Technically, I’m releasing this in 2020 (in some countries), but whatever.

Right away, I want to be honest — I didn’t read as much as I liked to. My list is shorter than last year’s — so I’ll be commiting to reading more next year. It’s why this year only features 4 Top Books and only 3 Honorable Mentions. Anyways, here are my tops for 2019.

Top 4 Books

1. The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy

   Probably one of the best books I’ve read ever, period. It’s a journey that moves you in ways you didn’t think was possible, and Pay Conroy’s style of writing is so immersive and elegant that you really feel as though you are in Charleston. South Carolina’s finest city has put itself on my “To Travel” list by this book alone.

2. David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

   Gladwell makes it yet again on my list, with his amazing ability to uncover stories and analyze what makes them interesting. David and Goliath is a book applicable to anyone seeking to make a change in the world, from changes as small as moving a crumb to as large as trying to move a universe.

3. Why I Left Goldman Sachs by Greg Smith

   I never understood the world of Wall Street and finance, but in Greg Smith’s tell all about Goldman Sachs, I found myself intrigued and immersed in the fast-paced bustle of the Street. Smith’s growth and crumbling of his belief system is fascinating to see break down, and it’s a reminder that seemingly small factors can cause behemoths to fall. While a narrative, this pairs well with David and Goliath’s Self-Improvement book.

4. Thrawn by Timothy Zahn

   A political thriller, with backstabbing and intrigue complements the main part of Zahn’s novel which details the rise of an intelligent yet humane Navy Admiral. Thrawn is an incredible novel that keeps you on your toes and interested, and to top it all off, it takes place in the incredible universe that is Star Wars. Many will dismiss Thrawn as “yet another Star Wars” book, but it is so much more than that. More than anything, Thrawn takes what fascinates me about that universe — the politics, the chaos, the disorder — and explores it in ways not often seen.

Honorable Mentions

• Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
• the four by Scott Galloway
• Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark