2008 was a very strange year. Aside from the birth of my second child, I was somehow struck with an unquenchable desire to read. I have always been a heavy reader, but never like this. 103 books? It seems excessive but somehow I managed to pull it off. In addition to the books listed below, I should mention that I also read the same 7 Dr. Seuss books to my first boy a combined 643 times, but I didn’t think it was worth adding them to my list. What did reading 103 books teach me? The short answer is, I will probably never do that again. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy doing so, but in order to read 103 books in a year one has to spend an inordinate amount of time reading dreck, and after doing so for so many hours in the past year I am determined to never repeat it… if I can help it. I resolve to do better at choosing my reading in the future (and in all likelihood, I will be writing more code in my free time). Therefore, 2009 will likely pale in comparison in sheer numbers; although I hope to read more life-changing material. That being said, let me list a few high (and low) points of my reading last year:

Best book

Grendel

Grendel Truly a fantastic book. It was the kind of beautifully written book that shames me that I ever had the gall to try and put pen to paper.

Worst book

Monster Nation

Monster Nation I think I have worn out the novelty of the Zombie fiction book. In reality, it was probably not as bad as I remember, but it just happen to be the last zombie book that I may ever read.

Hidden gem

The Survivors

The Survivors I picked up a really old copy of this book at a local used book shop for two-bits and really didn’t expect much from it. However, it was a very pleasant find and is a gritty story way ahead of its time.

Biggest disappointment

Anathem

Anathem I was really psyched about Stephenson’s latest book and for the first 150 pages I enjoyed it thoroughly; unfortunately the book is 937 pages. I think that XKCD summed up my qualms with the book:

Best tech book

Programming Collective Intelligence: Building Smart Web 2.0 Applications

Programming Collective Intelligence A really good technical book that talks about how to apply “machine learning” [^ml] to “Web 2.0”. It contains just enough detail without inundating the reader with material more appropriate for a PhD dissertation.

Books read in 2008

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  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49552.The_Stranger?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=grid_widget" title="The Stranger"><img alt="The Stranger" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170360350s/49552.jpg" width="39" /></a>
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  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/625802.Dickinson_Poems?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=grid_widget" title="Dickinson: Poems"><img alt="Dickinson: Poems" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176431028s/625802.jpg" width="39" /></a>
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  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/486050.The_Night_Stalker?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=grid_widget" title="The Night Stalker (Pinnacle True Crime)"><img alt="The Night Stalker" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175150581s/486050.jpg" width="39" /></a>
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  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12497.No_Country_for_Old_Men?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=grid_widget" title="No Country for Old Men"><img alt="No Country for Old Men" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166503883s/12497.jpg" width="39" /></a>
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  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8908.World_War_Z_An_Oral_History_of_the_Zombie_War?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=grid_widget" title="World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War"><img alt="World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165766703s/8908.jpg" width="39" /></a>
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  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1566053.The_Portable_Atheist_Essential_Readings_for_the_Non_believer?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=grid_widget" title="The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-believer"><img alt="The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-believer" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1185289694s/1566053.jpg" width="39" /></a>
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  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/478550.Blake_Poems?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=grid_widget" title="Blake: Poems (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets)"><img alt="Blake: Poems" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175101219s/478550.jpg" width="39" /></a>
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  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1741472.Programming_Collective_Intelligence_Building_Smart_Web_2_0_Applications?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=grid_widget" title="Programming Collective Intelligence: Building Smart Web 2.0 Applications"><img alt="Programming Collective Intelligence: Building Smart Web 2.0 Applications" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1187645251s/1741472.jpg" width="39" /></a>
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  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2748708.Nine_Princes_in_Amber?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=grid_widget" title="Nine Princes in Amber"><img alt="Nine Princes in Amber" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1202181963s/2748708.jpg" width="39" /></a>
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