The Best Books I Read in 2021

Each year, I set a reading goal. This year I decided to read 50 books—and finish reading the 20 books on my currently reading list. I did not limit myself to just these books. I exceeded my overall goal—which surprised me since my reading slowed with the start of graduate school in the fall.

To be fair, I record children’s books read to my son toward my reading goal. We reread the books many, many times, and watching him interact with the stories teaches me about how we learn. Plus, I can share the titles with him when he gets older so he can read them to his children.

My favorite books read in 2021

Book lists tend to be subjective. I definitely read for myself, but I like when I can recommend a book to others so we can discuss it. So, I used the criteria of “what books would I recommend to others?” to curate this list. (Note: While the links take you to Amazon, I don’t have an affiliate account at this time).

Nonfiction 

From Here to There: The Art and Science of Finding and Losing Our Way, Michael Bond

Wayfinding speaks as much to design and science as philosophy and myth. Like the title suggests, reading From Here to There felt like a journey. The audiobook lasts a mere 7 hours, yet with the numerous times I paused the audiobook to take notes it took me over three weeks to finish.

Streamlined ID: A Practical Guide to Instructional Design, Miriam B. Larson and Barbara B. Lockee

I read the book for my Instructional System Design course, and it deserves a place on any instructional or learning designer’s bookshelf. Streamlined ID offers a clear, flexible overview of ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate). I loved the focus on the iterative nature of design as well as the practical ideas for sustainable design. My only complaint comes from the construction of the book—it’s already wearing out with my constant reference to its pages.

Fiction

The Midnight Library, Matthew Haig

A library holding the books with the choices you took (or didn’t take) in your life? Intriguing. Even though the book slowed near the middle, I found the philosophy found throughout the book quite beautiful. And the ending does not resolve quite as you expect.

Faith

Walking in Wonder: Eternal Wisdom for the Modern World, John O’Donohue

Something about waking calms the mind, and the rhythms of faith resound in Walking in Wonder. Pat O’Donohue, John’s brother, read the posthumously published audiobook—his lilting Irish accent a testament to the eternal poetry of the sacred within the book.

Young Adult (YA)

A Court of Thorns and Roses, Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses retells the classic story of Beauty and the Beast—and throws in some Fae lore. But it’s much more than that. At times the book moves slowly, but the exquisite word choice and twisting plot make up for it. 

Children’s

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings, Jo Witek

As children grow, they learn the contexts of emotions. With whimsical illustrations, In My Heart shares simple metaphors to help children understand how feelings change over time and circumstance. The pages include a cutout heart to denote layers. My son loves to join in on certain pages (Boom! (mad) Eek! (scared), etc.). I plan to buy this book as a gift for others with small children.

You can see the full list of the books I’ve read this year on my Goodreads Year in Review.

My 2022 reading goal

I plan to read 12 books in 2022 (it’s one per month, and I won’t count children’s books toward the goal). This seems realistic considering I need to balance reading with work, graduate school, and life (with a two-year-old).

While I enjoy the social aspect of Goodreads, I’m also rethinking how I can use my personal knowledge management (PKM) system to refine how I interact with books. How you keep track of your reading? Do you take notes digitally or in the margins? Also, I’m always looking for books to read. What did you love reading this year?