Dec 31 2019

Books I’ve Read in 2019…

Total Pages Read: 13,388
Shortest Book: 96 pages
Longest Book: 512 pages
Fiction: 13
Non-Fiction: 6
Cookbook: 26
Poetry: 0

Last Book Read:
45. Sous Vide: Better Home Cooking by Hugh Acheson. I liked this book better than the slow cooker book. 288 pages. (Finished 30 Dec 2019).

Past Lists:

2018 List
2017 List
2016 List
2015 List
2014 List
2013 List
2012 List
2011 List
2010 List
2009 List
2008 List
2007 List

  1. How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollen. Pollen looks into the psychedelics and the new research being done about them. 477 pages. (Finished 4 Jan 2019).
  2. The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook: 95 Incredible Recipes to Turn Up the Heat on Jerky, Hot Sauce, Fruit Leather and More by Michael Hultquist. I went to Powell’s to pick up a book on dehydrating (since I got myself a dehydrator for Christmas), and I also picked this book up as well. I’m looking forward to making things from it. 192 pages. (Finished 5 Jan 2019).
  3. The Dehydrator Bible by Jennifer MacKenzie, Jay Nutt, and Don Mercer. Includes over 400 recipes for both drying ingredients and creating dried meals that just need to be rehydrated. 391 pages. (Finished 26 Jan 2019).
  4. The Third Hotel by Laura van den Berg. Clare arrives in Havana for a conference she was supposed to attend with her husband. The problem, her husband died in an accident a few weeks before. The other problem, not long after arriving, she sees her husband standing outside a museum. 224 pages. (Finished 30 Jan 2019).
  5. The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami. I noticed this little novella when Powell’s was having a Murakami sale to coincide with the English language release of Killing Commendatore. I was a little surprised I wasn’t previously aware of it. A quick little novella that takes place in the basement of the local library with all the quirky traits you’d expect from a Murakami piece. 96 pages. (Finished 4 Feb 2019).
  6. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan. Lydia has hidden herself and her past away by working in a bookstore and having no contact with her youth. All that changes when one of the bookstores regulars commits suicide in the store and she finds a picture of her as a kid sticking out of his pocket. 337 pages. (Finished 18 Feb 2019).
  7. Real Food Fermentation: Preserving Whole Fresh Food with Live Cultures in Your Home Kitchen by Alex Lewin. A nice introduction to fermentation for folks that may not be familiar with some of the principles already. It didn’t really cover anything that I didn’t already have other sources on, so its not something I’m adding to my library, but good for someone wanting to get into fermentation. 176 pages. (Finished 18 Feb 2019).
  8. The Dark Heart: A True Story of Greed, Murder, and an Unlikely Investigator by Joakim Palmkvist. A multimillionaire goes missing with no clues. Things seem a little strange, but nothing concrete comes along until one woman is finally able to put the pieces together (putting herself at risk at the same time). 293 pages. (Finished 27 Feb 2019).
  9. Crust and Crumb: Master Formulas for Serious Bread Bakers by Peter Reinhart. A more advanced version of the Bread Baker’s Apprentice, really focuses on the formula’s and not just recipes. Something I wouldn’t mind eventually in my collection of bread books, but something I can wait for. 224 pages. (Finished 3 Mar 2019).
  10. The Shadow District by Arnaldur Indriðason. Reykjavík Wartime Mystery #1. An old man is found dead in his bed in what initially looks like a case of natural causes. However soon a connection to an old unsolved crime from World War II era Iceland comes up and the old man’s death isn’t as simple as it initially appeared. 304 pages. (Finished 4 Mar 2019).
  11. The Shadow Killer by Arnaldur Indriðason. Reykjavík Wartime Mystery #2. A traveling salesman is found murdered in a flat. The murder weapon is a Colt ’45, favored by the US soldiers that are in the process of taking over protection of Iceland from the British during World War II. Flóvent and Thorson have to track down who the dead salesman is and who might have murdered him. 304 pages. (Finished 11 Mar 2019).
  12. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Starr watches as one of her oldest friends is killed by a white cop during a traffic stop. In the aftermath, she must discover who she is, who her friends are, and what her voice will be. 512 pages. (Finished 17 Mar 2019).
  13. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas. Set in the same neighborhood as The Hate U Give, Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. She’s got the pedigree to do it, but will life get in the way? 447 pages. Finished (24 Mar 2019).
  14. Season: Big Flavors, Beautiful Food by Nik Sharma. This was a really pretty book with nice recipies that are influenced by India, the American South, and California. Unfortunately, I also didn’t see myself making many of these recipes either. 272 pages. (Finished 24 Mar 2019).
  15. Ready or Not!: 150+ Make-Ahead, Make-Over, and Make-Now Recipies by Nom Nom Paleo by Michelle Tam & Henry Fong. I’m not paleo by any means, but this is a great cookbook. I love the setup of the recipes that read more like a graphic novel than a regular cookbook. 352 pages. (Finished 8 Apr 2019).
  16. Foundations of Flavor: The Noma Guide to Fermentation by René Redzepi & David Zilber. This is advanced fermentation. I probably won’t make many of these recipes in the long run…however the book is super interesting and there are definitely things I would like to try. I did get a copy of the book when I went to a dinner/talk featuring David Zibler in Oct 2019. 440 pages. (Finished 8 Apr 2019).
  17. Unfuck Your Intimacy: Using Science for Better Relationships, Sex, and Dating by Faith G Harper. A quick little book that uses both science and humor to explore topics relating to relationships. Contains exercises and questions for you to consider as you have conversations about these subjects that aren’t always the easiest to discuss. 192 pages. (Finished 27 Apr 2019).
  18. They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib. A collection of essays/short stories about music, growing up as a young black Muslim American. Subjects ranging from the experience of a Bruce Springsteen concert to the brilliance of Canadian pop-artist Carly Rae Jepson. 236 pages. (Finished 27 Apr 2019).
  19. Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans by Michelle Tam & Henry Fong. The first cookbook by the couple behind Nom Nom Paleo. I like the second book best, but this still has some great foundational recipes in it. 288 pages. (Finished 4 May 2019).
  20. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin. A beautiful love story about a couple torn apart by a racist system that has imprisoned a man for a crime he didn’t commit. 208 pages. (Finished 4 May 2019).
  21. Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to a Tribe Called Quest by Hanif Abdurraqib. Essays about one of the most influential hip hop groups of the genre. 216 pages. (Finished 25 May 2019).
  22. Adèle by Leïla Slimani. On the outside, she is successful in both career and marriage. On the inside she is bored and consumed by desire. 224 pages. (Finished 13 Jul 2019).
  23. Knife by Jo Nesbø. (Harry Hole #12). Harry is at almost rock bottom (again), his marriage is over, his career is basically over, and one of the worst criminals he’s put behind bars has been released from prison. 464 pages. (Finished 27 Jul 2019).
  24. The Die is Cast by Jenny Rogneby. (Leona #1). Leona Lindberg is assigned to work a case for a daring daylight robbery. She’s a respected detective but she has demons of her own she’s battling. Can she keep her life under control and find the culprit? 465 pages. (Finished 17 Aug 2019).
  25. Any Means Necessary by Jenny Rogneby. (Leona #2). After barely escaping the consequences of her last case, Leona is assigned to work the case of a man who blew himself up outside of the Parliament House but somehow survived. Still fighting her demons, will she be able to discover the motive of the bomber and survive the threats to herself? 448 pages. (Finished 14 Sep 2019).
  26. Salt & Straw Ice Cream Cookbook by Tyler Malek. The basics of the Salt & Straw world…plus some of the crazy concoctions. 240 pages. (Finished 17 Sep 2019).
  27. Cast-Iron Cooking: Recipes & Tips for Getting the Most out of Your Cast-Iron Cookware by Rachael Narins. My friend wrote this book, its pretty cool. Its a nice intro to things you can cook in cast-iron. 96 pages. (Finished 24 Sep 2019).
  28. From Freezer to Instant Pot: The Cookbook: How to Cook No-Prep Meals in Your Instant Pot Straight from Your Freezer by Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough. I wanted this to be something different than it was. It’s still good for what it is…things you can prepare for cooking, then freeze, then heat in the Instant Pot when ready to cook. 192 pages. (Finished 11 Oct 2019).
  29. Preserving the Japanese Way: Traditions of Salting, Fermenting, and Pickling for the Modern Kitchen by Nancy Singleton Hachisu. This book was super interesting and I wish I thought I’d do more of the ferments in it. I’d like to make my own soy sauce or miso for example. 400 pages. (Finished 11 Oct 2019).
  30. Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami. The story of unlikely pair, the seasons, loneliness, and love. 192 pages. (Finished 22 Oct 2019).
  31. Fäviken by Magnus Nilsson. More than just a cookbook, but the story behind the ethos of one of the worlds most unique restaurant experiences. 272 pages. (Finished 28 Oct 2019).
  32. Solo: A Modern Cookbook for a Party of One by Anita Lo. I like to cook a lot, the problem is I often cook a lot and have left overs for days. I picked this up at the library looking for some inspiration for smaller meals. 256 pages. (Finished 5 Nov 2019).
  33. Cast Iron: The Ultimate Cookbook by Rachael Narins. My friend wrote this one too! This book expands on her first book and has a lot more history about cast iron cookware as well as many more recipes. It also includes a section on current manufacturers along with some of their recipes. 848 pages. (Finished 6 Nov 2019).
  34. The Food in Jars Kitchen: 140 Ways to Cook, Bake, Plate, and Share Your Homemade Pantry by Marisa McClellan. So you have a cupboard full of things you preserved. This book has inspiration on what to do with those creations. 240 pages. (Finished 6 Nov 2019).
  35. Sous Vide at Home: The Modern Technique for Perfectly Cooked Meals by Lisa Q Fetterman. A bunch of recipes for sous vide cooking. 288 pages. (Finished 9 Nov 2019).
  36. The Chef and the Slow Cooker: A Cookbook by Hugh Acheson. This book attempts to take slow cooker meals up a notch with restaurant ideas. As a result, I didn’t find the book as helpful as many of the recipes were more complex than I’d generally want to cook at home. 256 pages. (Finished 24 Nov 2019).
  37. The Volunteer: One Man’s Mission to Lead an Underground Army Inside Auschwitz and Stop the Holocaust by Jack Fairweather. The story of Witold Pilecki, a member of the Polish resistance in WWII who volunteered to enter Auschwitz and try and sabotage and gain intelligence in the fight against the Nazis. 416 pages. (Finished 30 Nov 2019).
  38. The Gaijin Cookbook: Japanese Recipes from a Chef, Father, Eater, and Lifelong Outsider by Ivan Orkin. From the chef behind Ivan Ramen, a book about his love of Japan, its food, and how his American Jewish background has influenced his cooking. 256 pages. (Finished 9 Dec 2019).
  39. American Sfoglino: A Master Class in Handmade Pasta by Evan Funke. A guide to making the very best pasta you can make at home. 272 pages. (Finished 13 Dec 2019).
  40. Everyday is Saturday by Sarah Copeland. I picked this up from the library looking for inspiration for healthy meals to make during the week. In the end, I didn’t see myself making many meals from this book, but I enjoyed the book as a whole. 256 pages. (Finished 14 Dec 2019).
  41. Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman. A follow up to her first cookbook Dining In, this book is a bunch of unassuming recipes for having folks over. 320 pages. (Finished 15 Dec 2019).
  42. Salt Smoke Time: Homesteading and Heritage Techniques for the Modern Kitchen by Will Horowitz. I was super interested to read this book, and I enjoyed it a lot. However, I don’t forage, fish, or hunt as much as I would need to for this book to be more pratical for me. 320 pages. (Finished 19 Dec 2019).
  43. Mostly Plants: 101 Delicious Flexitarian Recipes from the Pollan Family by Tracy, Dana, Lori, & Corky Pollan. This book made the cut and became part of my cookbook library. These recipes are great and there are lots of great ideas for incorporating more vegetables in your diet (something I’m trying to do). 272 pages. (Finished 23 Dec 2019).
  44. Oaxaca: The Food of the Region, and of LA’s legendary restaurant Guelaguetza by Bricia Lopez. This book doesn’t hold anything back from the restaurant menu. All the dishes are there. I’d like to make the mole someday. 288 pages. (Finished 28 Dec 2019).
  45. Sous Vide: Better Home Cooking by Hugh Acheson. I liked this book better than the slow cooker book. 288 pages. (Finished 30 Dec 2019).

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