The 6 most overrated books I read in 2023
That I'll definitely read again
Criticism, for a book, is a truthful, unfaked badge of attention, signaling that it is not boring; and boring is the only very bad thing for a book…So if you really want people to read a book, tell them it is “overrated”, with a sense of outrage. — Nassim Taleb
A book is one of the few commercial items left that can still be called a screaming bargain.
You could read something that fundamentally shifts how you view the world for the price of a couple cups of coffee. Or if you’re cheap like me, you can find a crusty used copy for the price of a pack of gum.
But that’s not what you’ll discover here.
I read about fifty books this year and hand selected the six most overrated to save you from making the same mistake I made.
Let’s dive in.
Any book that has 33,000+ 5 star reviews is obviously overrated.
Why anyone would want to read 19 short stories about the timeless lessons on wealth, greed and happiness is beyond me. Give me the timely stuff!
This guy doesn’t even have the decency to tell you what to do with your money.
You won’t find any detailed formulas on how to pick the latest hot stock, what the next dogecoin will be, or how to implement the perfect get rich quick scheme, seriously?
Any book that manages to fool millions of readers in a few short years does NOT deserve a spot on your bookshelf.
What could an outdated book written in the mid 1980’s (before the advent of the internet) possibly teach us about our relationship with media and technology?
Nothing, that’s what.
This dude obviously had no idea how much more civilized we would become as a society blessed with TikTok brain.
Don’t you dare believe the hype when people claim it’s a 21st century book published in the 20th century.
Fortune magazine had the hubris to name this one of the smartest books of ALL TIME.
But I couldn’t find Green eggs and ham on their list so they clearly have no clue what they are talking about.
Doesn’t this guy know that nothing is random? We live in a predetermined universe!
Everyone who got filthy rich did so because they were smarter and more deserving than us dimwits. None of their riches came to them by a fortunate stroke of luck.
What could a neuroscientist possibly know about the afterlife?
Nothing of course.
Who in their right mind would ever pick up a book containing 40 conflicting short tales attempting to answer the unanswerable — what happens to you when you die?
In one version he claims you work as a background character in other people’s dreams, and in another you are forced to live out your afterlife with annoying versions of who you could have been.
Can I get a resounding thanks but no thanks?
The subtitle alone should eliminate any temptation to give this one a second glance — a true story and other lies.
Is anyone else thinking instant loss of credibility?
This bum became entangled in the horrifying underground world of charlatans, card cheats, and con artists all because he desperately wanted to make a quick buck to support his family.
In other words, he became world class at deceiving others for his own personal gain and now he wants to clear his conscience by spilling his secrets.
Does he really think the reader could gain valuable insights into living a moral life from his amoral adventures?
SCAM alert!
Over 2000 years ago, the richest man in the Roman empire shareed his teachings about an obscure philosophical school called Stoicism.
Yawn.
He didn’t have electricity, never used a toilet, and didn’t even bother to take regular baths. What a savage, right?
How could anything he had to say still be relevant to you today?
Spoiler: nothing.
His practical wisdom has aged worse than the fax machine.
Skip this and go find a more reliable (and entertaining) Instagram guru who has the real answers to the question — how do you live a life free of fear and worry?
I hope you are thoroughly convinced that none of these books are worth dedicating a single second of your sacred reading time as we head into the new year.
I can’t stress this enough — please don’t read any of these books for heaven’s sake.
What was the most overrated book you read this year that you don’t want anyone else to suffer through?
I’m always looking for recommendations to add to my ever-growing “Not to read” list.
Likes, comments, and coffee below
Besides just being fun as a post this was a useful exercise to experience your article. The anti-stance definitely makes each non-recommendation stick with more staying power in my attention vs the zillions of year-end book lists that are streaming into all of our feeds right now. Thanks for committing to the approach. I'm going to make use of this somehow.
Seneca? So first century AD. His "timeless" wisdom is so antiquated. He and Marcus Aurelius have NOTHING to impart us moderns. Well done and quite funny, Arman.