca Macfie
A harrowing, but incredibly important, read. Macfie demonstrates the dangers – and devastating conferences – that are almost inevitable when health & safety and commercial success are viewed as incompatible goals.
The 2022 edition contains updated information based on the findings of various investigations and court cases.
Fiction 5-star reads of 2024
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray
A fascinating insight into this period of American political history, and the life of Frances Perkins.
I really appreciated the author’s detailed notes on what she had changed/invented for the sake of storytelling, and why she made the decisions she did.
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Another excellent TJR – twists and turns, imperfect people trying to do their best, and along with it, a meditation on all the competing and impossible demands placed on women in the public eye.
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Beautiful, haunting, and thought-provoking. Devoured it in less than 24 hours!
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
Another stellar tale from this extraordinary storyteller. Empathetic and gritty, humorous and a searing social commentary, I couldn’t put it down, and suspect I’ll be thinking about it for a long time to come.
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
More twists and turns than a mountain road! Loved the intrigue and multiple perspectives.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Such a funny, touching, and haunting tale. What if you were humanity’s last hope? What if you were all alone out there? What if you WEREN’T all alone out there? This book left me feeling bittersweet and hopeful about humanity.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
The perfect follow-up to The House in the Cerulean Sea. What if, rather than freaking out about people who are different to us, we looked for – and celebrated – their special brand of magic, instead?
The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey
By turns hilarious, sweet, and troubling, I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did!
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
Classic King – eerie and weird, with just enough normality to be terrifying.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Another Kristin Hannah masterpiece. Complex, flawed characters, an environment full of challenges, and a un-put-downable story of survival and humanity.
The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie by Freida McFadden
Hilarious satirical mini-novel, with all the tropes you’d expect. A great light-hearted read.
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
If you liked ‘The Power’ by Naomi Alderman, you’ll love this tale! What is the role of women, who gets permission from society to live their life on their own terms, how do we adjust to a changing world that no longer fits the neat and tidy little boxes of the past?
This book made me laugh, and made me stop and think on multiple occasions. Loved it!
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
The second author double-feature in my list – Geraldine Brooks is an extraordinary storyteller.
A poignant and evocative read, based on a true story.
Reading analysis
In 2024, I read 187 books, and rated 34 of them as 5-star reads – that’s 18% of ’em, and a bit of drop on last year, when I awarded 5 stars to 22% of the books I read. I’m not yet sure if the drop is because I didn’t read as many really good books, or if my standards have increased from last year!
I have a high bar for rating something as a 5-star read. It has to be something I would happily read again (preferably multiple times), that I would be proud to have on my bookshelf (and for most of the non-fiction titles, I actually do have them on my physical or virtual bookshelf), and that I would recommend to others.
And to keep myself honest, I have a personal policy that, if I’m going to give a book five stars (or,at the other end of the spectrum, one star), I have to place a review on Goodreads. I generally don’t place a review for two, three, or four-star books, unless something in particular stood out for me as the reason for that rating.
P.S. A note on links: Goodreads links are non-affiliate. Amazon links are affiliate – that means that if you purchase something after clicking an Amazon link, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
