The year 2017 is an interesting reading year for me. I’ve read a total of 51 books, which is a little less than my number for 2016. I read a lot, that’s for sure, but my readings consisted mostly of academic materials during the second half of the year after I enrolled in law school.
A lot of the leisure books I’ve read are fairly short and are easy to go through. The reading highlights of 2017 for me include the first time I’ve read a whole play and the first time I’ve finished a law book cover to cover.
My top 5 books are the following:
v Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
I’ve watched the animated Disney movie of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as well as the live action with Mia Wasikowska, but honestly, I never liked the story. The 1951 Disney film gave me the willies. The fact that a little girl falls into a seemingly endless hole, swims in her own tears, and then talks to animals is disturbing to me. And don’t even get me started on the smoking caterpillar and the smiling cat. What made me pick up the two books is really just the pressure of not reading a very famous work of literature. It made my top 5 because it proved to be beautifully written. The word play that Carroll used in these books is entertaining. One of my favorite poems, Jabberwocky, is in the second book. I guess it was that much delightful for me to read because I went into it with very low expectations and ended up getting an “in your face” by the author’s genius.
v The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
This book hit me so hard I had to write a review about it. In just a few short pages, I was able to get engaged in the story, care about the characters, and sympathize with their miseries. This is a must-read for all teenagers especially those who are being bullied or better yet, for those who are bullies.
v Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
This one has an interesting title that goes way back during the time of Mark Twain. Actually, he was the one who started this. The famous author of The Prince and the Pauper once said “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”
This book talks about ways to be more productive and to prioritize the most important tasks. This was such a short and enjoyable read that I actually read it twice in 2017—while procrastinating for what I was actually meant to be doing.
v Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Fun fact. I’ve never read a Shakespeare play before. This is because I don’t understand plays. I’ve always thought that they were only for the cast and the director. But last year, I finally found one that I was able to appreciate. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is a poignant tale of a man who thought everything of himself and who kept on reliving his glory days in his head. Aside from being heartbreaking, it makes you think twice about your decisions in life and how willing you are to make the effort to prepare for the future. I think every twentysomething, especially those who are still trying to figure out what they’re going to do in life, should give this a go.
v How to Use Your Enemies by Baltazar Gracian
This short book packs a lot of practical, direct-to-the-point tips about life in general. It offers advices on social conduct and climbing the corporate ladder. The title is a bit misleading, though. The content is generally about how to be successful in various environments while still keeping your friends and without losing self-respect.
It's a Ping Thing 