Reading is a habit you should keep nurturing. The most successful people read all the time—and it’s about time you should, too. This year, try to read at least one book a month, starting with these six novels.
Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan
Atonement author Ian McEwan’s upcoming novel Machines Like Me tells the story of Charlie, an aimless man who purchases a near-perfect synthetic human called Adam. Trouble starts brewing when Charlie enlists the help of Miranda, a student he’s in love with, to create Adam’s persona. As Charlie, Miranda, and Adam find themselves entangled in a bizarre love triangle set in the 1980s, the novel forces us to think about the very essence of humanity.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Another woman-driven novel by Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert, City Of Girls follows Vivian Morris, who, at the age of 89, is finally telling the tale of her stay in New York in the 1940s. Kicked out of Vassar and forced to work as a seamstress at her aunt’s theater located in midtown Manhattan, Vivian regales us with stories of the flamboyant characters she meets, as well as the mistakes that led her to live the kind of life she truly craved.
White by Bret Easton Ellis
People have been waiting eagerly for White, the upcoming book of American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis, since October 2018. White, Ellis’ first book in almost a decade, promises to be a polarizing collection of essays about today’s culture from a white privileged man’s point of view. Here, Ellis tackles head-on tricky topics, including the merits of self-censorship and the true cost of living an authentic life.
Bitcoin Billionaires: A True Story of Genius, Betrayal, and Redemption by Ben Mezrich
If you’ve seen The Social Network, you’ve probably heard of Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the Harvard-educated twins who contributed to Facebook’s invention. Bitcoin Billionaires picks up where The Social Network took off, focusing on the Winklevoss twins’ start as venture capitalists, their foray into cryptocurrency, and their coronation as the world’s first Bitcoin billionaires.
Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds by Gwena Bond
Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds is the prequel to the hit Netflix show Stranger Things. The book, set in 1969, tells the story of Terry Ives, a college student from Indiana who signs up for an important government experiment codenamed MKUltra, where she was subjected to mind-altering experiments under the supervision of the sinister Dr. Brenner. Suspecting that the experiments are part of a greater conspiracy, Terry seeks the help of her fellow test subjects, including a mysterious girl with superhuman powers named 008.
Zen: The Art of Simple Living by Shunmyo Masuno
Loved Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up? Then you’ll love Zen: The Art of Simple Living. Written by a Buddhist monk, this book contains several easy ways to make your life more Zen. The reader will gradually learn the true meaning of happiness and fulfillment by making small, simple changes to their life.