It’s that time of year when compiling lists seems like the right thing to do, so I thought I would compile my own list of book awards, both good and bad. Here’s my 12 for 2012 with links to those I’ve blogged on:

Learned most from – Redirect by Timothy Wilson. A truly excellent book – read it.

Most captivating – Shadow of the Moon by M M Kaye. I was transported into the era.

Most changed my everyday life – The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I started this blog thanks to this book.

Most enjoyment from – Paloverde by Jacqueline Briskin. I do love a bit of easy-to-read twentieth century fiction.

Most able to make a complex subject easy to understand – Inside Job by Charles Furguson. And watch the DVD too.

Most un-put-downable – Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. Yes the Booker judges were completely right.

Least enjoyment from – Working with Emotional Intelligence – Daniel Goleman. I thought this would be right up my street, but it wasn’t at all.

Most surprised by, in a good way – Providing a Sure Start by Naomi Eisenstadt. I knew I should read it, but didn’t know just how much I would enjoy it.

Most surprised by, in a bad way – The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco. I was so looking forward to it, but I missed the point, or it did.

Would most recommend for holidays – The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. To be blogged on soon – it’s great.

Talked most obsessively about – Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. I couldn’t shut up about this when reading it in San Francisco. By the end of our trip my poor partner Drew had practically read it too.

Most intellectually stretching – Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Really, really good. It’s long but it’s definitely a book of the year to stretch your mind.

I’m looking forward to the books of 2013 already. An enormous pile of Christmas books should get me on my way.