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Books
In 2024, I read 22 books. Most of them I rated four or five out of five stars, but these books have changed my life in one way or another.
The Comfort Crisis
In this book, author Michael Easter argues that we have become too comfortable in our current Western culture, losing connection with ourselves and the people around us. What makes us human is precisely what is uncomfortable. We need to experience pain or hunger from time to time and also allow ourselves to be bored. Through this book, I also discovered 'rucken', which is now part of my weekly routine.
Not the End of the World
Hannah Ritchie offers an alternative perspective on the climate crisis. Yes, it's serious, but sitting in a corner feeling depressed doesn't help us. In a sober manner, with plenty of evidence, Ritchie shows what we can do to turn the tide.
Food Trap
Eating ultra-processed food (UPF) always felt a bit strange. Can a protein bar with sugar substitutes really be 'healthy'? After reading this book by Chris van Tulleken, you quickly conclude that UPF is not good for you. It's bad for your health, your weight, your teeth, and the way you view food. Therefore, I now always check the ingredient list of every product I buy. If there are too many things I don't recognize (actually, one is already too many), I look for an alternative or make it myself at home. This takes more time, but ultimately gives me a better feeling.
Range
I have always been someone with a wide range of interests. I draw, make music, and write. I can design, but I can also write a bit of code. I have never really specialized. I always felt guilty about that until I read this book by David Epstein. He shows that this broad spectrum is actually an enrichment for your career.
TV Series
BEEF
How a conflict in a parking lot between two complete strangers escalates to great proportions. If you think it can't get worse during the second-to-last episode of the season, the finale takes it up a notch. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times while watching this series.
One Day
An apparently simple love story wrapped in an interesting format. What this series does well is that each episode represents a day in the year of the couple's relationship. The episodes are also relatively short (25-30 minutes), which keeps you watching because you want to know how they are doing a year later.
Industry
The series is about a group of unsympathetic young bankers in London who do unethical things, yet it captivates me. The good soundtrack (simple ominous synths) and the way it is filmed draw me in completely, making it hard to let go.
Parks and Recreation
A similar series to The Office, but it revolves around a government department managing the parks of the fictional town of Pawnee in America. I'm watching this series for the second time, having first seen it when it aired weekly fifteen (!) years ago. What stands out is how brutally funny the series can be. One of the kindest characters (Jerry) is constantly bullied by his colleagues, seemingly without any direct reason. This is something that, since the rise of 'wokeness', is unlikely to be shown on screen anymore.
Movies
Midsommar
This film is about a couple of American twenty-somethings who are invited by their Scandinavian friend to celebrate the Midsommar festival. Although everything looks peaceful, as a viewer, you immediately feel that something is off. This feeling becomes clearer and more oppressive with each scene, punctuated by some excellent 'wtf' moments.
Oppenheimer
The historical subject, the invention of the atomic bomb, did not initially appeal to me. Not because I find it boring, but because I already knew the story and the outcome. I should have known better. Director Christopher Nolan manages to captivate from start to finish with this film.
Boiling Point
This film is worth mentioning because of its impressive execution. The entire film consists of a one-and-a-half-hour scene in which a chef gradually loses control over his kitchen and his life. It's interesting to note that the film was shot three times, with the last take chosen as the best.
Games
2024 is the year I rediscovered gaming, partly thanks to the purchase of a Steam Deck and a video game podcast.
Braid
I played this fifteen-year-old game for a while back in the day, but finally completed it this year. The game mechanics are innovative because every time you die, you can rewind time a bit and try again from that point. This makes the puzzles challenging but not too difficult. I only had to look up two of the 66 puzzles. I also found the ending surprising and ingeniously crafted.
Hades
I picked up this game after reading many glowing reviews about it. However, after an hour of playing, I didn't understand much, so I put it down for a while. A few months later, I decided to give it another shot, and then it clicked. As the son of Hades, you must escape from the underworld. Each time you die, you return to the beginning, but you carry over some things from your escape attempt. The combination of the challenging difficulty, the way you become stronger with each attempt, and the randomness that makes each run different keeps me playing.
Cuphead
A game that looks like it was made by Walt Disney himself. This platformer is styled and animated in the tradition of Disney's earliest animated films, such as Steamboat Willie. Besides looking fantastic, the game is also fun to play. The levels and bosses are difficult, but at the end of each attempt, you can see how far you've come. This motivates you to try again and to be smarter about the three lives you get with each attempt.
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