With the holiday season upon us, we are excited to share a new list of books we enjoyed this year. Whether you need a last minute gift or are looking for a good way to spend holiday time off, we hope you can find something from our list to enjoy.
As the year comes to a close, we hope you find some time to yourself this holiday season to unwind, sit by a cozy fire and delve into one of our favorite reads. Our 2023 reading list captures a variety of great reads hand-picked by our team.
From all of us, we wish you a happy holiday and a wonderful new year.
- The MERU team
Demon Copperhead
by Barbara Kingsolver
Inspired by Dickens, this contemporary Pulitzer Prize-winning tale echoes timeless struggles against institutional poverty. Set in the Southern Appalachia mountains, follows a boy born into poverty, navigating foster care, child labor, and societal neglect. In his candid voice, he confronts modern challenges, from addiction to love and loss. Barbara Kingsolver channels Dickens' anger and compassion, offering a poignant narrative that resonates with the plight of a new generation born into beautiful yet forsaken landscapes.
The Trusted Advisor
by David Maister
A bit academic at times, but does an effective job of articulating the value of Trust in personal and professional relationships including how to build it. "It's not about you, it's about them".
50 Real Heroes for Boys: True Stories of Courage, Integrity, Kindness, Empathy, Compassion, and More!
by Christy Monson
As a mom to three boys, I am always looking for children's books that will inspire my boys to live courageously and reach their full potential. This children's book is about men (and women) who knew that character mixed with their own unique gifts could make the world a better place. Readers will find stories about Jackie Robinson, who used courage to break barriers in sports; Jim Henson, who used humor to uplift the lives of millions and Dav Pilkey, who used perseverance to push through dyslexia and become one of the world's most successful children's book authors.
American Prometheus
by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin is a riveting biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. Delving into his brilliant mind, complex character, and the moral dilemmas of the nuclear age, it's an illuminating exploration of science, politics, and the human cost of innovation.
Number Go Up: Inside Crypto's Wild Rise and Staggering Fall
by Zeke Faux
Number Go Up by Zeke Faux is a book that exposes the crypto craze. Faux, an investigative reporter, uncovers the scams, the utopians, and the billionaires behind the new financial machinery. You will meet Sam Bankman-Fried, the crypto king who wants to save the world, Razzlekhan, the former child actor turned crypto impresario, and others who are part of the $3 trillion delusion. Faux also reveals the truth about what happens when a country bets on Bitcoin, and how a spam text leads him to a human-trafficking ring.
by Simon Sinek
by Lev Grossman
by Scott Matthews