2021 Holiday Reading List

Once again, we are excited to bring you our annual Holiday Reading List. After a busy and productive 2021, we all look forward to the holidays as a time to refresh and reflect. What better way to do so than with a good book. From autobiographies to business books and riveting novels, this year's list has something for everyone. We hope you find a moment this season to recharge, take some time to yourself and pick up a good book.

Whether you find something for yourself or to share with a loved one, please enjoy these books as much as we have!

From all of us, we wish you a happy holiday and wonderful new year.

— The MERU Team

Open: An Autobiography
by Andre Agassi

Written by the 8-time Grand Slam winner, Andre Agassi recounts his unique journey to becoming the tennis phenom we all know and love. To most people's surprise, tennis was not his passion but rather a sport that was forced upon him by his demanding father. Agassi doesn't shy away from the struggles he faced and candidly shares his career highs and lows while taking readers on an intimate journey inside the mind and soul of a troubled champion.

- Samir

The Midnight Library
by Matt Haig

In this blockbuster novel, Matt Haig leverages the concept of parallel universes to offer his heroine a chance to 'experience' multiple lives - what would have happened if she had made a different choice at various junctures in her life? As Nora explores various alternative scenarios of her root life, she gains meaningful lessons around what is truly important for leading a fulfilling life in the first place. This uplifting story is an ideal read for anyone who finds themselves caught in the cycle of "what-if" thinking, and empowers the readers to embrace regrets in their own life.

- Samiksha

Snow Crash
by Neal Stephenson

It's hard to believe this novel is almost 30 years old. Stephenson coined the term "metaverse", which seems relevant, and imagines a virtual reality future that feels all-too-prescient. While some of the book feels dated, it remains one of my favorites. Time for my annual re-read.

- Kyle

The Upstander
by Jori Epstein

Authored by a close friend of mine, this book outlines the life of Holocaust survivor, Max Glauben. It goes into more detail about his upbringing, experience during WWII, and his efforts following WWII to make the world a more tolerant place.

- Blake

Everybody Lies

by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

This book explores big data trends that show we often lie, or at least avoid telling the full story in our day-to-day lives - especially when no one is looking. In a useful read full of memorable take-homes, Stephens-Davidowitz draws insights from big data relating to various spheres of our lives by analyzing trends and patterns exposed on popular search engines.

- Lucy

The Gruffalo
by Julia Donaldson

This wonderful book by the author of Room on the Broom tells the story of a brave mouse evading dangers of the forest. The colorful pictures and engaging rhymes made this one a favorite with my children.

- Nick

Leaders Eat Last
by Simon Sinek

A New York Times Bestseller, this book examines a fundamental idea that leaders must make their people the priority to motivate teams and move an organization forward. The core lessons Sinek posits are especially relevant as management teams grapple with the new hybrid / remote work environments. As leaders adapt their styles, they must ensure they are continuing to provide the necessary support that inspires and creates effective teams.

- Sean

Season of the Witch
by David Talbot

A gripping story of the strife and tragedy that led to San Francisco's ultimate rebirth and triumph. David Talbot, found of Salon, chronicles the cultural history of the city and from the late 1960s to early 1980s when figures such as Harvey Milk, Janis Joplin, Jim Jones, and Bill Walsh helped usher from backwater city to thriving metropolis.

- Geoff

Little Fires Everywhere
by Celeste Ng

A #1 New York Times Bestseller and 2017 Best Book of the Year, this novel by Celeste Ng recently regained popularity, and is a must read if you haven't picked it up yet. Set in the 1990s in Shaker Heights, Ohio, an idyllic suburb where author Ng grew up, this book traces the riveting and often heartbreaking story of two families -- the picture-perfect Richardson's, and the enigmatic single-mother, Mia, and her teenage daughter, Pearl, who recently moved to the area. As fate brings them all together and their individual stories unfold, their lives and the community are upended.

- Anna

The Sisters Brothers
by Patrick deWitt

This Western classic set in the 1850s tells the tale of the whiskey-drinking henchman brothers, Eli and Charlie Sisters. The story comes to life as the brothers are on the road from Oregon to California to carry out a hit ordered by Commodore, the mysterious and powerful man they answer to. The brothers have only ever known the harsh, gritty life of the Old West, but while on their journey, Eli begins to question what he does and whom he does it for.

- Tanner