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2022 Top Book Picks

Posted on by Econogal

Favorites of 2022

Econogal’s 2022 Top Book Picks offer personal favorites from the past year. Just in time for the last minute holiday gift shopping. Most are recent releases but a few have releases as far back as 2000. I have divided the lists into three categories this year, fiction, non-fiction and children’s books.

It is always a tough decision on which books make the list. So, the 2022 Top Book Picks include nine in each section of adult reading material with a slightly shorter list of children’s books.

The genres range from futuristic to crime for the novels. And the non-fiction is just as eclectic with entries from self-help to economic thought. My new list of children’s books includes board books.

2022 Top Book Picks of Non-Fiction

I misremembered reading more non-fiction as one of my New Year’s Resolutions. Must have been from a prior year. Nonetheless, more of my reading in 2022 was non-fiction. Many of the books centered on home organization but the top three were critiques or reflections on the world around us. You can click on each title to link to my reviews.

  1. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
  2. Keeping At It by Paul Volcker and Christine Harper
  3. Reflections on a Life in Exile by J.F. Riordan
  4. Lose The Clutter Lose The Weight by Peter Walsh
  5. Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
  6. Understandable Economics: Because Understanding Our Economy is Easier Than You Think and More Important Than You Know by Howard Yaruss
  7. Freeze Fresh: The Ultimate Guide to Preserving 55 Fruits and Vegetables by Crystal Schmidt
  8. Hobby Farm- Living Your Rural Dream for Pleasure and Profit by Carol Ekarius
  9. Vail-Triumph of a Dream by Peter W. Seibert with William Oscar Johnson

Fiction: 2022 Top Book Picks

The fictional entries are always hard to pare down and this year is no exception. In fact, several of my favorite authors have been left off. But I think it is important to keep the list manageable.

  1. We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker
  2. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
  3. The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger
  4. The Fields by Erin Young
  5. You Have To Make Your Own Fun Around Here by Frances Macken
  6. Upgrade by Blake Crouch
  7. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
  8. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
  9. Daylight by David Baldacci

New List in 2022: Children’s Books

The 2022 Top Book Picks includes a listing of this year’s favorite children’s books. With three grandkids, more time will be spent reading storybooks.

  1. How To Babysit A Grandma by Jean Reagan with illustrations by Lee Wildesh
  2. Winter’s Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan
  3. Chairs on Strike by Jennifer Jones
  4. Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse by Judy Schachner
  5. If a Horse Had Words by Kelly Cooper
  6. Santa’s Underwear by Marty Rhodes Figley with illustrations by Marty Kelley
  7. If Animals Trick-or-Treated by Ann Whitford Paul with Illustrations by David Walker
  8. Snowmen at Halloween by Carolyn M. Buehner with illustrations by Mark Buehner

Books as Gifts

Since books make great gifts, the end of the year compilation is handy. 2022 Top Book Picks is an eclectic mix of books. Just fitting for readers of the Econogal blog. Remember you can link to each review by clicking on the highlighted title. Happy shopping!

Understandable Economics Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

2022 Release

Understandable Economics: Because Understanding Our Economy is Easier Than You Think And More Important Than You Know is a 2022 release written by Howard Yaruss. The book is broken into five sections. Each part provides valuable examples to how the overall economy works.

Inequality

A key tenet in Understandable Economics is inequality. The author explores the challenges and dangers surrounding a society where incomes are out of equilibrium. Yaruss does a good job of balancing the discussion between the need for financial incentives and disproportionate incomes.

I found his explanation of minimum wages particularly comprehensible. The juxtaposition between the need for a living wage and the expense of labor on business-keying on small businesses-was well explained. Much better than most text books.

This theme continues throughout the book. Since, the final chapters focus on redistribution of income, the reader can expect a thorough discussion of taxes. Yaruss explains the different types of taxes and how they impact societal incomes.

Boom and Bust

The chapter titled Boom or Bust tackles the current market moves toward recession. Since this chapter begins the section on The Economic Cycle, readers benefit from an explanation of what defines a recession and how recessions differ from depressions. Furthermore, this segment of Understandable Economics explores both monetary and fiscal policy. And the book explains the powers and limitations of the U.S. Government and The Federal Reserve.

Recommendation for Understandable Economics

Howard Yaruss expresses his belief that a society needs to possess an understanding of economics to continue growth and prosperity. Thus, his approach to explaining basic economics without a semester long course is welcomed. However, success depends on a culture motivated by self-learning versus “selfies.”

I encourage the gift giving of this book as the holidays are just around the corner. Understandable Economics is well written. It deserves to be well read.