Best Books I Read in 2022

December 16, 2022

I keep track of my book ratings and reviews on Goodreads. Here’s a list of the best books I read in 2022 (4 and 5 star Goodreads reviews). You can follow me there and see the complete list (including books I didn’t like) and new ratings. Reviews are posted on Twitter too.

Fiction

Desert Star by Michael Connelly

My favorite crime writer’s latest thriller.

Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen

Excellent literary novel by the author of The Corrections.

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

A re-read that didn’t disappoint, maybe his best novel.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

The author of The Martian wrote this book about an astronaut trying to save the world.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

A Russian count is forced the live the rest of his life in a hotel in 1922.

The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Agatha Christie type whodunnit with a literary twist.

Sports

The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson by Jeff Pearlman

The best sports book I’ve read in a long time.

Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski by Ian O’Connor

The definitive biography of college basketball’s all-time winningest coach.

Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks by Chris Herring

Great book about the last time the Knicks were relevant.

Business & Investments

The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban: How Alabama’s Coach Became the Greatest Ever by John Talty

Excellent leadership book for all walks of life.

A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market by Edward Thorp

The incredible true story of the card-counting mathematics professor who taught the world how to beat the dealer and, as the first of the great quantitative investors, ushered in a revolution on Wall Street.

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Redden Keefe

The family that brought us Valium and Oxy.

The Bond King: How One Man Made a Market, Built an Empire, and Lost It All by Mary Childs

From the host of NPR’s Planet Money, the deeply-investigated story of how one visionary, dogged investor changed American finance forever.

Non-Fiction

Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy by Andrew Yang

Tired of politics as is? The Forward party makes a lot of sense for you to check out.

Led Zeppelin: The Biography by Bob Spitz

The authoritative account of the group many call the greatest rock band of all time.

Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties by David de Jong

A groundbreaking investigation of how the Nazis helped German tycoons make billions off the horrors of the Third Reich and World War II—and how America allowed them to get away with it.

Grant by Ron Chernow

Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow with a sweeping and dramatic portrait of one of our most compelling generals and presidents.

Once Upon a Time in Russia: The Rise of the Oligarchs—A True Story of Ambition, Wealth, Betrayal, and Murder by Ben Mezrich

A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian oligarchs

Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s First Journey to the Moon by Robert Kurson

The riveting inside story of three heroic astronauts who took on the challenge of mankind’s historic first mission to the Moon.

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep

The true crime story behind Harper Lee’s attempt to emulate In Cold Blood.