Looking back through the list of books I read this year, I see I focused a lot on non-fiction, and to be honest, it wasn’t a great year for reading. I read 29 books, and only two of those were what I would rate as “good,” but even then, they weren’t even great.

From this experience I’ve learned that the books that stick with me the longest are often fiction more than non-fiction. And I’ve learned that when I do read non-fiction, I enjoy the books about things that fascinate me, rather than books I read to just learn about a subject. I read “Small Engine Gas Repair” this year, mainly because I wanted to fix my lawn mower, but also because I wanted a general understanding of how simple combustion engines work. I also got it from my childhood library, which was a fun trip down memory lane. It did not make my top 3, but was definitely above most of the other non-fiction things I read.

The majority of the books I read were below average. Going forward, wjen I pick non-fiction books I’ll choose things I really want to read about, rather than what people are talkign about.

One NF book I read this year was easily the worst book I’ve read in the past ten years. Until now, there’s only been one other time I wanted to throw a book away after reading it. Since I read this particular one on my Kindle, I coudln’t. That book was “A People’s History of Computing in the United States.”

While none of these would beat last year’s books, here are the best books I read in 2019.

1. The Outsider

A solid Stepehen King book narrated excellently by Will Patton. If you enjoy this one, I highly recommend getting the other books in the “Bill Hodges Trilogy.” Patton does them as well.

2. Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc.

Chicago-based Wilco is one of my favorite bands, and as such, Jeff Tweedy one of my favorite songwriters. Tweedy narrates a journey that takes the reader from his first big act with Uncle Tupelo to Wilco and even into his solo stage.

3. Islands in the Stream

Honestly, this is a fine book - it’s just not great. But, it beat out 20+ other books I read this year. The protagonist is a painter who lives an idylic life on an island in the Gulf of Mexico, but gets called into naval action off the coast during World War II.

- @jbnunn