Not sure what to read in 2022? Well, get ready to have a new stack of timeless books in your possession. With selections of self-improvement, fiction, non-fiction, and short stories to choose from, there’s something exciting for every type of reader. Heck, our bedside table and the current need to take a nap are testament to how captivating these reads are.
What to read in 2022: the most anticipated books (so far)
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1. The Latinist by Mark Prins
For fans of literary fiction, this January release has it all: a study in obsession, power struggles, love, the twisted underbelly of academia and, oh yes, a modern retelling of the old. Greek myth of Apollo and Daphne. If you like psychological thrillers, go ahead and order this brilliant debut album for yourself (and maybe a few copies for other fans of the genre too).
2. Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America’s Public Monuments by Erin L. Thompson
Released February 8, get ready for a non-fiction winner. In recent times, the role that statues and monuments play in society has come into the spotlight. Here, an American art historian and lawyer who is said to be the only professor specializing in art crime, explores the controversial issue of statues by looking at the Statue of Liberty perched above the United States Capitol, toppling the statue of Columbus at the Minnesota State Capitol, and other examples in our nation’s turbulent history.
3. Blood and Ruins: The Last Imperial War, 1931-1945 by Richard Overy
In a star-studded review, Kirkus Reviews called this upcoming April 2022 tome, “Astonishing yet persuasive…a brilliant and mildly controversial take on the history, conduct, and aftermath of World War II.” We agree. Author and military historian Richard Overy proves his narrative bravado by claiming that World War II was the “last imperial war”, after nearly a century of global imperial expansion, culminating in the greed for world domination by the Italy, Germany and Japan in the 1930s and early 1940s. Given the state of the world today, you will end this captivating book not only thinking back on what came before, but with a new perspective on how to avoid repeating the disastrous decisions of our past.
4. Don’y Worry: 48 Anxiety-Relieving Lessons from a Zen Buddhist Monk by Shunmyo Masuno; Translated by Allison Markin Powell
It’s a good time to brush up on your resilience skills in tough times, huh? First stop: this introduction to the repression of anxiety and its scratching presence, arriving in April from the famous Zen Buddhist and author of The art of living simply. Considering that 90% of your worries don’t come true (we repeat: 90%), it’s amazing how much time we spend in our thoughts. Here, learn how to free yourself from the unhealthy thoughts that bind us, by doing so with simple Zen principles.
The author of Sex, drugs and cocoa puffs once again proves its cultural commentary prowess in a recap of the 90s. As Kelefa Sanneh, author of Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres, says, “This may be the book Chuck Klosterman was born for: a witty, unpredictable story of the decade that won’t go away.” From OJ to AOL to the GOP, he has a theory on everything and a story on how it all fits together.
6. Myung Sung: The Korean Art of Living Meditation by Jenelle Kim, DCAM, L.Ac
If your New Year’s resolution is to meditate more, try this January newcomer that teaches simple and effective strategies for incorporating meditation into your daily life. If a bigger goal and more inner peace sounds good to you for 2022, pick up this book from a doctor of Chinese meditation and remember to thank us with a deep exhale.
seven. Homespun: True Tales of Tweed by J. Joseph Pastrana
Another arrival in January, this non-fiction work will captivate you with the fascinating history of tweed, examining its use across cultures and time. You’ll get insight into how the powerhouses of fashion relate to the material (think Alexander McQueen, Ralph Lauren, and Joseph Abboud). Throughout, you’ll travel the cobblestone streets of London, the sound stages of Hollywood, the prefectures of Japan. Hang on to your herringbone hat.
Releasing in bookstores and virtual shelves in March, this fictional tale tells a saga that begins when Julius Caesar is kidnapped before his assassination in 44 BC. Things get crazy when the Roman ruler is teleported to Los Angeles in 1999. when the statesman visits Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas – and thought-provoking philosophical and scientific explorations. Above all, expect an action-packed thriller that’s sure to be a welcome distraction from today’s relentless news cycles.
9. The Tension Effect: How to Make Great Ideas Big and Big Scale Ideas by John A. List
In February, save time for this non-fiction page-turner from the University of Chicago professor and Lyft’s chief economist. To lift a line of sound the wall street journal essay adapted from the book, “Growing up in small-town Wisconsin in the 1970s, I was raised on the gritty gospel of revered Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi, who said, ‘Winners don’t never quit and quitters never win. “Throughout some 250 pages, you’ll have the chance to learn how to maximize your earnings, through case studies like chef Jamie Oliver’s attempt to scale his restaurant business and why the inability to spot fakes Positives on drug tests created problems in the Reagan-drug prevention program.
ten. Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine Your Lifespan and Well-Being by Becca Levy, Ph.D.
According to this forthcoming book by the Yale professor of epidemiology and psychology, your simple beliefs about aging can add or steal up to eight years from your life. Everyone wants to know how to live longer and happier, and this guide uses information to help you increase your chances of doing so. Available in April, pre-order this book if you want research-based strategies to make the most of your time on this Pale Blue Dot.
11. The family chaos: a novel by Lan Samantha Chang
Coming out in February, this book zooms in on a family restaurant in the town of Haven, Wisconsin, with plenty of twists and turns. There is talk of a potential murder of the despotic patriarch of the family and the ensuing trial. Written by the current director of the esteemed Iowa Writers’ Workshop, it’s an intimate look at a Chinese-American family and a universal look at small-town America.
On sale in January, this sequel to New York Times Bestseller let off steam is a must read for strategic advice on how to have lasting and fulfilling relationships. If you’re single and hoping to sharpen your Cupid’s arrow and find a partner, this book is for you. If you are in a committed relationship and are having difficulty, this book is for you. If you are divorced, this book is for you. In other words, a better one awaits you some 200 pages from now.
13. The people of Bloomington by Budi Darma; Foreword by Intan Paramaditha; Translation and introduction by Tiffany Tsao
If you’re not familiar, Darma was an acclaimed Indonesian novelist and short story writer who earned his PhD in English Literature from Bloomington University, Indiana, and taught at Surabaya State University in Indonesia. As its title suggests, this book is a deep dive into the Illinois town where Darma lived as a graduate student in the 1970s. Through a moving collection of fictional short stories, it tackles loneliness and isolation, connection with others and the power of our thoughts through the lens of small town American life. The 40th anniversary English translation debuts in April.
Okay, so it’s not technically new for 2022 (it came out spring of last year), but it’s now in paperback, so we’ll give it points for that and if you don’t have not devoured New York Times bestseller already, do it now. Named one of the best mystery books of 2021 by the New York Times book review and Washington Post, this book tells the story of Tessa and Marian, Irish sisters who become involved in the IRA. Tessa is a new parent and producer at the BBC and Marian wears a ski mask, well, you’ll see.
