 As 2024 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on one of my personal goals for the year: to read 30 books. My reading leaned heavily toward non-fiction, though a few novels made their way into my lineup. Ever since diving into Robert Caro's Years of Lyndon Johnson series, I’ve been captivated by 1960s political history, and that interest significantly shaped my reading selections. Below, I’ve compiled a list of my 10 favorite books from this year. 10. What It Takes (1992) by Richard Ben Cramer This is a monumental work exploring the complex dynamics of the 1988 presidential election. Spanning over 1,000 pages, it covers the campaigns of George H.W. Bush, Michael Dukakis, Bob Dole, Dick Gephardt, Gary Hart, and Joe Biden, with appearances by figures like Al Gore and Jesse Jackson. Cramer’s achievement lies in the intimacy and depth of his portrayal, built on extensive research and personal relationships with the candidates, their families, and associates. The book is more than a recounting of events; it is a profound exploration of the psychological and personal sacrifices required to run for the highest office in the United States. Cramer reveals how candidates are isolated in a bubble, magnifying their strengths and weaknesses while simultaneously distancing them from the public. He argues that the grueling process of running for president demands an all-encompassing commitment—one must be willing to sacrifice virtually everything for the chance to lead. Cramer’s incisive analysis and vivid character sketches illuminate the paradox of this process: a candidate must be both connected enough to inspire others and detached enough to endure the brutal isolation of the campaign. This is a definitive look at what it truly takes to be president in America. 9. An Autobiography (1974) by Angela Davis Angela Davis’s autobiography is an engrossing narrative of her life as a political radical, activist, and scholar. Her reflections on her experiences as a Black Panther, a communist, and a political prisoner offer a searing critique of the American judicial system. Her journey is not only a personal one but also a lens into the broader struggle for justice.  8. Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 (1973) by Hunter S. Thompson A fantastic book about a Gonzo journalist's search for an honest politician. Thompson captures something interesting about politics in his obsession with the New Politics, the need for political renewal through outsider politics, potentially through his freak power party. Thompson is a loser, though, and he only trusts losers. Winners, compromise, and pragmatism are suspect to him. This is perhaps the tragic downfall of the ‘60s hippie revolution. 7. Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West (1985) by Cormac McCarthy I first tried to read this book in college. For some reason, it was impenetrable to me then. However, reading it years later, I can thoroughly appreciate this profound text. McCarthy’s prose is, at times, sparse and expansive. The pacing of the novel is superb. The plot flows and develops in such a way as to capture the ambiguity and uncertainty of the plains. Who is the kid? Where is he going? Why? These questions motor the storyline and are answered through action. This is appropriate. The kid is the anti-hero of the spaghetti western. McCarthy’s West is not oblivious to the tragic demise of the American Indian but instead suffuses the tragedy into the fabric of the experience. 6. The Underground Railroad (2016) by Colson Whitehead Powerful and chilling. A penetrating look into a horrific past. 5. Experience and Education (1938) by John Dewey This is a tremendously thought-provoking treatise on education. Dewey’s philosophy of education is compelling and straightforward. His skill as a writer synthesizes common-sense ideas into a coherent and powerful approach to education. By thinking holistically and intelligently about education, particularly regarding the purpose of education, we can better construct the means to achieve the stated goal. For Dewey, the purpose of education is more and greater experience, and the means to education is experience itself. The educator’s responsibility is to carefully design the educational situation or context to produce some desired effect. This is where I think the process breaks down for most people because they operate with a limited or incoherent philosophy of education. Thus, many people turn to trite slogans or antiquated practices that promise to “educate” but instead satiate the ideological preoccupations of the educator. Dewey advocates a continuous, active, and well-conceived approach to education. 4. The Good Lord Bird (2013) by James McBride This novel is a comedic yet poignant retelling of the life of abolitionist John Brown. McBride’s wit and vibrant storytelling bring a fresh perspective to a grave topic, balancing humor and historical reflection with remarkable empathy. 3. Nixonland (2008) by Rick Perlstein This book is a work of art. Perlstein’s style in this book is both penetrating and hilarious. His deep knowledge of American culture enriches his perceptive analysis of one of America’s most mysterious leaders. 2. Underworld (1997) by Don DeLillo At its core, Underworld is a meditation on concealment—on the things hidden or pushed out of sight, literally and metaphorically. DeLillo takes the notion of trash, an object of societal disdain, and elevates it to a central motif in his examination of American life. In this novel, trash is more than refuse; it reflects who we are as individuals and as a society. What we throw away, ignore, or neglect reveals the underlying structures of our lives—the hierarchy of values we hold, the transience of our existence, and the things we deem unworthy of preservation. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its ability to expose those elements of human experience that often remain in the shadows. DeLillo’s exploration of trash isn’t just about the physical objects we discard. It’s a broader critique of how we treat people, relationships, and even ideas with a similar disregard. The interconnectedness of trash and lives moving through time and space is a recurring theme, reminding us that what society casts aside often holds profound meaning when examined closely. 1. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1968) by Tom Wolfe A literary masterpiece and innovative journalistic account of a group at the center of a profoundly influential social movement. Hilarious, thought-provoking, and an absolute joy to read. Wolfe captures the ironical, anti(semi)-intellectual subtleties of the Merry Pranksters, a group easily caricatured but not to be understimated.  Comments are closed.
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