The Explorer by Somerset Maugham

The Happy Economist: Happiness for the Hard-Headed by Ross Gittins

I love Ross. This book, though, a little too lightweight. I'd also read many of the books he cites already.

The Test of Courage: Michel Thomas by Christopher Robbins

Quite the hagiography. Had to skim a lot of the details. I think his language teaching is right on, and no doubt he has lived a remarkable life... but this book was pretty tedious.

The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante

Very enjoyable, even though there's too much navel-gazing. Thankfully the book is short -- which means this first-person account of a woman's descent into despair is over before the trill of the excellent authorial voice is overcome by tedium.

In Xanadu by William Dalrymple

Dalrymple is my best friend. And he told me all about the three magi being Zorastrian priests, the frankincense, myrrh and gold representing something or other (either Jesus will be healer, king or something else depending on the gift he'd accept -- and he accepted all of them), the Zoroastrian prophecy of the messiah being born to a virgin and the sign being a star in the sky. Was Matthew from the Gospel according to Matthew a Zoroastrian?

Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harari

One of the best history books I've read. Tight with narrative for readability and better illustration of essential points.

Foolproof: Why Safety Can Be Dangerous and How Danger Makes Us Safe by Greg Ip

Nassim Nicholas Taleb did this book more entertainingly and meaningfully. This book is The Black Swan-lite, or even The Black Swan-polite. Nonetheless, a reasonable book to skim your way through.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Excellent book. Excellent storytelling. Ran out of puff towards the second half -- the book doesn't follow an arc and just slowly fades away -- but Kingsolver's excellent writing and choice of setting make this book riveting.