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2022 Top Book Picks

Posted on by Econogal

Favorites of 2022

Econogal’s 2022 Top Book Picks offer personal favorites from the past year. Just in time for the last minute holiday gift shopping. Most are recent releases but a few have releases as far back as 2000. I have divided the lists into three categories this year, fiction, non-fiction and children’s books.

It is always a tough decision on which books make the list. So, the 2022 Top Book Picks include nine in each section of adult reading material with a slightly shorter list of children’s books.

The genres range from futuristic to crime for the novels. And the non-fiction is just as eclectic with entries from self-help to economic thought. My new list of children’s books includes board books.

2022 Top Book Picks of Non-Fiction

I misremembered reading more non-fiction as one of my New Year’s Resolutions. Must have been from a prior year. Nonetheless, more of my reading in 2022 was non-fiction. Many of the books centered on home organization but the top three were critiques or reflections on the world around us. You can click on each title to link to my reviews.

  1. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
  2. Keeping At It by Paul Volcker and Christine Harper
  3. Reflections on a Life in Exile by J.F. Riordan
  4. Lose The Clutter Lose The Weight by Peter Walsh
  5. Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
  6. Understandable Economics: Because Understanding Our Economy is Easier Than You Think and More Important Than You Know by Howard Yaruss
  7. Freeze Fresh: The Ultimate Guide to Preserving 55 Fruits and Vegetables by Crystal Schmidt
  8. Hobby Farm- Living Your Rural Dream for Pleasure and Profit by Carol Ekarius
  9. Vail-Triumph of a Dream by Peter W. Seibert with William Oscar Johnson

Fiction: 2022 Top Book Picks

The fictional entries are always hard to pare down and this year is no exception. In fact, several of my favorite authors have been left off. But I think it is important to keep the list manageable.

  1. We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker
  2. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
  3. The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger
  4. The Fields by Erin Young
  5. You Have To Make Your Own Fun Around Here by Frances Macken
  6. Upgrade by Blake Crouch
  7. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
  8. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
  9. Daylight by David Baldacci

New List in 2022: Children’s Books

The 2022 Top Book Picks includes a listing of this year’s favorite children’s books. With three grandkids, more time will be spent reading storybooks.

  1. How To Babysit A Grandma by Jean Reagan with illustrations by Lee Wildesh
  2. Winter’s Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan
  3. Chairs on Strike by Jennifer Jones
  4. Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse by Judy Schachner
  5. If a Horse Had Words by Kelly Cooper
  6. Santa’s Underwear by Marty Rhodes Figley with illustrations by Marty Kelley
  7. If Animals Trick-or-Treated by Ann Whitford Paul with Illustrations by David Walker
  8. Snowmen at Halloween by Carolyn M. Buehner with illustrations by Mark Buehner

Books as Gifts

Since books make great gifts, the end of the year compilation is handy. 2022 Top Book Picks is an eclectic mix of books. Just fitting for readers of the Econogal blog. Remember you can link to each review by clicking on the highlighted title. Happy shopping!

Upgrade Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Upgrade by Blake Crouch is a 2022 release that is part futuristic, part action, part dystopian and totally page turning. But the most compelling part of the story is the humanity demonstrated by the hero, Logan Ramsey. A man no longer a “normal” human. But one genetically altered.

Plot Twists and Turns

Simplistically, the plot is of one man racing to save the world from destruction. But Upgrade is so much more. Ramsey works for the GPA-Gene Protection Agency. His job is to track down rogue geneticists. Only he is caught in a spiderweb of familial deceit.

Crouch utilizes a number of plot twists to keep the reader on the edge. The bad guy switches from one person to another as a poorly conceived attempt to save the world spirals out of control. Throughout, the genetically altered Logan Ramsey is determined to stop the plan to create a world of superhumans, at the cost of the essence of humanity.

Upgrade and Current Events

The underlying theme to Upgrade is the current state of affairs on Earth. Mankind is at a crossroads with respect to human and artificial intelligence, exploding expansion in technology of all kinds including biological and a growing climate crisis. All of the above plays heavily into the story.

Yet, the author provides a balance to the racing technology. Most of the insight comes from the journal entries of Ramsey. But not all. A recorded video of his mom before her death also casts a light on the importance of seizing a moment. Furthermore, many passages remind the reader of just what is crucial to human life. Kudos to the author for these reminders.

Memorable Character

Logan Ramsey is one of those characters that will stay in your memory. Repenting of his past, protective of his family and honor bound to do what is right. Even in the face of betrayal. The reader easily connects with Ramsey and agonizes alongside him. Each step of the way as he fights to keep the human race from being genetically altered-as he was.

And then Blake Crouch throws in one final twist.