Originally published December 2, 2019
Last updated December 2, 2019
Posted in 

You know those books that you can’t stop thinking about, won’t shut up about, and wish everyone around you would read? The ones that, if taken in aggregate, would tell people more about you than your resume? I decided I wanted to write a list of those. Then I told some friends, and they wanted to write their own lists too. So we’re going to do a little blog carnival, and I’d like to invite you (yes, you) to join us.

How to participate

  1. Between now and December 15th, 2019, write a blog post on the subject of “An Annotated Bibliography of the Inside of My Head,” listing books that you think about all the time, and describing why each book is on the list.
  2. Include a link to this post, so people can understand what’s going on and join in if they like.
  3. Drop a comment here, including:
    • Your name, as you want it shown.
    • The direct link to your blog post.
    • A sentence or two to entice people to click through and read your post.
  4. Mention this on social media, if you like, and encourage your friends to participate.
  5. Around December 16th-20th, I’ll post a roundup post with links to all the posts that have been submitted.
  6. At that point you can edit your own post, or make a new one, pointing to the roundup.

FAQ

How many books should I list?

However many you want. I’m thinking I’ll do about a dozen, but we’ll see.

Fiction or non-fiction?

Yes.

Do they have to be recent?

Not at all. If the Code of Hammurabi is something you’re always thinking about and pushing other people to read, feel free to include it.

How can I link to a place to acquire the books without supporting Amazon?

I’m so glad you asked! You might like to link to Indiebound (which covers the US) or WorldCat (for libraries). You could also check to see if the author or publisher has their own website with direct purchase links.

Alex Bayley is a tech industry refugee, independent researcher, writer, educator and community builder. They live in Ballarat, west of Melbourne, Australia.

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Responses

26 Comments

  1. Clare on December 2, 2019 at 7:38 pm

    This is a great idea

    Reply
  2. Edward Shaddow on December 10, 2019 at 4:35 pm

    Apparently my head is full of sci-fi and ethical non-monogamy …eh I’ll take it. https://shaddowland.net/2019/12/10/an-annotated-bibliography-of-the-inside-of-my-head/

    Reply
  3. Alex Bayley on December 12, 2019 at 3:08 pm

    Here’s mine! https://alexbayley.id.au/2019/12/books-i-cant-shut-up-about/

    Reply
  4. Beth on December 13, 2019 at 6:06 am

    Here’s mine! https://www.bethwinegarner.com/bite-sized-blog/2019/12/6/an-annotated-bibliography-of-the-inside-of-my-head

    Reply
  5. Hugh on December 14, 2019 at 5:45 pm

    What a great idea! Here’s mine: https://www.hughrundle.net/the-not-really-an-anarchist-bookshelf

    If world history, leftist politics, or fantasy fiction are your thing, you might be interested.

    Reply
  6. Clare on December 15, 2019 at 9:11 pm

    hopefully not too late – here’s my annotated bibliography of the inside of my head featuring some of the many trans warriors I’ve been reading https://queerbrarian.wordpress.com/2019/12/15/an-annotated-bibliography-of-the-inside-of-my-head/

    Reply
    • Alex Bayley on December 16, 2019 at 12:10 pm

      Not too late at all! I’ll be posting a roundup tomorrow.

      Reply
  7. Alissa on December 16, 2019 at 12:20 am

    Mine is here https://lissertations.net/post/1288 and my friend Hugh’s is here https://www.hughrundle.net/the-not-really-an-anarchist-bookshelf/ 🙂

    Reply
  8. Sumana Harihareswara on December 17, 2019 at 5:31 am

    Hi and sorry that I am a day late; I was ill.

    https://www.harihareswara.net/sumana/2019/12/16/0

    Sumana Harihareswara

    A mix of management books, memoir, speculative fiction, and history.

    Reply

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