A writer I follow on Substack posted an essay entitled What our books reveal about us. I was intrigued and — after reviewing the 65 books I read in 2023 — decided to answer that question for myself.

You’ll see the list of the 65 next Wednesday. In the meantime, here are eight totally subjective observations about what I discovered.

• I may be a planner by training, but I don’t always follow the plan — I began the year with a six-month TBR list (and even had all the books in nice, neat stacks). However, more than one-third of the books I eventually read (24 of 65) were published in 2023 or late in 2022, meaning I bought them during the year at some wonderful independent bookstore.

• I am open to suggestions — 32 of the 65 books — almost half — were recommended by friends and other readers. And many recommended by readers at the end of last year are still sitting in my TRB pile. I’ll get to them eventually!

• I can disappear down rabbit holes — Late last year I read Kathryn Schulz’s beautiful memoir Lost & Found, setting me on a quest to think about wonder and awe. I’m well past ten books that touch on that topic and I know there’s more to come.

• I am reading more spirituality and theology than I would have guessed — Perhaps it is because I’m now in my third stage in life, but I find myself drawn to writers who think about things bigger than each of us individually. I’m especially appreciative of those who consider the spiritual world from perspectives that differ from mine.

• I am so proud of friends who publish books — Writing well is hard. Writing a good book is really hard. Publishing a book that others will read is even harder. At least seven people I know from different parts of my life published books in 2023. My Author Q&As were how I spread the word.

• I believe that history can point the way forward — The late historian David McCullough was fond of saying that history “is an antidote to self-pity and self-importance…history is a lesson in proportions.” Abagail Adams wrote to her son — the future president John Quincy Adams — that “the habits of a vigorous mind are born in contending with difficulties.” In 2023, one-quarter of the books I read were histories, and almost all spoke to what the past can tell us about today’s sometimes trying and perplexing world.

• Diversions were more fun than I suspected — By now anyone who reads this newsletter knows that I have been on a binge reading murder mysteries in 2023. I’ve enjoyed it much more than I feel is legal. You’ll have to figure out what that means.

• I still need to broaden my perspective — I’ve made the intentional choice to read from a diverse group of authors writing about topics that may be outside my comfort zone. This past year, ten of the books I read came from ethnically diverse authors. That can improve, but I’m already seeing changes in my perspective.

Think about it: what do the books you’ve read reveal about you?

More to come . . .

DJB

Image from Pixabay.