Jevan Pradas' 3 favorite reads in 2024

The TV show won a record 18 Emmy's. But as great as it was, the show was merely the cliff notes to the immersive world of 17th century Japan that James Claville's epic novel illuminates for us. Japan has always had a special fascination to the western world, so exotic and traditional in their culture, yet in many ways far more advanced than us. This was even more true back then, as we dive into a story of samurai and ninja, pageantry, and at times baffling customs (sepukko as an honor?).

The book functions not just as a great adventure story, but as a mystery. The machinations of the ingenious characters slowly brought to light. There are so many moments of Ah! That's why he did that. It's hard to know what Claville pulled form actual history, but whether a creation of his own or not, the way he weaves the back and forth feints and manipulations of the characters, is awe-inspiring.

Don't feel daunted by this books 1200 pages, you'll be so engrossed that by the end you will be reading it while wearing a kimono and a samurai sword you bought off Amazon.

I've spend over a year of my life in the halls and cabins of Bhavana Society. A meditation monastery in the forest of West Virginia, where its abbot is the most senior and respected Buddhist monk living in the United States.

In "What, Why, How" Bhante G. as he is affectionately called answers the most common questions you would hear if you spent a few months there on retreat. I enjoyed the format and style of this book, more of a Q&A than a thesis. In this way you get a sense of the great masters playful personality. He once said, "If I hadn't been a monk, I would have been a comedian". There is no dryness here, but he still manages to answer the questions with thoroughness.

"I promised myself, I would never teach my students Nietzsche", quipped one of my philosophy professors in college. Nietzsche was so engaging, but so misunderstood. Reading Nietzsche was in short, dangerous.

In search of a climate that might soothe his poor health, and inspiration for his writing, Nietzsche took to hiking around the alps. "All great thoughts are conceived while walking", he once said. Our author, John Kaag, travels to Switzerland to retrace Nietzsche's hikes and teach us about the great and controversial thinker. This book serves as a wonderful introduction to the thoughts of the philosopher.

People often ask for recommendations on what to read by Nietzsche, and the truth is I didn't know where to point them. He published many books, often very dense, and to find the gems within you have to weave your way through obscure debates on ancient philology. Now I'll simply point them to this book.