reading

1. 12 July 2026

   Classic literature: an AI showcase (13.5 hours over 3 days)

   I've forgotten most of the books I've read, and I'll never read the whole canon anyway. So over three days, and 13.5 hours with Claude Code, I built a personal map of the classics of literature and ho…

2. 1 January 2022

   Books I enjoyed in 2021

   Happy new year! As with previous years, I'm starting with a list of books I enjoyed in 2021 and would recommend widely. This year's list is shorter — partly because I read less non-fiction, partly bec…

3. 8 January 2021

   Read some of these fiction books in 2021

   As with 2020, I’m starting the year with fiction I’m delighted to recommend. I’ve deliberately avoided the obvious names — no Lee Child or Malcolm Gladwell — and leaned into books many readers may not…

4. 1 January 2021

   Read some of these non-fiction books in 2021

   Starting the year with non-fiction recommendations. My filter: books most people won't already have seen on the usual lists — so nothing from Lee Child or Malcolm Gladwell, just good books. Richard Me…

5. 17 January 2020

   Get lit! (with these non-fiction books)

   When kids say something is "lit", it means something gives them satisfaction in the same way good literature gives them satisfaction. Right?!? Right???!! At the request of readers and friends, here's…

6. 10 January 2020

   Get lit! (with these fiction books)

   When kids say something is "lit", it means it gives them satisfaction in the same way good literature gives them satisfaction. Right?!? Right???!! At the request of readers and friends, here's a small…