Four Thousands Weeks – Oliver Burkeman
This is good, really good but I think you need to be in the right headspace to read it. I can imagine having read this a few years ago and not getting half what I got from it now, with six years of therapy under my belt.
It’s written with a beautiful kindness and gentleness whilst exploring mortality, the meaning of work, why productivity hacks fail and how to be kinder to oneself. I found it very powerful. In particular a chapter called ‘Cosmic Insignificance Therapy’ which argues for a modestly meaningful life rather than the ‘great person’ theory.
Normal People – Sally Rooney
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book and watched a screen adaptation that were both so good, so similar and yet complementary. Perhaps Sally Rooney’s involvement in the screen adaptation is why they seem so consistent with each other. A lovely coming of age story following an on/off/on romance in a small Irish town as they leave school and move to Dublin for university. Amazingly written dialogue and an engaging narrative style.
Our Man In Havana – Graham Greene
I feel I am long overdue in trying some Greene, who is often referenced as an inspiration for Le Carré. This satire of intelligence services (particularly the British) takes a while to get going. But once it hits its rhythm the pacing, story and characters are brilliantly brought to a scathing conclusion.
Jason Kitcat 