I Tried Reading One Book Per Week in 2021. Here Is How I Did.

I read one book per week in 2020. Breezing through books was easy when the pandemic confined me indoors with no social prospects. A book per week was a tougher task once life started returning to normal. Reading time was superseded by dinners with friends, a flurry of travel, and the joys of a new relationship.

While I did not achieve quite as voluminous a reading list in 2021, I still managed to finish 31 tomes (approx. one book per two weeks.) Like last year, I focused on varying my reading selections between fiction and non-fiction and across genres, themes, and topics. One book a month was assigned by “The Booze and Books Club,” which was once again one of the highlights of my annual reading journey. Not only did we continue meeting on a monthly basis, but this year our club also launched its own instagram (@theboozeandbooksclub) and began hosting progressively more elaborate, on-theme gatherings. For example, in August, members brought their dogs to discuss canine-themed “Nightbitch” by Rachel Yoder and in September, we met at family-owned seafood restaurant La Camaronera to discuss “Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reed that spotlights the dynamics of a family that owns a seafood restaurant. Oh, and we began incorporating discussions with the authors into our meetings both virtually and when the pandemic (and Miami Book Fair) allowed, in person. Props to Virginia Gil and Gio Gutierrez for all of the hard work they put into running the best book club hands down.

Another milestone moment from this past year was my chat with Barney and Falc of @booksandbeersclub. You can watch the Books and Beers episode on YouTube here. We talked about my career, my George Constanza sweatpants, my numerous Instagram accounts, and all things reading. My favorite part was our animated discussion on our favorite and least favorite books. Both Barney and Falc share my love for the teaching of Dale Carnegie and struggled through “Cien Años de Soledad.” Nothing energizes me like intellectually stimulating discourse with fellow book lovers!

Before I share with you the comprehensive list of every book I read in 2022, I want to thank all of you who reached out to discuss books, suggest books, send books (Murph! Wanka! Christine! Reggie! Betsy! Faja!), and in the case of Scott Deitche, share books you authored. For me, reading is as, if not more, thrilling as a team sport than an individual sport. Please take a look at the list below and then reach out in the comments or on social media with your favorite books of 2021 and your most anticipated books for 2022. My very best wishes to you for a happy, healthy and book-filled year to come!