[Good Book Recommendations] 10 of James' Favorite Books in 2021

Recently, on the PTT book edition and some reading clubs, I saw many great gods sharing their 2021 book lists. Suddenly I found that I have never written such a good book recommendation article of the year, so I started to write it.

In 2021, I have read 46 books, including 4 re -readings of the second book. In fact, I have only read 42 new books. As a blogger who focuses on reading, I am a bit ashamed. However, there are still many works that I love, so I chose 10 to share, hoping that everyone will not feel that the water is too high.

As a side note, these 10 books are books I read last year, not necessarily published in 2021. In addition, the sorting has nothing to do with the ranking, and it is slightly arranged according to the category. So let's get started!

【10 Favorite Books of 2021】

[1. Ghost place]

The reason why I wanted to read "Ghost Place" in the first place was very simple: too many people pushed it. The story tells that after Chen Tianhong was released from prison for murder in Germany, he returned to his hometown: Yongjing. And Tianhong's sisters know that the younger brother is returning to his hometown, and they also return to this "ghost" place where everyone wants to escape, to welcome the long-lost "reunion", and start a tragicomedy intertwined with people and ghosts.

The book cuts in from the perspectives of different characters. Through the interlaced narrative of the present and the past, the dark past of the small place of Yongjing is gradually opened up, and the Chen family's scarred past is glimpsed layer by layer. The author Chen Sihong uses skilled writing to allow readers to easily fall into the story even in the face of complex character groups and multiple intertwined story lines. Very local, magical, and soulful work.

Full reading experience: "Ghost Place": Where is the ghost? Where is the person's place of return?

[2. Breathing]

"Breathing" is a collection of Jiang Fengnan's science fiction, including 9 of his short stories. The various technological plots in the book can be said to have opened my mind. For example, "Pingyuxun" that can create branched parallel universes, or "Sky Eyes" that can search for the events you have experienced.

Although the storyline is a little out of the present, at the speed of technological advancement, it may actually be close at hand. It made me wonder, how would I apply these new technologies? What will I do when faced with the difficulties encountered by those characters?

I think Jiang Fengnan's works seem to be sci-fi, but what they discuss is the deep entanglement between technology and human nature, which is actually an extremely realistic reality. If you love sci-fi and brain-burning, you must not miss this book.

Complete reading experience: "Breathe": Tang Feng also pushed the brain-burning science fiction masterpiece!

(3. But I don't like it)

"But I Don't Like It" is a collection of Wu Xiaole's essays, including 21 of her works. The book talks about the groping and struggle of many women in this society.

At first reading, Wu Xiaole's words are quite sharp, but seeing her writing about various self-explorations and family love flows, her heart warms up silently. The story about the neighbors that grandma told me gave me goosebumps; and about my mother's absence from school, it reminded me of my mother who was also unable to go to college due to family factors.

Although the book describes the struggles of being a woman or a mother, it is always a pull between self and society. Maybe that's why I'm not in it and still resonate deeply. I believe that no matter what gender, you can find resonance in this book.

Complete reading experience: "But I Don't Like It": Those are very good, can you not?

[4. Old-school girl shopping route]

I don't know since when, the red figure of "Old-School Girl Shopping Route" has been coming into my eyes, and I see people recommending this book from time to time. No wonder Liz of "Keywords to Food " would say that this is a phenomenal work in the food and literary world in 2021.

This book not only writes about food, but also uses food as a medium and turns between scenes. Following her writing to "old" places such as Luzhou and Dadaocheng, worshipping Yonglian Temple and eating cut noodles, I immediately felt the urge to visit the places in the book. Walking and jumping, licking rice moss ice, or learning to cook with mother, little hands evenly spread pork fat, salt and chopped green onion on the dough, all kinds of family affection are even more vivid on paper.

As Shu Guozhi said, Hong Aizhu doesn't just write well about food, she is — she writes well. I just enjoyed the process of reading this book. Her writing is quiet and distant, with a strong sense of the times, but it is not greasy, and it can be revived after tasting it. It is a good prose worth scrutinizing.

Full reading experience: "Old-school girl shopping route": taste the aftertaste of life

[5. Tang Feng: Freedom and the future as I see it]

"Tang Feng: Freedom and the Future as I See It" is a biographical work of Tang Feng. Through a large number of interviews and collections, the two authors detailed Tang Feng's growth process. From school to drop out of school to start a business, to change gender, to retire, to participate in politics as a citizen hacker, and finally to become a political commissar in the system, it can be said that Tang Feng is deconstructed and her thoughts.

This book can be said to have greatly stimulated my thinking. Let me reflect on whether education is more possible; what role can technology play in today's democratic society; in this polarized world, how do we think about how to communicate. If you are also interested in these topics, I believe this book will definitely bring you different inspirations.

Complete reading experience: "Tang Feng: Freedom and the Future as I See It": It was amplified by you like this!

[6. You have logged in to Room N]

"You Have Logged In to Room N" is the first-hand investigation book of the original reporter and first reporter of Room N - "Tracking Group Spark". Describe in detail how the two authors, Huo Hexu , discovered and exposed the criminal punishment.

Reading this book naturally stems from great curiosity about this event. The Xiaoyu Deepfake incident a while ago seemed to coincide with this book. I think respect for gender, whether Korea or Taiwan, still has a lot to learn.

In addition to the description of the exposure process, I personally like the essays of the two people in the second part of the book, from which I can see that Huo and Xuan are actually just like us, they will be afraid, confused, and vulnerable. But even so, these two girls who were even a few years younger than me still tried hard to turn those dark corners. And that spark can really start a prairie fire in the end. This is what touched me very much about this book!

Complete reading experience: "You have logged in to Room N": The light that shines in the darkness, the largest online sex crime in South Korea's history exposed documentary!

[7. Taiwanese flavor in the alley]

"Taiwan Taste in Alleys" is a small and interesting work with deep connotation. It introduces 22 Taiwanese common food and their stories in detail. The author, A Zuo, takes Taiwanese cuisine as the base, supplements it with various rural materials, and adds fine writing and cooking, making it a delicious and nutritious book.

Want to know how the "Taiwanese flavor" that you and I are familiar with, such as salted chicken, pearl milk tea, and oyster omelette, came into being? This book will be your best companion.

Full reading experience: "Taiwanese Taste in the Alleys": The birth story of Taiwanese snacks you didn't know!

[8. Long-term sales]

"Long Selling" divides the creation of classic works into four steps: content , positioning , marketing and platform , and analyzes how those works that can last for a long time are made. I read this book because Miula is highly recommended in the creator chat room of the square grid. After reading it, it really lives up to its reputation.

Although my own writing is still far from the classics, I have also begun to try to adjust it with the methods in the book, and I have learned to think with a longer-term perspective, considering whether the writings I have written will still be relevant in five or ten years. can continue to exert influence. If you have or want to start experimenting with writing, this book is definitely worth your time.

Complete reading experience: "Long Sales": The secret of refining classics, four steps to create enduring works!

[9. Reflection on Success]

From the election of Trump, to Brexit, to the resurgence of the far-right in Europe, we seem to be ushering in a world of rising populism and serious social polarization. The two broken sides seem to never have the possibility to communicate and focus. This "Successful Reflection" is to find out the reasons behind these phenomena and try to answer them.

Author Michael. Sandel argues that the problem lies in the value of meritocracy . It is because society upholds such a concept of success, praising effort and talent, that it divides the world into a divided society of winners and losers.

This book was extremely enjoyable to read, and the process of reading it can be said to constantly challenge my thinking. If you are also discouraged by such a society and hope that something can be changed, then this book may provide you with some thinking directions.

Complete reading experience: "Reflections on Success": The Trap of the Supreme Being, What Kind of Society Do We Need?

[10. Truth making]

Truth Made is one of my favorite books of 2021. The author, Liu Zhixin, is the deputy editor-in-chief of the reporter . He has visited various countries for many years to study the issue of "false information". I thought it was a must-read book for dealing with false information.

In the book, you will see how jihadist organizations weave dreams and lure the second generation of European Muslims into the fire pit; how far-rights in France and Germany create alternative facts and create divisions; Detonate traffic. Disinformation is no longer cold data, every message affects living people.

Zhixin uses fluent writing to explore in detail how false information is produced, disseminated and diffused into people's lives. If you are also concerned about all kinds of mixed messages and polarization in Taiwan, this book is for you.

Complete reading experience: "Making the Truth": The information war begins, you and I are already in the smoke!

【postscript】

This is my list of recommended books for 2021. In fact, there are some books like "Brave New World" or "The White Horse Walks Through the Dawn" that I like very much, but these are not new books, or even classics, and it seems strange that they are not included.

Similarly , the 4 books I plan to reread this year : " Guns , Germs and Steel " , " The Black Swan Effect " , " World View " and " Be Careful , Don't Step on My Northern Feet " are also my favorite works . It's an old book, but it's definitely worth reading.

Finally, the book is boundless, if you have a favorite book, please leave a message to me, share it together, and push it!

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