A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | AA | |
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1 | Date | Book | Author | ?/10 | Review | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | 14/06/2025 | Ready Player One | Ernest Cline | 6/10 | A slightly middling but otherwise easy-to-read, enjoyable nostalgic romp. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 07/06/2025 | Typex' Rembrandt | Typex | 9/10 | A gripping, masterfully executed graphic novel full of emotion and heart. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 19/04/2025 | Foundation | Isaac Asimov | 10/10 | A truly gorgeous and clever book that feels like it could've been written yesterday. I can't believe there's 6 more books in this world! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 24/12/2024 | Of Mice and Men | John Steinbeck | 10/10 | Re-reading an old classic from middle school days in one sitting - a great, timeless story. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 16/11/2024 | The Cinematic Art of World of Warcraft: Volume I | Gregg Solano, Matt Burns | 8/10 | A real nostalgia trip - I wished they went a bit more indepth into process, it felt a bit vague - but a fitting tribute to some of the best to ever do it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 03/11/2024 | Spelunky | Derek Yu | 10/10 | A phenomenal game, a phenomenal book. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 23/2/2024 | Four Thousand Weeks | Oliver Burkeman | 9/10 | A fresh, novel and eye-opening discussion on time management | ||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | 22/01/2024 | Making Comics | Scott McCloud | 10/10 | The third in the trilogy - just as fantastic as the first. A bit more technical, but what a method of teaching! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | 31/12/2023 | Time Enough For Love | Robert A. Henlein | 10/10 | What a bizarre, original, phenomenal book to end the year on. I've never read a book like this. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 03/12/2023 | Deep Thinking | Garry Kasparov | 10/10 | A beautiful, optimistic take on machine intelligence and human creativity from a master. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 20/11/2023 | Understanding Comics | Scott McCloud | 10/10 | Phenomenal book on not just comics but picture-making, art and creativity in general. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | 29/10/2023 | Age of the City | Ian Goldin and Tom Lee-Devlin | 8/10 | Some interesting ideas in this book - makes me more optimistic for the future of societies and cities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | 15/10/2023 | Breaking and Entering | Jeremy N. Smith | 6/10 | Interesting at parts - but feels more like a novel than I would've liked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | 15/10/2023 | Blood, Sweat and Pixels | Jason Schreier | 10/10 | I love this book - a no nonsense look at the realities of game development, across many different games and team sizes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 13/10/2023 | Bedlam | Derek Landy | 7/10 | I get the feeling he's really enjoying himself writing this book. Getting rambly for sure, but still enjoyable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 22/09/2023 | How To Fail At Almost Everything and Still Win Big | Scott Adams | 5/10 | Some interesting nuggets, but nothing groundbreaking. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | 14/09/2023 | The Tenth Muse | Catherine Chung | 9/10 | Crazily beautiful and complex. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | 12/09/2023 | Decoding Greatness | Ron Friedman | 9/10 | A surprisingly enjoyable and useful book that I'll return to. Lots of great stuff in here to take notes on and improve for myself, I relate to a lot of it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | 12/09/2023 | Midnight | Derek Landy | 8/10 | A bit more twisty and shambly than the previous - but I still love the way I get transported. Also - he's funny! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | 29/08/20023 | Pomodoro Technique Illustrated | Setaffan Noteberg | 6/10 | I love the technique - the book is a bit repetitive. It's a simple technique. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | 24/08/2023 | Forgotten Country | Catherine Chung | 10/10 | Traumatically beautiful. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | 16/08/2023 | Banksy - The Man Behind The Wall | Will Ellsworth-Jones | 8.5/10 | A really interesting portrait of Banksy that is old but doesn't feel dated. Full of interesting perspectives - and the best part is that it doesn't try to unmask him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
24 | 06/08/2023 | Skulduggery Pleasant - Resurrection | Derek Landy | 9/10 | I'm BACK IN THIS WORLD! I can't believe there's like 5 more of these that are already out, I thought it was all over! So good to revisit fantastical worlds of your childhood. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
25 | 01/08/2023 | And Away... | Bob Mortimer | 9/10 | Really beautiful and hiliarious. Great personal insight into the life of a shy person - and also makes me want to eat pie. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
26 | 09/05/2023 | The Silkworm | Robert Galbraith | 6/10 | Annoyingly hard to put down, gory and not extremely satisfying. Not my kinda book. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
27 | 09/05/2023 | Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow | Gabrielle Zevin | 10/10 | I've never read a book like this. What a crazy, beautiful, nuanced, clever book. Will re-read many times over. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
28 | 25/03/2023 | Big Magic | Elizabeth Gilbert | 8.5/10 | A really kind, interesting, gentle and soulful take on the creative process, with lots of new metaphors that give a lot of food for thought. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
29 | 24/03/2023 | Real Artists Don't Starve | Jeff Goins | 4/10 | Not for me - I felt like everything in this book was quite general and fairly obvious to me, and he didn't go into any specifics. Useful if you need to build a mindset. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
30 | 18/03/2023 | Ronnie | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 9/10 | A beautiful look into the mind of someone who redefined the game, all the ups and downs. The last chapter on him becoming the world champion is brilliant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
31 | 14/03/2023 | In Search of Norman Rockwell's America | Kevin Rivoli | 9/10 | A beautiful pairing of two mediums - with the focus on the story, on the beauty of everyday | ||||||||||||||||||||||
32 | 08/03/2023 | Beeple: Everydays, the First 5000 Days | Mike Winkelmann | 10/10 | Eternally an inspiration - you can literally see an artist evolve and grow before your eyes with each page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
33 | 23/02/2023 | Zen in the Art of Writing | Ray Bradbury | 7/10 | Some gems in there, and I really like his attitude to writing. Some really really esoteric stuff in there too - it's fascinating. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
34 | 21/02/2023 | Set The Page On Fire | Steve O'Keefe | 7/10 | Nothing revolutionary, but a really good overall view on the process of being a successful writer. It's succinct and I like that about it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
35 | 21/02/2023 | The Art of Encanto | Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster Jones | 8/10 | A really good extension of the film, showing the parts that made it and the parts that didn't - and the process of how they got there. Some of the artstyle I wasn't a massive fan of, but it just shows the huge range that exists during visdev! Had a small part on 3D modelling the character when figuring out Mirabel that I liked, and the final animated drawing is awesome. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
36 | 17/02/2023 | The Art of Love Death and Robots | Ramin Zahed | 9/10 | A collection of beautiful art and insights from a show that is really changing the landscape of animation. I just wish there was more. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
37 | 11/02/2023 | Private Peaceful | Michael Morpurgo | 8.5/10 | A very sad, sweet, tale. Felt a bit tropey at times, but the ending cuts straight to the heart. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
38 | 08/02/2023 | XHAT | Hicham Hibachi | 8/10 | Enjoyable stuff - ends up a bit repetitive over time, but he's really got the urban samurai style dialed down. Love some of his cel rendering. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
39 | 07/02/2023 | Sketchbook 2022 | Kim Jung Gi | 10/10 | One of the greatest to ever pick up a pencil - rest in peace. Now I really want his first sketchbook, from 2007! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
40 | 04/02/2023 | Just My Type | Simon Garfield | 9/10 | A book that manages to make a possibly quite dull and dry topic into something very fun, warm and interesting. Really brings insight into the process of making type and the history behind it, with some great stories! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
41 | 30/01/2023 | Eleeza: The Art of Eliza Ivanova | 3DTotal + Eliza Ivanova | 10/10 | Another favourite artist of mine - no one does it like her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
42 | 12/01/2023 | Dune | Frank Herbert | 9/10 | Back into the world of fiction - a beautifully written and immersive world woven with immense skill and care. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
43 | 03/01/2023 | The Talent Code | Daniel Coyle | 9/10 | Lovely book, engaging and wonderfully written with lots of stories to keep you engaged. A very convincing argument for Myelin, and I loved the bit at the end talking about teachers and mentors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
44 | 20/12/2022 | Art Matters | Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Chris Riddell | 9/10 | Beautiful, short and concise - the last essay is absolutely gorgeous. And Chris Ridell's illustrations are amazing - I'm a new fan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
45 | 17/10/2022 | Show Your Work | Austin Kleon | 10/10 | Short, punchy and beautifully written - a convincing piece on sharing your work. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
46 | 09/09/2022 | National Geographic: The Photographs | Leah Bendavid-val | 10/10 | An inspiring look into the history of photography - the amount of work behind each photograph is colossal and astounding. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
47 | 14/08/2022 | The Style of Loish | Lois van Baarle | 10/10 | One of my favourite artists. Reading this, I can tell my eye is getting better! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
48 | 19/07/2022 | The Art of Fallout 4 | Dark Horse Comics | 10/10 | I love the Fallout universe, and this book is pretty thick! It makes me want to be a concept artist. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
49 | 17/07/2022 | Bird By Bird | Anne Lamott | 10/10 | Fantastic book, one of my favourites. For writing but applies to everything - she's clearly a fantastic writer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
50 | 26/06/2022 | Flow | Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi | 9/10 | Explores Flow in depth, but also so much more than that - a life philosophy I've thought about before. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
51 | 26/05/2022 | Leonardo da Vinci - The Biography | Walter Isaacson | 10/10 | This was so well written and so much better than the Charles Scholl biography. Beautiful images, and a moving look into Da Vinci's life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
52 | 01/05/2022 | The Remains of the Day | Kazuo Ishiguro | 10/10 | A phenomenal book, an instant favourite. So much to re-read. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
53 | 03/02/2022 | The Science of Storytelling | Will Storr | 7/10 | Loads of great practical advice for storytelling - posits the idea that all stories come from characters. I liked the actual story bits over the advice, maybe that means I don't love the craft of storytelling. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
54 | 27/01/2022 | Breakfast of Champions | Kurt Vonnegut | 8/10 | A really unique book, totally messed with my head. Never really read anything like it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
55 | 09/01/2022 | Art Fundamentals: Theory In Practice | 3dtotal Publishing | 8/10 | Really awesome to see the progression of artwork. The reflection of artists on their previous work is invaluable, and there's a really good range of types of art. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
56 | 06/01/2022 | In Other Words | Jhumpa Lahiri | 9/10 | What a curious, amazing journey laid out for all of us to experience. She's so precise with her words. Great pointers on creativity and going between two worlds. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
57 | 25/12/2021 | Millions | Frank Cottrell Boyce | 10/10 | So good, so warm and so gorgeously written. SO funny too! One of my absolute Favourites. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
58 | 15/12/2021 | Sketching from the Imagination: Anime and Manga | 3dtotal Publishing | 9/10 | Great book - more stylized, but some more gorgeous pieces in there. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
59 | 13/12/2021 | Sketching from the Imagination: Characters | 3dtotal Publishing | 10/10 | Some gorgeous drawings - a great way to get inspired and to figure out what I like. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
60 | 25/11/2021 | Range | David Epstein | 10/10 | HELL YEAH. A phenomenal book that explores thoughts I've had so well, with convincing and compelling arguments and examples. A must read. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
61 | 17/11/2021 | The Language of Graphic Design | Richard Poulin | 7/10 | A really good, broad reference manual on the fundamentals of design with a lot of great examples and history. However, for a book on design it's really fucking hard to read. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
62 | 12/11/2021 | Make Your Art No Matter What | Beth Pickens | 8/10 | Pretty good, diverges from the title and ends up being a manual on being an artist in general, but it talks a lot about the parts of the artist experience that I don't think about! Some great quotes in there. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
63 | 1/11/2021 | The Ungrateful Refugee | Dina Nayeri | 9/10 | The first time reading a book was so emotionally draining and painful that I almost couldn't continue. Lots of relatable experiences, and some amazing stories, and some great philosophy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
64 | 20/10/2021 | How I Make Photographs | Joel Meyerowitz | 9/10 | What a great, strong look into a master's method and philosophy. Great photographs too. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
65 | 01/10/2021 | The Language of Kindness | Christie Watson | 10/10 | Teared up a lot, made me think about how I should give back, use my skills for good instead of selling things. Finished on flight to Toronto. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
66 | 26/09/2021 | Crying in H Mart | Michelle Zauner | 10/10 | A powerful, deeply relateable book. I teared up a bit, thanks Cass for the recommend and letting me borrow it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
67 | 25/09/2021 | The Freelance Manifesto | Joey Korenman | 10/10 | GOOD BOOK. It's my second time reading it and I resonate deeply with it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
68 | 18/09/2021 | Daily Rituals | Mason Currey | 9/10 | Lots of interesting facts on a lot of different lives, so much to learn from a lot of different people. It informs the way I want to shape my life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
69 | 16/09/2021 | Atomic Habits | James Clear | 10/10 | Lots of strong advice, and the main reason for doing everydays - just a tiny bit better everyday is all you need. Lots and lots of great strategies on breaking bad habits and making good ones. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
70 | 11/09/2021 | The $100 Startup | Chris Guillebeau | 7/10 | Good ideas and some wisdom, I agree with the general theme of looking for freedom by giving value, but some of the money stuff doesn't sit right. I like the final chapter though. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
71 | 11/09/2021 | Starting Point | Hayao Miyaki | 9/10 | Full of a lot of wisdom, someone who has pushed and pulled a lot of the world. Someone full of a lot of strife and love. Reminds me of Dad. Worth a re-read, especially after I watch some more ghibli films. The last chapter was really good, and there were some banging quotes in there. It's just a bloody long book. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
72 | 04/09/2021 | The Meaning In The Making | Sean Tucker | 10/10 | Phenomenal book, one that I will read over and over again. Great writer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
73 | 01/09/2021 | Deep Work | Cal Newport | 10/10 | Great philosophy and advice, he makes it quite applicable. Life transforming stuff, confirmed and expanded on what I think. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
74 | 08/08/2021 | Leonardo da Vinci | Charles Scholl | 6/10 | It does what it says on the tin - it goes very very indepth to da Vinci's life. Definitely lots to learn but a lot of very dry stuff. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
75 | 05/08/2021 | The War of Art | Steven Pressfield | 10/10 | Really interesting and insightful book that is both simultaneously so aligned and so different from the way I think that it makes me lean in. Made me consider higher powers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
76 | 18/06/2021 | Living with a Seal | Jesse Itzler | 10/10 | Really funny book that makes me want to jump in a lake and run in the rain. BADASS. Finished in one day. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
77 | 02/06/2021 | Good to Great | Jim Collins | 8/10 | Some really powerful ideas that are interesting and important to convert from a business sense to art, or just life in general. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
78 | 18/05/2021 | Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 | Cho Nam-Joo | 10/10 | A really powerful, impactful book. It's important to read other viewpoints that are so far removed from your life experience, but so much of it sounds familiar from the stories I hear from my relatives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
79 | 16/05/2021 | The Beginners Guide to ZBrush | 3dtotal Publishing | 8/10 | I can't give it an accurate rating because I haven't used it in conjuction with ZBrush - but a really good primer on the interface, I'm sure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
80 | 06/05/2021 | The Midnight Library | Matt Haig | 10/10 | I almost teared up, what a gorgeous book on so many levels. A bit of science fiction, a lot of life, and lots of love. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
81 | 26/04/2021 | Creative Struggle | Gavin Aung Than | 8/10 | A really short, sweet book of quotes on creative problems from masters, with some impactful cartoons. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
82 | 14/04/2021 | How To Live | Sarah Bakewell | 10/10 | Gorgeous book on a really interesting man. Ignited a small passion for philosophy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
83 | 31/03/2021 | The Five People You Meet in Heaven | Mitch Albom | 10/10 | A short, amazing, touching story on life. Such a gorgeous world, such a great writer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
84 | 26/03/2021 | The Obstacle is the Way | Ryan Holiday | 10/10 | Awesome book that contradicts itself at times but the ideas are great - stuff that I do but needed reinforcing. Read on the tube. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
85 | 19/03/2021 | Catching Fire | Suzanne Collines | 8/10 | Actually not a bad book, such a cool idea and great world building. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
86 | 08/03/2021 | The Creative Habit | Twyla Tharp | 10/10 | A thorough book on creativity and cultivating it as a habit - demystifying it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
87 | 07/03/2021 | Hunger | Michael Grant | 9/10 | What a terrifying book. Such a great fantastical world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
88 | 25/02/2021 | The Animators Survival Kit | Richard Williams | 8/10 | Really handy reference for animation, lots of great stories, makes me want to get into traditional animation. Lots of respect to the old school guys and all their passion. Great for injecting life into movment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
89 | 24/02/2021 | The Wolf of Wall Street | Jordan Belfort | 10/10 | Such an engrossing book. Really well written. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
90 | 16/02/2021 | What They Don't Teach You At Harvard Business School | Mark H. McCormack | 7/10 | Good book on mastery of business. Dated but good stuff on starting and building a business. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
91 | 07/02/2021 | Light for Visual Artists | Richard Yot | 8/10 | Great reference book on lighting with a lot of good examples, and some philosophical nuggets too. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
92 | 05/02/2021 | The Dying of the Light | Derek Landy | 10/10 | Such excellent use of words - what a wonderful, beautiful world with amazing form, what a great way to end the series. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
93 | 04/02/2021 | Collection IV | Sean Tucker | 9/10 | Gorgeous pictures from a weird year of lockdown, peppered in with some good musings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
94 | 03/02/2021 | Mastery | Robert Greene | 10/10 | Too much to sum up in one sentence - eerily adjacent to my own way of thinking, and I'll carry it for the rest of my life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
95 | 16/01/2021 | Uncommon Type | Tom Hanks | 10/10 | I mean, come on. Gorgeous fiction, every story is an absolute trip to a different universe, and they're all so fucking VIVID. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
96 | 06/01/2021 | Quadrivium | Multiple | 7/10 | Lots of cosmic ideas and awesome diagrams. It's a bit fruity for me but I'll have plenty of ideas to draw from. Kinda like a sacred geometry reference book. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
97 | 30/12/2020 | The Mosaic Principle | Nick Lovegrove | 10/10 | Awesome book - full of great philosophies I'll carry with me, one of the few I agree nearly 100% with. I hate the way he goes from one chapter to another, though. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
98 | 28/12/2020 | Thinking With Type | Ellen Lupton | 8/10 | Good lessons on typography - a great reference book, quite dense, lots to re-read, funny sometimes! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
99 | 22/12/2020 | Grit | Angela Duckworth | 10/10 | Really good development of grit, and even more on how to give that to someone, to a kid! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
100 | 17/12/2020 | Thinking, Fast and Slow | Daniel Kahneman | 9/10 | Dense but really good insights into human psychology and common mistakes - got some great takeaways. |