FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2020
I hope that your year is winding down in an easeful way and that you’ll have time to curl up with a good book at some point in the upcoming weeks.
Below are my 12 favorite books of 2020, categorized by Thought Provoking; Easiest to Devour in 24 Hours; and Most Fun to Read.
THOUGHT PROVOKING:
THE NEW WILDERNESS BY DIANE COOK.
This book is a fictional work that takes place in the future. I read it in a few days and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.
Its strength is in presenting a world that feels all too possible in a haunting way. It is not as strong in character development, and was not (for me) a book where I found myself underlining passages for their beauty or wisdom (which is rare for me; I’m typically generous with my underlines and highlights). That said, it is raw, powerful, and worth a read - particularly for anyone who is interested in the environment or climate change.
WHY TALKING IS NOT ENOUGH BY SUSAN PAGE.
This book provides a radically different perspective on how to approach communication in relationships. While many relationship books tell us to get better at communication, Susan points out that attempts to “communicate” are often attempts to get the other person to change. While the book is written through the lens of our primary (romantic) relationships, much of the wisdom within can apply to any relationships.
At the end of the day, this book is about creating a more conscious and compassionate world. My copy is filled with highlights.
HILLBILLY ELEGY BY J.D. VANCE.
This book received both wild praise, and harsh criticism. I found it to be interesting, well-written, and timely - particularly as we have learned over and over again this year that there are large segments of the US population that are incredibly misunderstood.
Recently, the book was released as a Netflix film.
THE GIFT OF FEAR BY GAVIN DE BECKER.
This book illustrates the ways in which fear can actually be tied to intuition. It’s a contrast to many self-development and spiritually-based books that encourage us to work through, or set aside, fear altogether.
Thank you, Jenny, for recommending this one!
DIGITAL MINIMALISM BY CAL NEWPORT.
In this book, Cal makes the point that we should use technology to support our values - rather than take us away from them. If you’re looking to create more intentionality around your technology use, you’ll likely enjoy this book.
TRICK MIRROR BY JIA TOLENTINO.
Jia is a brilliant writer; this is a brilliant book. It is a collection of essays and is beyond timely.
EASIEST TO DEVOUR IN 24 HOURS:
FREEDOM IS AN INSIDE JOB BY ZAINAB SALBI.
Part memoir, part book on women’s (and human) rights, part beautiful literary work.
Trigger warning: this book contains vivid, difficult-to-read passages outlining horrific violence toward women.
Thank you, Maddie, for recommending this one!
UNTAMED BY GLENNON DOYLE.
This was Glennon’s third memoir (!!). Like seemingly the majority of women in the US within my general demographic, I devoured this book in 24 hours.
Glennon is an absolutely brilliant writer. I have some personal discomfort around the level of intimate detail she shares about others (her kids; her ex husband) and am perpetually curious about whether they opted in.
THE PUMPKIN PLAN BY MIKE MICHALOWICZ.
Mike is a hoot, and he is also incredibly savvy about business. He’s one of my favorite authors on business and entrepreneurship, and I own nearly his entire library of books.
In this book, he encourages us, as business owners, to identify our “prize winning pumpkins” and trim the rest of the leaves (and non-prize-winning pumpkins).
Because of the way Mike writes, it’s easy to tear through his books in 24 hours, while still gaining a tremendous amount of wisdom.
Thank you Sarah, Sarah, and Sarah for being the first to tell me about Mike and his brilliant books!
Favorite Books of 2020: Most Fun to Read
MOST FUN TO READ:
ON WRITING BY STEPHEN KING.
Part memoir, and part thoughts on writing, this book was a delight - mostly due to King’s mince-no-words writing style (and the way in which he contrasted it by talking about his wife in an incredibly sweet way). It sparked several laugh-out-loud moments.
Buy on Amazon. Buy on Bookshop.
UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN BY FRANCES MEYER.
This book feels like a trip to Tuscany. Recommended for anyone who loves Italy, and anyone who loves to cook (or eat); food is a central part of the book.
Note for anyone who has watched the movie: the book is wildly different!
Note: there are a couple lines in here that would no longer be appropriate if they would have been written today. The book was published in 1996.
THE PRACTICE BY SETH GODIN.
Seth is one of my personal heroes. This book feels like a “best of” much of what he’s written over the years. I would approximate that about 80% of my copy is highlighted.
You can read this book from start to finish, or you can pick it up when you need a small boost of encouragement.
Buy on Amazon.
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FAVORITE LOCAL BOOKSTORES:
Indie Bound (find an indie retailer near you)
Mystery to Me (Madison, WI)
Room of One's Own (Madison, WI)
Prairie Lights (Iowa City, IA)
Boswell Books (Milwaukee, WI)
Copperfield's Books (Marin, CA)
What was the best thing you read this past year? If you feel inspired to do so, drop me a note and let me know.
