The coolest place I visited in 2024 was my elementary school’s library.
That’s right — not a road trip destination, a sports team’s dugout or sideline or a fun vacation spot. Nope, I’m bestowing that honor on a place I had not visited in 15 years and did not cost a cent for entry (in fact, I was paid for my time).
I doubt there’s a single person on Earth that would have such a visceral reaction to entering the double doors of the media center, but man, the nostalgia blast of entering a place that was such a foundational part of my elementary school chapter was unforgettable. The media center was where I browsed through years worth of Sports Illustrated Kids and Disney magazines, fueled my interest in Harry Potter and Star Wars, participated in chess club and a computer graphics club before school, checked out hundreds of books and, of course, proved my reading comprehension mettle. A lot of my interests and strengths can be traced back to that media center, and aside from the school gym, there might not be a single room in any school I’ve attended that meant as much to me. All this for a modestly-sized, relatively old library.
I’d wondered what it would be like to be back, given that I last stepped foot in the library in 2010 as an elementary schooler myself. But what opportunities are there for a high school or college student to enter an elementary school library? The stars metaphorically aligned in a substitute teaching assignment I jumped at this past spring, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to return to a place I have literally dreamed about for decades.
The experience lived up to anticipation. An overpowering, although not unpleasant, scent of older books sent me back 15 years upon stepping inside. The layout looked similar, though the computers, magazines and displays had found new homes. I found one book, Football Hero by Tim Green, in which I located an actual stamp I left on a book to check it out back in 2009. Unreal.
All this to say, libraries and reading played a leading role in my 2024. Through the five years I’ve been on Goodreads, I’ve never surpassed 50 books read in one year, until now. And the bulk of the reading log came in a sprint at the end of the year — 30 of my 52 reads came in the final three months of 2024. Sports non-fiction was the clear winner in terms of the most-read genre, but I mixed in an eclectic set of genres with ventures into history, science, politics and travel. I’m grateful for the terrific selection of digital and brick-and-mortar libraries I’ve been around, the time to read and the lessons I’ve learned from reading each, and I sure hope to continue the momentum into the new year.
Of the 52 books I tallied in 2024, I wanted to discuss around half of them. 24 for ‘24 sounded about right, and the final cut included books across genres and months read. And here we go — 24 terrific books I read from front cover to back in 2024.
The Nolan Variations by Tom Shone (Film Criticism)
What a concept for a book: a writer spending one-on-one time with acclaimed director Christopher Nolan. While not quite to the level of the movies themselves, this book positions itself as the next-best thing. Shone breaks down each of Nolan’s movies leading up to one of my favorites, Tenet, and covers the themes that make each so compelling. And he also excels as an interviewer, drawing thrilling insights out of Nolan in chronicling the legend’s career in film. This book leaves a lot of room to wonder and discuss the films’ abstract topics without the burden of finality — a real pleasure. This book spread through my family like wildfire and will make the next Nolan viewing even better.
How to Watch Basketball Like a Genius by Nick Greene (Sports)
I enjoy reading sports books that make me a smarter fan, and this book’s exploration of basketball through other careers was a particularly inventive method to explain the trends shaping the sport at the NBA level. I’ll never view “heliocentric” NBA offenses the same way.
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene (History)
This classic book is the clear winner in pages (480) and pages of notes I wrote (innumerable). I’ve absorbed many of these lessons, such as “never outshine the master,” through Godfather breakdown videos on YouTube, of all things. And the most poignant lessons are closer to the beginning, with some overlap in stories and themes throughout. But man, did I learn a lot, both about power dynamics and history. The aim of this book is using history to explain the dynamics of power, with lessons to benefit both those seeking power and those simply wanting to understand it. I just wanted to read a good book, and I can confidently say I could check that box after reading this.
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt (Memoir)
A gift from Leigh Shuster, this award-winning memoir depicts the traumatic childhood of its author as he comes of age in Ireland. I did not envy the protagonist’s upbringing, which included a perpetually drunk father and constant financial insecurity, but I appreciated the vivid depictions of a world very different from mine and McCourt’s resilience. Not every book has to be uplifting, and this one felt both refreshing and harrowing.
The Science of Murder: The Forensics of Agatha Christie by Carla Valentine (Science)
As a major fan of Agatha Christie, I was thrilled to finally get around to this Kindle purchase and learned plenty about the world’s best mystery writer. Primarily, Christie’s scientific acumen and appetite for learning is underscored here and demonstrates how she was on the cutting edge of forensic science. The author explores all around the field of forensics and illustrates Christie’s mastery through examples from her many classic books (all while dodging spoilers).
Heat 2 by Michael Mann (Thriller/Fiction)
‘The book was better than the movie’ is a common refrain. In this instance, the book was the sequel to the movie — the 1995 crime thriller Heat, directed by Michael Mann and starring Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. This plot serves dual purposes as a prequel and sequel, expertly developing the movie’s established characters and tying together the various storylines in satisfying fashion by the end. The movie’s heist sequences are among the best in cinema, and the action sequences in the book do the source material justice with a real heart-pumping intensity. I gained much more from this novel having watched the film, and I’m rooting for more stories to come out of this saga.
Kingdom Quarterback by Mark Dent (Sports)
This book’s rating was boosted by having the best backdrop — the sunny shores of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The sports writing was pretty good, too. Written by a pair of Kansas City natives, this book chronicles the rise of Kansas City as a major American city along with the ascension of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to MVP and Super Bowl champion. Given Mahomes’ domination of the NFL and the Chiefs’ dynasty status, there may be no bigger story in the sports world right now, and having the geographical and historical context, along with the story of Mahomes’ football journey, is essential as a viewer of way too many NFL games.
Hoop Atlas by Kirk Goldsberry (Sports)
Similar to How to Watch Basketball Like a Genius, this book dissects the recent trends that have transformed basketball in an engaging and accessible manner. The bonus of this smart analysis is an abundance of graphics that depict those changes and drill home just how much the NBA game has changed — and why.
The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football by Tyler Dunne (Sports)
I’ve only met the author of one book on this list, and simply meeting Tyler Dunne primed me to dig into his well-regarded book about the history of tight ends. Dunne devotes each chapter to a different legendary tight end, highlighting their similarities while clearly understanding what makes each unique. In weaving these stories together, Dunne captures the essence of a position that has evolved as much as any in the Super Bowl era.
Coach Prime: Deion Sanders and the Making of Men by Jean-Jacques Taylor (Sports)
Coach Prime is the product of exclusive access into Deion Sanders’ highlight-reel season with Jackson State. And what a season it was — Sanders and star players Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter elevating the HBCU program to the national spotlight. Compared to other books I read this year, this “season on the inside”-type spent its energy capturing what makes Deion Sanders such a special coach. While the reporting leaned a bit closer to public relations than I would have liked given such a fascinating topic, Taylor delivered plenty of juicy insights and vivid anecdotes that brought this season, and Sanders’ move to University of Colorado, to life. This book was a must-read before my coverage of the Colorado-Baylor game and may have covered the most unique subject.
The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World’s Fastest-Growing Sport by Joshua Robinson (Sports)
I took an interest in the Formula One scene through my friend Matthew, and occasional viewings of F1 races inspired me to cover the Las Vegas Grand Prix and Formula One’s growth for my master’s thesis project at Northwestern University. Through reporting, I enjoyed the opportunity to wander the Las Vegas Strip and beat the heat for stand-up shots at the LVGP paddock construction, but I only saw a small slice of the sport. My number one takeaway from this comprehensive history of Formula One — the immense danger of competing in Formula One and the amount of fatal crashes that have shaped the sport’s history. For all the impact that Drive to Survive made in investing casual viewers into the dramatic storylines and feuds of the sport, this book nails the task of showing where Formula One has been.
The Price: What It Takes to Win in College Football’s Era of Chaos by Armen Ketiyan (Sports)
I read a lot of sports books this year: 28 in total. This book was the most insightful. A word I’d use to describe this read is “relevant.” Ketiyan follows storylines from across the nation from the 2023 college football season, from Michigan’s dominance to Maryland’s efforts to climb up into contention to Arizona’s ups and downs and struggle with the concept of “loyalty.” But what takes this to another level is the dogged reporting into name, image and likeness, a topic that has transformed the college sports landscape. To use a book cliche, this book pulls back the curtain on a sport in a way that will never make me see college football the same — and I covered a Big Ten team for two seasons.
Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos and the Washington Post by Martin Baron (Politics)
This book brought together my education as a journalism student, my experience as a longtime reader of the Washington Post and my interest in important events to chronicle an unprecedented presidency from the standpoint of the district’s most prominent news outlet. And who better to tell the story than the executive editor of the Washington Post at the time, Marty Baron. This memoir/deep dive covers both the contentious relationship between the Washington Post and Donald Trump and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s purchase of the storied newspaper and bold intentions for its future. A fascinating read in the week leading up to the election and a great example of access and perspective elevating journalism.
Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon by Mirin Fader (Sports)
I had high hopes for Dream after tearing through Fader’s debut biography Giannis a couple years ago, and I was not disappointed. Though I knew all about Olajuwon’s dominant career (and sadly, his Finals win over my Orlando Magic), I knew little about his personal development from a rookie taking in all the NBA life had to offer to a wise veteran. Even more impressive was Olajuwon’s physical prowess during his fasts after his rededication to Islam, demonstrating how the best Houston Rocket in history was one of one.
Intangibles: Unlocking the Science and Soul of Team Chemistry by Joan Ryan (Sports)
I read all sorts of sports science books each year, and most seek to disprove traditional notions. In this one, author Joan Ryan goes against the analytics grain and finds evidence that supports team chemistry being an actual, tangible difference maker and not just an illusion created by a convenient narrative. Though not exclusive to baseball, the bulk of Ryan’s reporting takes her through the nation’s pastime and gives a compelling case that clubhouse leaders and synergy really do matter.
A Murder in Hollywood: The Untold Story of Tinseltown’s Most Shocking Crime by Casey Sherman (True Crime)
The story of Lana Turner’s time in Hollywood is a dizzying roller coaster, from the heights of striking it rich in Hollywood’s Golden Age to her tumultuous relationships to the titular murder that serves as the book’s climax. For a true crime story, much more time was devoted to establishing the murder’s context, which shifted the focus of the book from the crime itself to the minefield of mid-century Hollywood — which did not seem so glamorous by the end of the book. A page-turner (no pun intended), this book piqued the interest in the film studies minor in me and seemed almost hyperbolic in its chronicling of this saga.
Dream It! Do It!: My Half-Century Creating Disney’s Magic Kingdoms By Marty Sklar (Memoir)
Sklar, a public relations staffer turned Disney Imagineer, had quite the vantage point to see the rise and expansion of the Disney theme parks. While the book certainly looks at this chronology through rose-colored glasses, its detailed recounting of each park’s creation and challenges shows just how much of an achievement the development of each park turned out to be. The challenges seemed to multiply with each passing decade as well, though Sklar’s career ended on a magnificent and storybook-worthy note.
The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit and Peril at the Beach by Starah Stodola (Travel)
An absolute counterpoint to the “don’t judge a book by its cover” debate. I saw the cover of this book, which looks like a vintage travel poster, and just couldn’t pass it up in the library. Wow, did I learn a lot. Stodola’s travel journalism covers a lot of ground (and beachfront) and focuses on different beaches from around the world and what factors, whether ecological, economic or other, threaten their survival. What makes this more fun is the first-person perspective of the author’s trips to each of these spots, and I certainly appreciated Stodola’s breakdown of the history and psychology behind why going to the beach is such an ingrained part of our culture.
Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! by David Zucker (Film)
The movie Airplane! is in a league of its own, and who better to tell the story behind its conception than the three directors at the helm. In retrospect, the fact that this movie even reached the silver screen is astounding given the directors’ lack of Hollywood clout or experience, but the quality of the humor makes sense thanks to the book’s explanation of how the ZAZ trio found a winning formula that still resonates today. Set up as an oral history, this book tells the stories behind all the uproarious lines of dialogue and made me appreciate the inherent challenge in creating a comedy that appeals to all audiences, and across decades.
The Airbnb Story: How Three Ordinary Guys Disrupted an Industry, Made Billions… and Created Plenty of Controversy by Leigh Gallagher (Travel)
I’ve stayed in five Airbnb residences, ranging from five days to five months, so I was naturally curious to see how such a frictionless and prevalent experience rose to the American consciousness. The backstory doesn’t disappoint. Gallagher highlights why the founders’ rags-to-riches story is so impressive and the factors why it took off so quickly, while also pitting those founders against the existential challenges posed because Airbnb has been such a disruptor in the travel industry. The book did not make me want to stay in an Airbnb (especially after the horror stories), but I loved this portrayal of never-say-die entrepreneurship.
Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire by Ashley Spencer (Film/TV)
For me, Disney High was purely educational. I did not watch a single one of these shows or Disney Channel Original Movies when they came out, and High School Musical is the only one that registered on my radar as an elementary schooler (back in the heyday of Disney). I couldn’t pass this book up though, and after reading books about the Disney Parks, Disney Animation Studios, Pixar and Walt Disney himself, I found myself enthralled in this entirely distinct sector of the country’s foremost entertainment company. This book covered more of the rise than the fall and has enough nostalgia to tranquilize a Disney kid, but I gleaned plenty from the child actors’ handling of fame and the channel’s inability to evolve into the 2010s and streaming age.
Camino Ghosts by John Grisham (Legal Thriller/Fiction)
I read very few fiction books this year, but I can always count on John Grisham to get me turning the pages. Camino Ghosts is the third book of a series that moves away from Grisham’s classic legal thriller genre in favor of the literary world, but the book still includes plenty of riveting legal action. The story follows the battle between a development firm looking to build a resort on a north Florida island called the Dark Isle, and resident Lovely Jackson’s fight to defend her ancestral claim to the land.
Why So Serious? The Untold Story of NBA Champion Nikola Jokic by Mike Singer (Sports)
From the international scope to the action-packed basketball sequences to its fascinating and wholly unique subject, Why So Serious stakes a strong claim to being my favorite sports book of this year. The biography chronicles the upbringing and basketball career of Serbian legend and current Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, whose unconventional build and unrivaled passing abilities have set the NBA aflame. For a book covering a superstar as private as Jokic, this book did an excellent job capturing precious Jokic insights, from Jokic’s ultra-competitive streak in Mario Kart to his bruises in NBA practice after wrestling his brothers the previous day. And after reading this book, I have no doubt in the world that Jokic loves his horses.
The Victory Machine: The Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty by Ethan Sherwood Strauss (Sports)
A sensational recounting of Kevin Durant’s time with the Warriors, The Victory Machine tells the story of a league MVP in his prime joining the winningest team in NBA history and the chaotic results and dynamics that ensued. I knew the outline of the Warriors’ dynastic run over Durant’s time, and what stuck out to me the most was how much the author became a key character in the book himself. Strauss found himself in locker room confrontations with Durant multiple times, which was probably stressful for him, but it added even more drama and behind-the-scenes insight to the non-fiction sports genre.
Riker's Block 