Lit with Charles

Well, we’ve made it to the end of 2024. I love putting together this list each December because it forces me to look back on a year of reading, try to create some order out of the chaos, and figure out what it is about the stories that I came across that I did and didn’t appreciate. Some books were clear losers. But some took me on crazy journeys, which I knew from the first few pages would stay with me long after the story was finished. I don’t want to spoil my picks here, so I’m not going to say what they are – you’ll have to listen to the episode for that! However, I can say that in the mix are a crime novel turned Hollywood classic, a powerful piece on colonialism, and an emotional contemporary book about addiction and artistry. So without further ado, here are my top five books for 2024 – and I look forward to seeing you all in 2025! Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

There’s something about the idea of a ‘genius’ that has always captivated us. Whether it’s the artist painting their masterpiece or the entrepreneur betting on the future, we’re captivated by people who seem to see the world differently – and stake everything on that vision. While Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos might be household names, there’s one figure who I’d argue is even more fascinating: the maverick billionaire investor and founder of SoftBank, Masayoshi Son. Equal parts visionary and gambler, Masa as he’s more commonly known has built an empire on being an early investor in companies like Alibaba, Yahoo and Uber. My guest today is Lionel Barber. Lionel is an acclaimed journalist and author, best known for his 15-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief at the Financial Times. A veteran reporter, over the course of his career he has conducted interviews with a real ‘who’s who’ of the international stage, including Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Donald Trump. His recent book, Gambling Man: The Wild Ride of Japan’s Masayoshi Son, takes readers on a journey through the life and business ventures of one of the tech world’s most thrilling figures. The book is a great read, and I strongly recommend it for anyone who’s interested in business, tech, or international affairs. It was such a pleasure to have the opportunity to sit down with Lionel and pick his brains, and I’m very pleased to be able to share our conversation with you. Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading! Lionel Barber’s four books were: Doctor Faustus, Thomas Mann (1947) The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett (1930) Present At The Creation, Dean Acheson (1969) Pachinko, Min Jin Lee (2017)

The memoir is a fascinating form to explore. I’m always intrigued as to how an author can adapt their life and fit it into the confines of a page. How does one capture all its complexities, contradictions, and fleeting moments, in a narrative that feels both honest and coherent? My guest today is Susanna Crossman, a British-French writer, essayist, and clinical arts therapist, who has just published Home is Where We Start with Penguin Random House. The book is her own account of growing up in ‘the fallout of the Utopian Dream’ – in a politically revolutionary Community in the late 1970s. In the fascinating work, she blends memoir and social commentary, weaving philosophical ideas into the wider narrative of her own experiences with community and disillusionment. It was great talking with Susanna today, and I’m so pleased to be able to share her insightful, nuanced thoughts about literature in general. Susanna has recently started a Substack, which you can check out here. Susanna Crossman’s four books were: On The Banks of Plum Creek, Laura Ingalls Wilder (1937) The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera (1984) Memoirs of Hadrian, Marguerite Yourcenar (1951) What is Ancient Philosophy?, Pierre Hadot (1995) Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

So this episode is a bit unusual for a variety of reasons. First of all, it’s with a good friend of mine – novelist Arthur Larrue. As you might have guessed from his name, though, Arthur Larrue is French and this entire interview is conducted in French. So unless you speak French, or are trying to test your linguistic abilities, this episode might not be the one for you. However, if you are a fellow Francophone, join me for a lively and insightful chat with an author who has navigated both the clandestine world of anarchist squats in Saint-Petersburg and the literary splendor of Russian novels. From the whiskey-fueled brilliance of Faulkner to the modernist zest of Apollinaire, and the revolutionary writings of Jean-Patrick Manchette, this episode is a whirlwind tour through the minds and lives of literary greats. Tune in for a fun and thought-provoking discussion – and if not, see you next time instead. Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!