The year barely started and the stack is already growing. Some open, some waiting their turn. Decided to write it down before the list gets longer than I can track.
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers — Robert Sapolsky
Halfway through this one. Sapolsky explains how stress works in the body — and why zebras trigger the alarm system, escape the lion, and go back to grazing in twenty minutes, while we carry the same state for days over things that haven't even happened yet. This is the book that's most changing how I observe my own daily life.
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity — Peter Attia
In the queue. Attia is a longevity physician and the book is basically a manual for aging well — not just living longer, but maintaining health and function over time. I'm especially interested in his sections on exercise and sleep, which he covers in real depth.
The Pragmatic Programmer — Andrew Hunt and David Thomas
A classic I should have read sooner. Hunt and Thomas wrote this in 1999 and it's still recommended because the principles — clean code, responsibility, adaptability — aged well. I want to read it slowly over the year.
Moral Tribes — Joshua Greene
Greene is a psychologist at Harvard and the book mixes neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy to understand why human groups conflict even when each one believes it's right. The brain was built for tribal life — the problem is the world isn't tribal anymore. Looks like a heavy read, but a necessary one.
The Righteous Mind — Jonathan Haidt
Haidt argues that moral judgments don't come from reason — they come from emotion, and reason shows up afterward to justify what we already felt. A good companion to Greene, and one that should change how I interpret political and religious arguments.
The Human Advantage — Suzana Herculano-Houzel
The Brazilian neuroscientist explains why we have more neurons in the cerebral cortex than any other animal — and how it's linked to a technological innovation from our ancestors: cooking. A science book that reads like science fiction.
Some I'll finish, some won't make it. That's how it goes. If you've read any of these, I'd like to know what you think.