2012 Year in Review: Books

In 2011, I set a New Years goal of reading 40 books excluding textbooks. I read exactly 40, totaling 12,323, pages and about 4,313,000 words. Read my 2011 year in review here.

On a fun note, my fiancé found my 2011 Year in Review quite sexy. Reading has been a significant part of our relationship. I love him, and I love that he loves my love of books.

Anyway, back to the review:

Since achieving my goal in 2011 was very difficult, I decided that it would be a good challenge to repeat. So again, I made a New Years 2012 resolution to read 40 books excluding textbooks. The textbook distinction is important as I am a graduate student. Also, if you are thinking that my reading goals are too low, remember that I am a graduate student!

The results are:

Books Read 2012		Difference from 2011
		Total Δ	Percent Δ
Total Books Read	44	4	10%
Total Pages Read	11453	-870	-7%
Approximate Words Read	4008550	-304500	-7%
Average Pages	260.3	-47.8	-16%
Total Hardcopy	32	6	23%
Approximate Words Read	90300	-33923	-27%
Average Page Hardcopy	258.0	-97	-27%
Total Audio	12	-2	-14%
Approximate Words Listened	93245.833	15871	21%
Average Page Audio	266.4	45	21%

Here how it breaks down in English:

• I surpassed my goal by reading 44 books! Beating my goal is definitely positive.
• Even though I read 4 more books than I did in 2011, the books I read were on average 48 pages shorter meaning I actually read 870 few total pages. This is a 16% decrease in book length, and a 7% decrease in total reading.
• I am not surprised that the books are shorter this year, because there were several books in 2011 which were almost 1000 pages. I had no intention of seeking books out based on length, so this is a neutral trend.
• Interestingly, while I read six more hard copy books, they were on average 27% shorter, and conversely, while I listened to two less audio books, they were 21% longer.
• While audio books are the trick to reading a large number of books, I think reading more physical books is also a positive trend. Also, I think that challenging myself to concentrate on longer audio books (which I did mostly while driving between Washington, D.C. and Tennessee) is also a positive trend.

Now for real fun stuff.

Books Read 2011		Difference from 2011
		Total Δ	Percent Δ
Fiction	15	-13	-46%
Total Pages	4621	-5566	-55%
Average Pages	308	-55.8	-15%
Science Fiction	13	-6	-32%
Total Pages	3936	-1107	-22%
Average Pages	302.8	37.3	14%
Mystery	2	2
Total Pages	685	685
Average Pages	342.5	342.5
Non-Fiction	29	17	142%
Total Pages	6832	4696	220%
Average Pages	235.6	57.6	32%
Policy	14	10	250%
Total Pages	3306	2458	290%
Average Pages	236.1	24.1	11%
Business	6	6
Total Pages	1778	1778
Average Pages	296.3	296.3
Theology	9	5	125%
Total Pages	1748	925	112%
Average Pages	194.2	-11.5	-6%

Observable Trends

• The overall trend of more, though shorter, books read is carried by the non- fiction books, where I read 17 more.
• This is reflected in my reading 13 less fiction books. The 4 book difference is seen in the increase.
• I categorized books a little bit more broadly this year, which resulted in zero “fantasy” and “economics” books. These books were categorized into “science fiction” and “policy” respectively.
• I real significantly more non-fiction. I read 17 more non-fiction book, and the books were 32% longer resulting in a quite impressive (if I do say so myself) 220% more non-fiction read.

Results of Goals for Reading 2012

Looking closely at my goals for 2012, I think I was remarkably successful.

“Audio books are still acceptable, but I want to continue the trend of reading more physical books. E-reader books count as physical books.”

• I read six more hard copy and 2 less audio books. Success.
• Only one of my physical books was read on my IPad Mini, which I received as a gift for Christmas 2012. I anticipate more e-books in the future.

“Continue my focus on dystopian literature. I think I’ve learned more about political science from reading dystopian literature than I ever did in school.”

• I read 13 Science Fiction books, most of which fit into the Dystopian or Utopian categories. Success.

“Continue to read more hard-science fiction. Again, I think I’ve learned more about theoretical science from reading hard-science fiction than I ever did in school.”

• While I did read several books by Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, I’m not sure I read anything that fits into the “hard-science fiction” category. Fail.
• However, I did recently stock up on Stephen Baxter, Gregory Benford, and Robert J. Sawyer at a used book store, so maybe that will improve in 2013.

“Read more business/management books.”

• I read six business, management, and marketing books. Which is six more than the year before! Success.

“Continue reading more theology books.”

• I read nine theology books, which is 5 more than 2011. Success.
• I also read four policy books which had a secondary theme of theology.

“For those of you who are wondering: Yes, I intend to read the 5th book in George R. R. Martin’s saga, A Dance with Dragons.”

• I actually did not read A Dance with Dragons. So while this technically a failure, I do not feel bad about it as I had not heard good things.

Goals for Reading 2013

I already mentioned my fiancé, whom loves and supports my reading habit. However, as we are getting married in July and I fully intend to spend time planning the wedding and enjoy newly-wed life in 2013, I have reduced my reading goals to reading 30 books.

Relatedly, I would like to read more marriage books, preferably religious marriage books.

I have also already mentioned that I have stocked up on Stephen Baxter, Gregory Benford, and Robert J. Sawyer and other hard-science fiction books. I intend to read more of that genre 2013.

I’d also like to read a few more business books, perhaps with a concentration on marketing to reflect my academic concentration in marketing in continuous pursuit of my Masters in Business Administration.

And also for those of you are wondering, here are some of the highlights. Thank you to all who recommended books to me this year, and all of these are recommended by myself.

Fiction – Alphabetical by Author, Alphabetical by Title

Non-Fiction – Alphabetical by Author, Alphabetical by Title.

2011 Year in Review: Books

In 2010, I set a New Years goal of reading 30 books excluding textbooks.

I read 42, totaling 10,697, pages and about 3,744,000 words.

So for 2011 I upped my goal to reading 40 books excluding textbooks. The textbook distinction is important as I am a graduate student. Also, if you are thinking that my reading goals are too low, remember that I am a graduate student!

I created a new spreadsheet this year and ran all kinds of exciting statistics about my reading accomplishments.

The results are:

Here how it breaks down in English:

• I met my goal of reading 40 books (barely).
• While I read 2 less books than in 2010, the books I read were on average 53 pages longer meaning I read 1626 more total pages. This is a 21% increase in book length, and a 15% increase in total reading.
• Reading lengthier books is a positive trend.
• While these numbers include both physical books read and audio books listened to, the increase came from physical books read. While audio books are the trick to reading a large number of books, I think reading more physical books is also a positive trend.
  • I read two less physical books, but they were on average 93 pages longer for a 35% increase in physical pages reading.
  • I listened to the same amount of audio books, which were actually 19 pages shorter on average, for an 8 percent decrease in audio books.

Now for real fun stuff.

 

Observable Trends

• The overall trend of fewer, but longer books read is carried by the fiction books.
  • 3 less fiction books read.
  • The books were 33% longer than fiction books of 2010, resulting in 20% more pages read.
• This was most notable in the “Fantasy” subcategory.
  • 4 less fantasy books read.
  • The books were 110% longer, resulting in 34% more fantasy reading.
  • This trend is mainly driven by four books from George R. R. Martin’s Series “A Song of Ice and Fire” – A Game of Thrones (807), A Clash of Kings (969), A Storm of Swords (924), and A Feast for Crows (978 pages).
• The “Science Fiction” subcategory increased in all areas.
  • 2 more Science Fiction books read.
  • The books were 16% longer, resulting in a 30% increase in science fiction reading.
  • Science fiction books counted for 5 of the top 10 longest books read.
  • Science fiction also counted for 3 of 5 shortest books read.
• The Non-Fiction books were noticeably shorter this year.
  • Even with 1 more non-fiction book read, the books were 12% shorter resulting in 5% less non-fiction read.
  • This represents a deliberate focus on fiction literature I had in 2011, but I didn’t mean to let my non-fiction reading slip that much. Since I would have liked to read more non-fiction in 2011, this is a negative trend.
• Also, I didn’t read any business books in 2010. Since I am pursuing a Masters in BUSINESS Administration, this is a negative trend.
• I did, however, read several theology books this year. As this was an area I had been wanting to spend more time, this is a positive trend.

Also, I wrote book reviews for The Morality of Capitalism and Failing Liberty 101.

I am currently  working on a review of Idols for Destruction: The Conflict of Christian Faith and American Culture. Watch the Values and Capitalism website.

Goals for Reading 2012

Read 40 books, excluding textbooks. While I met this goal last year, it was a close call.

Audio books are still acceptable, but I want to continue the trend of reading more physical books. E-reader books count as physical books.

Continue my focus on dystopian literature. I think I’ve learned more about political science from reading dystopian literature than I ever did in school.

Continue to read more hard-science fiction. Again, I think I’ve learned more about theoretical science from reading hard-science fiction than I ever did in school.

Read more business/management books.

Continue reading more theology books.

For those of you who are wondering: Yes, I intend to read the 5th book in George R. R. Martin’s saga, A Dance with Dragons.

And also for those of you are wondering, here are some of the highlights. Thank you to all who recommended books to me this year, and all of these are recommended by myself.

Fiction – Alphabetical by Author, Alphabetical by Title.

                 

Non-Fiction – Alphabetical by Author, Alphabetical by Title.