An AI-generated sketch of a man reading a book in an armchair

2024 was another solid year for my reading list. I read a total of 23 books and while not all of them have stuck with me, a few have. Here’s my breakdown of the four books that hit me the hardest this year—and why I think they should be on your radar too.

Extra Focus by Jesse J. Anderson

Whoa. This one completely hit home. Extra Focus dives deep into the realities of adult ADHD, and Jesse J. Anderson doesn’t hold back. He doesn’t just explain what ADHD is (or isn’t); he gives a roadmap for how to turn it into a superpower. His framework of the “4 Cs”—Captivate, Create, Compete, Complete—gave me so many lightbulb moments.

I was diagnosed with ADHD as a kid, and over the years I’ve learned to work with it rather than against it. But this book took me to the next level. Jesse’s suggestion to ditch the “do the hard stuff first” mentality and lead with what excites me? Game-changer. The book’s conversational tone and practical tips kept me hooked, and by the end, I was armed with new strategies to handle my quirks (like getting sucked into random tasks on my phone for 20 minutes).

If you’ve ever felt like your brain is both your greatest asset and your biggest hurdle, you need to read this.

Home Game by Michael Lewis

Parenting: chaotic, exhausting, and somehow hilarious. Home Game is Michael Lewis’s deeply personal take on fatherhood, and it’s as messy and wonderful as you’d expect. The book is packed with witty observations, but one quote stood out to me:

“Memory loss is the key to human reproduction. If you remembered what new parenthood was actually like you wouldn’t go around lying to people about how wonderful it is, and you certainly wouldn’t ever do it twice.”

I let out a hearty chuckle when I read that because it’s painfully accurate. Lewis perfectly captures the chaos of parenting, from the sleepless nights to the unfiltered joy of raising kids. What struck me most was how much of myself I saw in his stories. As the high-energy parent of a four-year-old, I related to his blend of love, frustration, and sheer exhaustion.

This isn’t a “how-to” parenting book—it’s more of a “this is how it really is” guide. And honestly? That makes it so much better. Lewis’s honesty, humor, and willingness to embrace the absurdity of parenthood made this one of the most relatable books I read this year.

The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

This book left me equal parts angry and heartbroken. The Color of Law doesn’t sugarcoat anything—it lays out, in painstaking detail, how government policies intentionally created and maintained racial segregation in the United States. Rothstein methodically dismantles the myth that segregation just “happened” or was the result of personal choices. Instead, he shows how it was built, brick by brick, by laws and policies that favored white Americans at the expense of everyone else.

Reading this book was frustrating—not because it’s poorly written (it’s not) but because it forces you to confront the reality that so much of the inequality we see today isn’t accidental. It was designed. And once you see the evidence, you can’t unsee it. The fact that this level of injustice was allowed, defended, and then largely forgotten is infuriating.

What really got under my skin was how recent much of this history is. We’re not talking about some distant past; these policies shaped the neighborhoods and opportunities available to people alive today. And yet, the ripple effects are ignored or dismissed by so many.

This book lit a fire in me to push for change because, frankly, we shouldn’t still be dealing with the consequences of policies that were blatantly unjust. If you care about equity or understanding the roots of systemic racism, The Color of Law is essential. But fair warning: it will leave you angry—and ready to do something about it.

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

If you’re looking for a story that will consume you, Leviathan Wakes is it. This epic space opera is the first installment in The Expanse series, and it pulls off the rare feat of being both wildly imaginative and deeply human. Set in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system, the book plunges you into a universe teetering on the edge of chaos, with tensions simmering between Earth, Mars, and the resource-strapped Belt.

The story follows two main characters: Jim Holden, the idealistic XO of a water-hauling ship, and Detective Miller, a jaded cop searching for a missing woman. What I loved most was how these two characters—who couldn’t be more different—are forced to navigate moral gray areas, questioning their beliefs as the stakes rise.

The world-building is phenomenal. Corey (who is actually two people!) crafts a universe that feels both expansive and believable, from the claustrophobic ships to the gritty Belt stations where life is a constant struggle. Every detail, from the physics of space travel to the political dynamics, adds depth without bogging down the story.

But what really hooked me was the way Leviathan Wakes balances big, cosmic threats with deeply personal stakes. The central mystery is terrifying, not just because of what it can do, but because of what it reveals about human greed and hubris. It’s the kind of story where the action sequences are thrilling, but the quiet moments—like a character wrestling with their conscience—hit just as hard.

If you’re a fan of sci-fi that’s equal parts character-driven and action-packed, this book will blow you away. And the best part? It’s just the beginning of the series, so once you finish, there’s an entire universe waiting for you to explore. I finished this one yesterday and had to stop in to buy the second book right away.

Why these books?

This year’s books gave me something I didn’t even know I was looking for: a better understanding of myself, my relationships, and the world. Extra Focus helped me harness my ADHD, Home Game made me laugh (and feel seen as a parent), The Color of Law pushed me to confront hard truths, and Leviathan Wakes let me escape to the stars.

If any of these sound even remotely interesting to you, grab a copy. Trust me, they’re worth your time.

What books made your 2024 unforgettable? Let’s compare notes!