I am not a bookworm or an avid book reader, but always wanted to read books. Previously I tried but could barely finish one or two books a year. This year, I read consistently for the first time. What helped me was forming a routine to read, such as 30 minutes before bedtime or in the morning. Previously I tried with motivation, which obviously stopped after a while.

For those in the same boat, I suggest picking books on topics that you are naturally curious about, not necessarily "best books" or "simple books". You can also pick books based on problems that you want to find solutions for. In my case, it was decision-making this year. Don't just stick to a certain category of books, try to blend fiction, non-fiction or even autobiographies or memoirs of your favorite people. And it's absolutely fine to drop a book in the middle, if it didn't click with you. Keep multiple books at your disposal, so you can pick based on your mood that day without the overwhelming feeling of what to read next.

Now let's dive into the books that I read this year:

This book covers R Ashwin's life until the 2011 world cup. It talks about his childhood health issues and how his family and friends supported him throughout his cricketing journey. It describes different cricket clubs within Chennai, his love of street cricket, and how he learned the carrom ball. But I think the interesting part for wider audiences is after 2011, when he debuted in the Indian Test team. He left that part for the next book, it seems. Overall, it's a decent book.

This book is about a young woman in Japan who had a recent breakup and reluctantly stays at her uncle's bookshop while searching for another place, after her mother insists. But as days pass, she gets to know the bookshop, its regular customers, more importantly her uncle, and rediscovers herself after the breakup. The description of the bookstore and its neighborhood is so good that it generates a feeling of calm while reading this book. I definitely recommend this book.

This book covers all the mechanics of decision making in a very practical way. Part of it is written as a workbook. Highly recommend this book for anyone looking to improve their decision-making skills.

This is a perspective-shifting book. It discusses how and why we defend our beliefs like a soldier and why it is beneficial to become a scout to validate our beliefs. You can apply this mindset by simply asking yourself two questions to examine either your own beliefs or opposing ones: 1) Is it true? 2) How true is it? I highly recommend this book. This is the best book I have read this year.

This is a coming-of-age story of Rusty, an Anglo-Indian boy in 1950s India. Well written with a simple and uncomplicated story that I enjoyed. You can try this book if you prefer slice-of-life stories.

It's a great book on reconsidering life, time, and their finiteness. It's both philosophical and practical on how to make the most out of our limited time without overwhelming ourselves.

This book is written by an Indian-origin journalist. It shows the lengths journalists go to in uncovering the ground-level reality of a place often obscured by its leaders. Each chapter is about different places in the Middle East, and one chapter covers the aftermath in Delhi and its surrounding areas after the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

We all agree that history should be taught through narrative rather than memorized timelines and events. This book is a good example of story-driven history. It explores how Portugal, a tiny nation, reached India's west coast via the longer African sea route, and conquered the era's most crucial trade routes. The book focuses on two governors who made this conquest possible. They were desperate, persistent, brutal, incorruptible and loyal to their king and their faith. It also demonstrates how naval expertise and advanced gunnery provided significant advantage for Portuguese. Highly recommended for history enthusiasts.

I dropped a couple of books: 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder', 'Apple in China'. Having multiple books in different genres really helped me this year. Would love to explore other genres like sci-fi and spy thrillers next year, along with more foundational books on how things work.