For the past several years, I have been tracking my reading on Goodreads and having some friendly competition with friends to see who can read the most. I didn’t win in 2024 but I managed to read a respectable 71 books. My record year was 2019 with a total of 115. To be fair, a lot of those were audiobooks. My annual book count is format-agnostic. I count paperbacks, hardcovers, ebooks, audiobooks, and graphic novels as “books”. I will also count an omnibus collection if I’m reading comics but not single issues. I count the Bible as one book and try to read a new version each year (give or take).
This year I decided to change things up a bit and share my reading list, along with some thoughts on each book I’ve read. I will do this in the form of a blog post at the end of each week. Each post will cover the books I completed that week. This first installment is for a week and a half since this is the end of the first full week of 2025.
My goal is to read 52 books in 2025. After week one, I’m on track to read 327.6 books this year but I’m sure I’ll lose steam as the year goes on. Please share your thoughts and recommendations!
Here we go!
1. The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy (★★★★★)
This novella by Russian literary giant Leo Tolstoy is both haunting and profound. It follows Ivan Ilych, a high-ranking judge in 19th-century Russia, as he confronts his own mortality. Tolstoy masterfully captures the universal fear of death and the yearning for a life of true meaning. While the story is undeniably somber, its insights into life’s inevitable march toward the grave are unforgettable. If you’ve ever reflected on life’s fleeting nature, this is a must-read.
2. Batman Noel by Lee Bermejo (★★★★)
Lee Bermejo weaves Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with Gotham City’s grittiness to create a unique graphic novel. Initially, the story has a slow pace, but it picks up with an engaging narrative that layers classic Dickensian moral lessons with Batman’s crime-fighting ethos. It’s an excellent winter read for fans of Batman, graphic novels, or modern takes on classic literature.
3–7. Paganism Explained Series by Varg Vikernes
This series by Varg Vikernes is an ambitious attempt to reinterpret Norse mythology and fairy tales through the lens of reincarnation. However, Vikernes’ self-assured tone and lack of flow detract from his intriguing ideas.
Side note: Yes, this is the same Varg who became famous (or infamous) for burning down churches in Norway in the early 90s, murdering Euronymous (of black metal band Mayhem), and founding the black metal/dark ambient/dungeon synth band Burzum.
- Part I: Thrymskvida (★★) – The series starts with shaky arguments and grammatical errors that undermine its readability. I probably should have given it one star…
- Part II: Little Red Riding Hood & Jack and the Beanstalk (★★) – The author’s thesis remains tenuous, with overstretched connections between myths and reincarnation. The beanstalk as a metaphor for the umbilical cord makes sense. The alternate versions of the stories help to show some deeper meaning that may have been lost in the more modern adaptations with which we are familiar.
- Part III: The Cult of Mithra & Hymiskvida (★★) – Although the claims are still speculative, the content starts to solidify. The idea of the need for multiple myths and fairy tales with the same meaning begins to make sense when you see the purpose of teaching through repetition.
- Part IV: Valholl & Odinn in Yggdrasill (★★★) – Vikernes offers more coherent arguments here, earning this installment an extra star. The story of Odin and Yggdrasil (the world tree or the tree of life) is interesting. There are some obvious parallels with the crucifixion. My conclusions regarding the purpose of those parallels differ from those drawn by Varg.
- Part V: Asgardr, Vanaheimr & the Nine Worlds of Hel (★★★) – The series ends with slightly more clarity and interesting tidbits, though the execution remains flawed. He would have done well to hire an editor and cover designer for the series.
8. The First Minute: How to Start Conversations That Get Results by Chris Fenning (★★★)
This practical guide focuses on improving workplace communication through the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) method and similar practices. While it offers some useful tips, much of the advice feels like common sense. It’s worth a quick read for those serious about honing their professional communication skills, but I feel that it could have been more succinct.
9. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman (★★★★)
This business book introduces the “Entrepreneurial Operating System” (EOS) to help organizations improve focus, accountability, and execution. While it’s a solid read, my experience with similar books made this one feel less groundbreaking. If you’re new to business strategies, this might inspire you to take action. For me, the challenge now is choosing a system and sticking with it.
10. Against Calvinism by Roger Olson (★★★★)
This theological exploration challenges the core tenets of Calvinism, aiming to rescue God’s reputation from what the author views as an extreme theological system. As someone who already disagrees with Calvinist doctrines, this book reinforced my position. Olson’s arguments are fairly thorough and thought-provoking but I’m sure Calvinists would argue that he is intentionally misunderstanding their beliefs. While I learned a lot, I’m equally interested in reading For Calvinism from the same series to better understand the other side of the debate.
Side note: I still find it hard to believe that respected theologians/authors such as R.C. Sproul and John Piper take Calvinism seriously. Also, given the fact that Jonathan Edwards was a Calvinist who believed in predestination, unconditional election, reprobation, and total depravity, his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is pointless.
