Top Book Picks of 2022

My reflections on 2022: reading brings joy and fulfillment. So at the end of March 2023 I finally cleared my schedule to整理 (organize) the books I read in 2022 and share my personal Top 3 recommendations with fellow book lovers.

My 2022 Annual Top 3

How I Chose My Top 3

• Books that opened my eyes, broadened my horizons, or overturned my previous assumptions—“Ah, so that’s how it is.”
• Reads I devoured in one sitting, leaving me exclaiming “🐮!” and eager to recommend them to anyone I meet.
• Works that helped me grow personally (so there’s a bit of a personal bias, too).

The List (order not ranked)

Bì Lù Wéi Jiān: Five Choices on the Path of Chinese Socialism

Why I recommend it: Nothing new under the sun—still, you have to read history.

What it’s about: The author argues that, from the perspective of the ruling party’s nation‑building strategy, development model, and core policies, China’s socialist practice since 1949 has gone through five pivotal choices: adopting New Democracy, emulating the Soviet model, pursuing a “catch‑up” path, launching a continued revolution, and finally turning to reform and opening up. These five choices map two phases—moving into traditional socialism (the Soviet model) and then moving out of it toward a uniquely Chinese socialist path. The book details each of these five decisions.

Reading notes

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One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Why I recommend it: Simply brilliant.

What it’s about: A landmark of magical realism, the novel weaves reality and fantasy to tell the legendary saga of seven generations of the Buendía family and the rise and fall of the fictional town of Macondo on the Caribbean coast, reflecting a century of tumultuous Latin‑American history.

Reading notes: I’m not worthy enough to write them; please head straight to the Douban page.

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Dissenting Moments: The “Infamous” Justice Ginsburg

Why I recommend it: “I dissent.”

What it’s about: Ruth Bader Ginsburg was one of the U.S. Supreme Court’s justices, the second female justice and the only Jewish woman to serve on the Court. This book combines biography, artwork, and case excerpts to give a vivid retrospective of her life. It pairs well with the documentary Justice Ginsburg—the film adds motion and memorable detail.

Reading notes

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Books I Read in 2022

⭐ marks my recommendations—still worth a read! 📚

Psychology

• Beyond Happiness: The Pursuit of Perfection, Taylor Ben Shahar
• What You Have Been Through, Bruce Perry
• Motivation Psychology: The Joyful Principles for Overcoming Addiction, Procrastination, and Laziness, Roman Gerpeln
• Nurturing Your Inner Child, Cong Feicong
• ⭐ The 5% Change, Li Songwei
• The Hedonist’s Handbook, Michael Flock
• When You Let Yourself Go: 40 Effective Ways to Quickly Escape Depression, James Weasy
• ⭐ The Philosophy of Cats and Dogs, Simple Psychology
• How to Hug a Hedgehog, Duan Xinxing
• The Psychiatrist’s Story Box, Jorge Bucay
• I Have a Black Dog Named Depression, Matthew Johnston
• ⭐ Please Draw Love, Shu Ran

Law, History, Society

• ⭐ The Details of Rule of Law, Luo Xiang
• ⭐ Circle of Justice, Luo Xiang
• ⭐ Ming Dynasty Canal Transport, Huang Renyu
• Bì Lù Wéi Jiān: Five Choices on the Path of Chinese Socialism, Xiao Donglian
• ⭐ Nintendo’s Experience Design, Yu Shu Zhenyi
• Send a Letter to Garcia, Albert Hubbard
• ⭐ Stanford’s Life‑Design Course, Bill Bonet
• ⭐ Feminism from Scratch, Chizuko Ueno

Biographies

• Dissenting Moments: The “Infamous” Justice Ginsburg, Irene Kamen
• Lu Xun and Me: Seventy Years, Zhou Haiying
• The Incredible Life, Hu Yinmeng
• Top Students in the Social Circle, Xiao Ma Song

Fiction & Literature

• The Anxious Person, Frederick Backman
• Grandma’s Apology Letter, Frederick Backman
• ⭐ A Man Called Ove Decides to Die, Frederick Backman
• One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez

Organizing & Lifestyle

• ⭐ Fall in Love with Organizing: A Tidy, Warm Home, Ma Xiao Yi
• One Day, One Home, Ling Ling Xi
• ⭐ The Small Home That Grows Bigger, Lu Wei
• The No‑Stress Living Handbook, Yuan Dian Editorial Team

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Originally written by Estela Young and published in Chinese on 一只产品汪的自白. Translated and edited for DriftSeas with permission.