Fiction
Assassin's Fate, Robin Hobb
Feels like a farewell tour of the Six Duchies universe.
Empire Games, Charles Stross
Castle in the Air, Diana Wynne Jones (reread)
Echopraxia, Peter Watts
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
Very much enjoyed the characters and the world, but wish the plot were more engaging.
Non-fiction
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, Cal Newport
Probably the biggest influence on me this year.
All about the distinction between shallow & deep work, and how to do more of the latter.
What to Expect When You're Expecting, Heidi Murkoff & Sharon Mazel
Learned Optimism, Martin P. Seligman
Helplessness can be learned and unlearned.
Optimism is largely about one's narrative framework. Being optimistic is great for everything except accurately perceiving reality. If your explanations are personal, pervasive, and permament, then you will be pessimistic.
Every Good Endeavour, Tim Keller
Excellent exploration of the Christian understanding of work.
Haskell Programming from First Principles, Christopher Allen & Julie Moronuki
Very well structured explanation of Haskell. Although I was familiar with much of the content, the manner of presentation helped me become much clearer on many things. Don't be put off by the cutesy headings (an endemic problem in home-grown tech writing!) or the introductory chapter on lambda calculus. It's worth it.
Audiobooks
Collapsing Empire, John Scalzi
Lots of fun. When read aloud, it feels as if everyone's dialogue is snappy, which makes the characters less distinctive than they might be.
Perdido Street Station, China Miéville
Read by Jonathan Oliver, who did an outstanding job.
Acknowledges Gormenghast at the beginning, and decidedly deserves it. Huge, sprawling, aesthetically resonant setting that is as much a character as the characters. Slow boiling plot.
Born Standing Up, Steve Martin
Not as funny as I was expecting. Found it middling interesting. I don't generally read biographies, so don't have much basis for comparison.
So Good They Can't Ignore You, Cal Newport
To find rewarding work, don't chase your passion, instead become really good at something through deliberate practice. Then you'll get the autonomy that makes work truly rewarding.
Leviathan Wakes, James S. A. Corey
Reread. Very much enjoyed. Very well read.
Comics
Deadpool (2008-2012), Daniel Way (writer), many artists
Didn't enjoy this as much as Kelly's run, but it was a great way to chill out.
Alias, Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos (reread)
Read again after watching Jessica Jones. Still very good. Surprised at how little was used in the TV series (which I really like, and think is the best of the Marvel Netflix shows)