558 ratings | 455 reviews | avg rating:3.94

Richard’s Year In Books

Richard’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Richard’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Richard R. Becker’s Followers (66)

Richard’s Bookshelves

to-read (512)
currently-reading (5)
read (560)
did-not-finish (0)
favorites (92)
my-books (7)

Richard’s Friends (192)

Nick

2,100 books | 591 friends

Michael Compton

1,120 books | 4,231 friends

Colin Baldwin

1,137 books | 1,400 friends

Peter Topside

3,998 books | 2,804 friends

David Brown

179 books | 4,157 friends

Dr. Jasmine

6 books | 171 friends

Constantine

2,745 books | 992 friends

Matt Briggs

2,054 books | 1,290 friends

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Richard R. Becker

Goodreads Author

Born

in Milwaukee, The United States

Website

http://www.richardrbecker.com

Twitter

RichBecker

Genre

Fiction, Thriller, Suspense

Influences

Ernest Hemingway, John Updike, Russel Banks

Member Since

August 2014

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/richardrbecker

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Richard R. Becker is an award-winning American author whose gripping stories blend resilience and moral complexity. His upcoming novel, Born on Monday (2025), promises a thrilling tale of small-town sins that will leave readers breathless.

His debut novel, Third Wheel (August 2023), soared into Amazon’s top 100 thriller and suspense literary fiction novels, earned a Kirkus Reviews feature, and won seven awards, including Literary Thriller of the Year by the Artisan International Book Excellence Awards. His debut collection, 50 States (2021), born from a challenge to write one story a week for 50 weeks, topped Amazon’s literary short story charts for three months and secured multiple honors, including first place in the Spring 2022 BookFest A ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

What books are on your summer reading list this year?

Richard R. Becker I love this question, and don't have a traditional answer that includes 5 or 10 or even 20 books that will feel dated in a few months. What I have ins…moreI love this question, and don't have a traditional answer that includes 5 or 10 or even 20 books that will feel dated in a few months. What I have instead is a list of 195+ diverse titles and a method to read a fair amount of them every year. Feel free to check out my shelf. They are all here on Goodreads.

Generally, I'm reading four books at any given time. One with my daughter, one on my phone, one in print (often nonfiction), and one as an audiobook (yes, I think audiobooks count as long as they aren't abridged). To pick them: My daughter and I alternative between young adult and classic literature; my nonfiction picks generally alternate between enrichment and history; my other two picks alternate wildly different genres and authors mainly based on what I just read. I tend to look for something that contrasts preceding title.

For example, in 2021 on my phone, Normal People by Sally Rooney was preceded by Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clark, preceded by Eden Mine by S.M. Hulse, preceded by Go Tell It To The Mountain by James Baldwin, preceded by Rabbit is Rich by John Updike, preceded by Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, preceded by Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky, preceded by Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby, and so on. The same eclectic meandering happens with audiobooks (though narrators can play a factor in my picks).

How I chose books changed after joining Goodreads. This site gave me a tool to add dozens of "to read" (or read again) books. I look over all of them anytime I'm close to the end of a book, generally picking the next title because there is some contrast to what I just read or am reading — from contemporary to classic or horror fiction to literary fiction or science fiction to historical fiction — because I'm a great believer in diversity, especially for anyone who wants to be a writer. Diversity keeps it all interesting, which is why my own body of work spills over into everything.(less)

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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Richard R. Becker Two years ago, I committed to writing short short stories and sharing them on my Facebook author page. It was the first time in my life I treated writ…moreTwo years ago, I committed to writing short short stories and sharing them on my Facebook author page. It was the first time in my life I treated writing short stories like an assignment, with equal weight to any advertising/marketing deadlines I might have.

My immersion in the process of writing fiction opened up an entirely new world. After sharing the first few stories, I fell into a creative rhythm, and an overarching idea began to crystalize.

I was inspired to write about life-defining moments (or coping with life-defining moments) as experienced by different people in different places (50 States) — stories that could stand on their own but were also left open to be continued in unexpected ways or intersect with one another.

Individually, the spark for each story was unique. Some ideas seem to find me — something I happened to see while driving my daughter to practice. Other ideas had to be hunted down, especially as fewer states remained. In those situations, I made it a practice to follow the research until it led me somewhere or something else would find me along the way.(less)

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Combine Editions
Richard R. Becker’s books

Average rating: 4.25 · 257 ratings · 140 reviews · 4 distinct works • Similar authors

	50 States: A collection of short short stories really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 101 ratings — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Third Wheel 4.49 avg rating — 71 ratings — published 2023 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Born on Monday 4.45 avg rating — 53 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ten Threads 4.13 avg rating — 32 ratings — published 2022 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

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Richard R. Becker's Blog

Book of the Day

My small town thriller Born on Monday is the Onlinebookclub.org Book of the Day!

A historic nor’easter. A relentless stalker.
Four estranged friends relive their darkest betrayals…

Visit Born on Monday by Richard R. Becker on Amazon and you'll find the e-book listed at special book of the day offer. If the book does well on June 15, the special offer will be extended for a week! Read more of this blog post »

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 15, 2026 11:24 • Tags: book-of-the-day

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Richard is Currently Reading

Richard Becker is currently reading

Strange Weather: Four Short Novels

by Joe Hill (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 24, 2026 06:31AM

Richard Becker is currently reading

The Count of Monte Cristo

by Alexandre Dumas

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 22, 2026 11:25AM

Richard Becker is currently reading

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

by Sogyal Rinpoche

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 03, 2026 06:34PM

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Richard’s Recent Updates

Richard Becker started reading Strange Weather: Four Short Novels by Joe Hill (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 24, 2026 06:31AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Strange Weather by Joe Hill. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Strange Weather by Joe Hill <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Richard Becker rated a book really liked it Shadow of the Cataclysm by S.D. Baldwin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
After a cataclysmic event shatters several ancient artifacts that are responsible for keeping the fictional world of Terrus luminous and balanced, a solitary protector name Elucido awakens to a broken and dark land. His quest becomes the last flicker ...more
Jun 23, 2026 02:08PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Shadow of the Cataclysm by S.D. Baldwin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Shadow of the Cataclysm by S.D. Baldwin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Richard Becker started reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 22, 2026 11:25AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Richard Becker rated a book liked it A Talent for War (Alex Benedict, #1) by Jack McDevitt	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jack McDevitt’s A Talent for War is the opening salvo in his long-running Alex Benedict series. As such, it is a thoughtful, idea-driven space opera that blends archaeological mystery with galactic history. The world building is excellent, introducin ...more
Jun 22, 2026 11:24AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Richard Becker wants to read Scaramouche (Scaramouche, #1) by Rafael Sabatini	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 14, 2026 09:41PM · like
Richard Becker started reading A Talent for War (Alex Benedict, #1) by Jack McDevitt	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 14, 2026 05:39PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Richard Becker rated a book it was amazing The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Toni Morrison’s debut novel The Bluest Eye excavates childhood memory and lays bare the quiet humiliations we thought we had outgrown and the cultural conflicts we absorbed. It’s lyrical, honest, and deftly hypnotic, bridging divides of time, race, a ...more
Jun 14, 2026 05:39PM · 1 like · like · see review
Richard Becker entered a giveaway Notes on Infinity: A Novel by Austin Taylor (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 14, 2026 04:02AM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Notes on Infinity by Austin Taylor <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Richard Becker wants to read BUtterfield 8 by John O'Hara	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 12, 2026 07:55AM · like
Richard Becker liked Kate Robinson's review of Born on Monday: ""Forget all the fishing-line analogies [the District Attorney] tossed about: this kind of story was like trolling with a net of moral responsibility." When Jessica Michaud, Billy Stevens' ex-girlfriend, returns to town to escape an abusive relationshi" Read more of this review »
Jun 09, 2026 04:42PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Born on Monday by Richard R. Becker. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Born on Monday by Richard R. Becker <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Richard's books…

Richard’s Quotes

“I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow; but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.”
― Agatha Christie

tags: inspirational

6100 likes

“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

161 likes

“I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden or, Life in the Woods

290 likes