Into The Wild – Jon Krakauer

one of the most moving things I have read this year. This book stuck such a cord in me and launched me into a deep reflection of what it means to live a happy, full life as well as a fascination with Jon Krakauer’s writing.

In terms of creative non-fiction, I thought it was tastefully explored and the story of the author within the story added a depth that I appreciated a lot– it wasn’t written in a way that claimed to be an ‘impartial biography’, but rather an investigation into the breadcrumbs left behind by Chris told by an author whose own narrative we see unravel in relation to the broader story.

really thought-provoking, moving, and reflective. One of my favourite 2023 reads

Down and Out in Paris and London – George Orwell

a unique, fascinating and (at times) surprisingly humourous account and 1920s travelogue of life in poverty in the streets of Paris and London, well before knowing the success that would later follow Orwell as a writer.

I found this book to be a fascinating look back in time, so detailed and written so stylistically that the storytelling could pass as fiction. Considering how easy it is to feel removed from the experience of someone who lived so long ago,

 I found the way Orwell describes the world around him, 100 years from today, interestingly relevant– and his social commentary not so outdated.

There’s a captivating quality to such an intimate glimpse into a life in poverty in the 1920s; the mundaneness and terrible boredom of each passing day yet coupled with the most remarkable experiences and ‘characters’ we come to meet

profoundly insightful, at times with disturbing unsparing descriptions, yet very illuminating and fascinating

Into Thin Air – Jon Krakauer

As a fan of Krankauer’s writing, I found this to be a fascinating read, albeit controversial.

A really interesting piece of creative nonfiction that poses many questions about truth in the genre, particularly in the context of accounting for memories that may be misremembered or simply mere delusions.

I found the narrative and background history of Everest really captivating

The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin

An absolute goldmine I constantly refer back to for all my creative practices. It is the single book I recommend the most to anyone with creative inclinations of any sort (so, I recommend it to everyone)

Atomic Habits – James Clear

This changed the way I think of habit formation particularly considering the concept of identity-based habit formation which I found particularly interesting.

This notion has proved applicable to things outside of habit formation when considering how the things we identify with shape our actions and being. Asking who you want to be instead of what you want to do which, as an idea, I find valuable in its own right 

Attached –  Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller

not a perfect description of attachment theory but certainly still a very helpful outline nonetheless.

A very interesting and enlightening read to understand common relationship dynamics and how to identify and break harmful patterns in adult attachment.

A really great starting block for anyone with an interest in their ‘attachment style’