Every year (starting this one) I post a modest 5 books, 5 albums recommendation list from my own cultural consumption. I am not a critic of any kind; I just mean to share some readings I found enlightning and some music I really enjoyed this year. Although 2024 content is preferred, I prioritize the effect on me rather than being strictly new.
BOOKS
 | Probably the best book I read in 2024 (a magnificent recommendation from my friend Martha Pereira), Johann Hari's Stolen Focus unravels with parimonious mastery the tendencies beneath our inability to focus for long periods of time in important and satisfying tasks. 5/5 |
 | Although critics say this is his worst book, Cal Newport's Slow Productivity finds its value in its main critique: that it is a synthesis of what he wrote in his past volumes. Good piece of advice for people that delves in words for a living. 4/5 |
 | Ocean Vuong is not for everyone, specially if you have noted the recurrent theme of the experience with authoritarian mothers in Asian literature. Nevertheless, Voung delivers modest yet compelling accounts of his family members' attitudinal composition in the context of their biographies. 4/5 |
 | You would never expect a book about men and boys having a rough time published by a Brookings associate. Yet, this very well documented volume amounts to the serious academic debate about the growing difficulties men are experiencing despite being viewed as a privileged gender responsible for the demise of everyone else. 5/5 |
 | Surprising no one, Mazzucato offers an incendiary argument about how big consulting firms actually bring nothing but empty validation to governments in some contexts. If you have worked for the government, probably you're acquainted with the "work" big consulting firms make for decision makers to window-dress their policy preferences. 4/5 |
ALBUMS
 | A modest mixture of electronic elements and prog-core Steven Wilson, The Harmony Codex delivers a rounded melodic-progressive ambient. Not my favourite album from SW (Hand.Cannot.Erase and Insurgentes are still my favs because I am basic), but still very good music for introspective purposes. 4/5 |
 | I must confess that this is the first album from Yanya that I hear. However, it struck me with its complex melodious ensemble of guitars and electronics. The best susprise of 2024 for me 5/5. |
 | Third studio album from Portishead's frontwoman and songwriter Beth Gibbons gave me the chills that once Portishead gave me with "Roads". Although is kind of medieval-OSTish, finesse endures in its very delicate strings. |
 | Not for everyone either. I am a hard fan of Infected Mushroom, so I hardly can be objective about anything done by this fantastic Israeli duo. Yet, I convey you to listen carefully to this mastepiece of re-samping. Dracul remake had me braingasm for weeks. French has a word for this feeling: frisson. 500/5 |
 | Tori Amos' brilliance is unparalleled, but let's be honest: as many gifted solo musicians, she can be boring at times. This album is perfect because it removes the chaff from the wheat and delivers Tori's magnificence in high quality live performance. 4/5 |
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