My criteria for great non-fiction books:
- “2×4 whack to the forehead” insights multiple times
- Challenges my assumptions and points out inconvenient or uncomfortable truth that I must wrestle with, not instantly resolve
- Presents a coherent framework which is usable to assess new situations
- Is well-written, quotable, shareable
- Is unlikely to be outdated in only 3 years
- Is documented, or at least presents follow-up trails to investigate
Three contemporary books I read in 2022 which fit these are Strange New World, The Psychology of Totalitarianism, and Failure of Nerve.
