Finding the Best Books, One Day at a Time 📚
Every morning, somewhere between my first cup of coffee and the moment the rest of the world fully wakes up, I’m already deep into my mission: finding the three best new books released today. Not the three most hyped. Not the three with the biggest marketing budgets. The three best. ☕📖
How do I know which ones are best? Simple: I’m a book guy. 🎯
What Does That Mean, Exactly? 🤔
Being a “book guy” isn’t a credential you earn in a classroom or a title you get from an institution. It’s not about having an MFA in creative writing or a PhD in comparative literature (though I respect those who do). And, unfortunately, I don’t get paid for doing this. Being a book guy is something different—something that happens when you’ve spent so much time with books that you’ve developed an instinct, a sixth sense for quality that goes beyond genre conventions or critical consensus. 📊➡️❤️ Or, even common sense.
I’ve read thousands of books across every conceivable genre. Literary fiction that makes you see the world differently. Thrillers that keep you up until 3 AM. Romance novels that restore your faith in human connection. Science fiction that expands your sense of what’s possible. Memoirs that break your heart. Self-help books that actually help. Fantasy epics that create entire worlds. True crime that chills you to the bone. Poetry that captures what prose cannot. 🌈
And here’s what happens when you read that widely, that voraciously: you start to recognize quality regardless of genre. You develop an internal compass that points toward the good stuff. You start reading books in your dreams. You can feel it in the first few pages—and in your bones—that electric sense that you’re in capable hands, that the author knows what they’re doing, that this book is going to deliver. ⚡
The Daily Hunt 🔍
Every single day, new books are released. Dozens of them. Hundreds, if you count all the crappy ones. The volume is overwhelming. Most readers—even dedicated readers—have no idea where to start. They rely on bestseller lists (which measure sales, not quality), or algorithm-driven recommendations (don’t ever trust a computer), or the limited selection at their local bookstore (which can only stock a fraction of what’s available). 📚📚📚
That’s where I come in. 🦸♂️
I wade into that daily flood of new releases and do the work of discovery. I am your literary filter. I look at debuts and the latest installment in a beloved series. I check out the buzzy releases everyone’s talking about AND the quiet gems from small presses that deserve attention. I read samples, check reviews, investigate author backgrounds, and most importantly, trust my gut—the gut that’s been trained by years of reading. 🎓
By the time you tune into my podcast or read my essay each day, I’ve already done the heavy lifting. I’ve sorted through everything new and identified the three books most worth your time and money. Three books that represent the best of what’s being published right now, today. 🏆
And, speaking of my podcast, in every episode, I’m joined by my bookworm sidekick, Cassandra (seen below). During the moments when I don’t know what I’m talking about, she does the talking.
Why Three? Why Daily? 📅
Three is the perfect number—the classic “Rule of Three.” One book isn’t enough to capture the diversity of what’s being published. Five or ten becomes overwhelming—you came here for curation, not another endless list. But three? Three is manageable. Three gives you options without paralyzing you with choice. Three means that even if one isn’t quite your taste, you’ve got two more to consider. ✨
And why every day? Because great books are being released every single day, and they deserve to be discovered when they’re fresh, when they’re new, when the conversation around them is just beginning. Waiting a week or a month means missing the moment, losing the chance to be part of the initial wave of readers who discover something special. 🌊
Plus, daily discovery creates a rhythm, a ritual. You start your day with coffee and my recommendations. You end your commute knowing what you might want to read next. You build your to-be-read list one day at a time, three books at a time, confident that each selection has been vetted by someone who genuinely cares about quality. ☀️
All Genres, All Welcome 🎭
I don’t discriminate by genre, and neither should you. One of the biggest mistakes readers make is limiting themselves to a single category. “I only read thrillers.” “I don’t do romance.” “Fantasy isn’t for me.” 🚫
But here’s the truth: every genre contains masterpieces and every genre contains dreck. The question isn’t “What genre?” but rather “Is this book good?” Is it well-written? Does it accomplish what it sets out to do? Will it give you an experience worth having? 🎯
So on Monday, I might feature a literary novel exploring grief, a space opera with mind-bending concepts, and a cookbook that will change how you think about dinner. Or, perhaps all three will be cookbooks. On Tuesday: a psychological thriller, a history of an overlooked moment in time, and a romance that makes your heart soar. On Wednesday: poetry, memoir, and speculative fiction. 🎨
This approach does two things: First, it ensures you’re getting genuinely the best books being released, regardless of category. Second, it gently pushes you out of your comfort zone. You came for the thriller recommendation but stayed for the memoir. You tried the fantasy novel because I was so enthusiastic, and discovered you actually love the genre. 🚀
The Essay and The Podcast 🎙️📝
Each day, I present my three selections in two formats: a written essay and a podcast episode. Same content, different delivery systems, because people consume information in different ways. ⚡
Maybe you’re a reader who wants to see the book covers, click through to purchase, and refer back to your notes. The essay is for you. 📄
Maybe you’re a commuter who wants company on the drive, or someone who does dishes while listening, or a person who prefers the warmth of a human voice explaining why these books matter. The podcast is for you. 🎧
Either way, you’re getting the same thing: my genuine enthusiasm for three new books that deserve your attention, along with enough context to help you decide if they’re right for you. Because that’s the final piece of this puzzle—I can tell you what’s good, but you have to decide what’s good for you. 💭
Book Guy Guarantee ✅ (or your money back!)
Here’s what I promise: Every book I feature is one I genuinely believe is worth your time. I’m not paid to promote these books. Publishers don’t pay for placement. I’m not pushing my friends’ books or scratching anyone’s back. I’m just a book guy, sharing what excites me, what moves me, what makes me think “damn, this is good.” 🌟
Will you love every book I recommend? Of course not. Taste is personal, subjective, wonderfully variable, yet, sometimes horribly misguided. But will every book I recommend be quality? Will it be well-crafted, thoughtfully written, deserving of attention? Absolutely. 💯
Because that’s what being a book guy means: You develop standards. You know the difference between a book that’s merely okay and one that’s genuinely good. You can articulate why something works. And you feel a responsibility to point readers toward the good stuff, because life is short and there are too many books and not enough time, and we all need guides we can trust. 🧭
Join Me 🤝
So welcome. Whether you’re here for the daily podcast, the written essays, or both, I’m glad you found your way here. Every day, I’ll be here with three new books that represent the best of what’s being published right now, across all genres, chosen by someone who has dedicated his life to reading, evaluating, and celebrating great books. 📚
I’m just a book guy. But sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. ❤️
Let’s discover something great together. 🌟
LISTEN TO “WELCOME TO ESSENTIAL BOOK DROP” TAKE 2!”
