Reading list 2022

4 min readDec 15, 2022

It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone. Not sure if things are starting to return to normal or we are just getting more used to this “new normal”, living with covid and all the adjustments that we’ve had to make as a society.

For me it’s been a good year, full of new experiences, learnings and a new focus on simplifying and minimizing my life by removing anything (goodbye most social media, apps and notifications) that’s not essential or bringing joy so that I can live not only with more focus, intent and presence but most importantly…with more time and energy to spend in the areas that bring value and happiness into my life.

Some of those areas are: family and friends, fitness (I’ve finally crossed the 5–0 barrier and keeping my body and mind fit are one of the highest priorities as they have a huge positive impact in every other aspect of my life), reading more interesting and thought provoking books, continue to advance my studies in magic and deepening my Stoic practice (one of my favorite quotes: “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius).

But even with all the good things happenings in my life, it’s hard not to think about some of the sad moments and events that have taken place in the last few months, from the unjustified and ruthless Russian invasion of Ukraine, to the continued and growing divide and polarization of our politics, its impact in our society and the amount of job losses across so many sectors and industries (so many so close to the Holiday season).

Although I tend to have a positive attitude and outlook in life, my approach is also to be a pragmatic and practical Stoic (not always succeeding). So as much as there’s to celebrate and hope for the year to come — it’s also been a challenging year.

As George Santayana said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” So, let us all march on forward into 2023 with our eyes, ears, minds and hearts open and hope that in the months to come we can all find that which is essential to each and all of us: love, peace, joy and acceptance for who we are.

“Out of the ruin
Out from the wreckage
Can’t make the same mistake this time
We are the children
The last generation (the last generation, generation)
We are the ones they left behind
… And, I wonder when we are ever gonna change, change
Living under the fear, ’til nothing else remains”

— Tina Turner — We Don’t Need Another Hero from the film Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Here’s a list of some of the 40+ books that I read this year, in no particular order: