The Best Books of 2020 - The 100 Book Challenge
At the beginning of 2020, one of my goals was to read 100 books in the calendar year. I'm proud to say I completed that challenge! Maybe, I was able to complete it due to COVID-19, or maybe not. Either way, I read 102 books in 366 days (leap year!). If you're super curious, check out the full list of books.
There were many excellent books on my list… and a handful of not-so-good books too. Some were long; others were short. I reread the Harry Potter series, but everything else was new. These books stayed with me throughout the year: books I revisited and sometimes bought a physical copy after I read the digital version. (PS - None of these links are affiliates - I will not receive anything in exchange for you clicking on these. I only wish to be helpful as you look for the best books).
Tim Ferriss hosts a renowned podcast where he interviews people from all fields and backgrounds. He's interviewed athletes, entrepreneurs, and celebrities. Ferriss took some of the best interviews, distilled the information to its essence, and created a book to help you improve in three areas: healthy, wealthy, and wise. You can read it in order or mix it up based on what's interesting. I'd recommend a physical version of this book to better bookmark and note what resonates with you.
Another great book by Ferriss. This book covers all the experiments Ferriss has done to improve his body over time. Everything from cold showers and cryotherapy baths to how much red meat he ate to improve his testosterone levels is in this book. Ferriss covers mental, physical, emotional, and sexual health and wellness. Just like his other books, it's helpful to have a physical copy to flip around and go back and refer to items later.
So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love – Cal Newport
I've read Newport's books in reverse order. Last year, I read his most recent book at the time (Digital Minimalism – also highly recommended), and I was delighted to read So Good They Can't Ignore You. This book is about focus and honing your craft – whatever your skill is. Newport leads you to think about areas where you allow distractions and how you handle removing those distractions – or not removing them. So Good They Can't Ignore You is a fabulous book to read at the beginning of a project or when you set new goals for yourself (New Year's Resolutions?).
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol Dweck
One of my favorite topics to learn is psychology. I've loved it since I first encountered it as a junior in high school. However, too many books lean toward stodgy and dry or lean the other direction toward woo-woo. Many books on mindset are waaaaaay too woo-woo for me (and I buy crystals and cleanse them with white sage, so I can do woo-woo well). I was pleasantly surprised by Carol Dweck's book, Mindset. She studies the mindset properly – with control groups and placebos and has studies and findings to share. This book digs into the power of your mindset beyond "the power of positive thinking."
It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work – Jason Fried
This quick and thought-provoking read will inspire you to make positive changes to your workplace's culture. It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work embraces slowing down, not wasting time with busy work, and focusing on what matters and what drives revenue. Some of these practices are so simple you may think they won't work, but they do. As we accept our new normal, this book is more relevant to workplace culture than ever before.
Remote: Office Not Required – Jason Fried
Remote sat on my Kindle for ages. I wanted to read it but worried I'd feel frustrated I would want to work remotely full-time and wouldn't have the option. Enter the COVID-19 pandemic. I read Remote in early summer when it was clear I wouldn't return to "the office" for a long time. Remote reinforced my beliefs about full-time remote work and made me so grateful I work for a company that embraced this option long before we faced it en masse. Everyone should read Remote to learn the possibilities, and the pitfalls, of having your entire company work from anywhere in the world.
Educated: A Memoir – Tara Westover
Educated is a fantastic memoir about a girl growing up in rural Idaho raised by parents with non-traditional, sometimes extreme, beliefs. Inspired by her brother, Tara finds her way into college and absorbs knowledge like a sponge. But, with this knowledge, she begins to question everything about how she was raised and what the word "family" really means.
Everything is Figureoutable – Marie Forleo
I was quite dubious about Everything is Figureoutable. Mostly, I was reluctant because too many excellent online entrepreneurs get a book deal and then miss the boat with their chance to create quality, evergreen content. I was pleasantly surprised by Forleo's approachable writing style and accessibility to her stories. Her attitude toward achieving her goals is one of the few that seems reasonable. She wasn't an "overnight success," and today, she continues to make mistakes and learn and grow from them. Forleo is a model for navigating the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship without losing authenticity or transparency.
Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life – Nir Eyal
I'm easily distracted, but what distracts me may not distract you. What distracts you might differ day-to-day or even throughout the day. Nir Eyal, a behavioral design expert, doesn't waste your time telling you how to focus. He tells you the psychology behind why you're so easily distracted. Like most things, once you know the why behind something, it's much easier to develop your plan of fixing it.
Ryan Holiday recommended this book on social media. Again, I like reading about psychology, and I like reading about the whys of life. This book delivered both the psychology and the why behind it. Gibson goes through and discusses the four main types of emotionally immature people and what happens if those people have children. She typically discusses the extreme versions of these four types, but there are bits of emotional immaturity in all of us. Regardless of whether you have (or want to have children), this book is a must-read for your own self-reflection and improving how you work with others.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind – Yuval Noah Harari
I thought Sapiens would be a boring book. I was pleasantly wrong. There were some slower parts, and I didn't fly through the book, but this is an interesting look into human history. As stated in the title: it's brief, especially compared to human history. Harari peppers in his opinions and asks many what-if questions, debates himself, and leaves questions unanswered throughout the pages. But that's what I loved about Sapiens. We have facts until something comes along and changes how we look at those facts. Sapiens is a fun book to read with your argumentative friend (hi! That's me – I'm your argumentative friend) when you want a lively debate about humanity.
Mystic Cove Series – Tricia O'Malley
By the end of the summer, I realized I had read very little fiction in 2020, and I felt it. My brain felt factual and dry, and my reading needed love and frivolity and happy endings. Enter Tricia O'Malley. The Mystic Cove series (or as I call it, the Wild Irish Series) takes place in Western Ireland and has a magick touch in the pages. A bit of romance, a dash of adventure, O'Malley writes a proper novel that is quick and immensely enjoyable to read! I can't wait to read her other series of stories!
I read this book for my company's book club around the theme of mental health. Mental health is usually a heavy subject and can be triggering for people, so I wanted to select a book that dealt with mental health in a funny and relatable way. Allie Brosh does just this. Part illustrator, part author, Brosh is most famous for her "all the things" graphic. Her unconventional approach to returning Blockbuster videos, getting lost in the woods, and dealing with two dogs are relatable and help you know you're not alone in dealing with depression, stress, anxiety, and simply being a decent human.
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows - Balli Kaur Jaswal
I had no idea what to expect when I opened this book. Erotica? Romance? Indian Aunties swapping bedroom stories? This lovely story is a bit of each of those plus some adventure. Ultimately, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows is a coming-of-age and a coming-of-culture (is that a thing?) story for our heroine. She is caught between being a good Punjabi daughter, doing the right thing for her fellow women, finding love in a complicated situation, and learning how to be herself in fast-paced London. This book is a warm-hearted story that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World – Melinda Gates
The Moment of Lift was another selection for my company's book club around the theme of Giving Back. I recommend this book because Melinda Gates committed to helping women and young girls in developing nations. This book talks about her struggle to find ways to help that defy traditional philanthropy, and she shares her story about what happens when her personal beliefs conflict with doing what's right for those she serves. The Moment of Lift is about giving back and growth. Everyone should read it.
Troubled Blood – Robert Galbraith
Robert Galbraith is J.K. Rowling's not-so-pseudo pseudonym. Troubled Blood is the fifth book in the Cormoran Strike detective series, and I've been pleased each time. This book drew extra criticism in the summer of 2020 when Rowling faced backlash about perceived anti-trans tweets. I say "perceived" because I refuse to pass judgment on any public figure based solely on what happens on the internet. Regardless, this book is Strike's first cold-case and will keep you guessing "whodunnit" until the end.
As we came into December, several Best Books lists popped into my email. The Henna Artist showed up on Goodreads' Best Debut Novel. I had no expectations but quickly fell in love with it. Set in mid-century Jaipur, this lovely novel tells a single female entrepreneur's story and what happens when things go right, and things go wildly wrong. I loved the heroine's resilience, faults, and commitment to her dream, but the ability to flex to her situation.
Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius – Ryan Holiday
Ryan Holiday is the current go-to Stoic expert today, and I read everything he writes - not because I'm a creepy fangirl, but because Holiday writes exceptionally well. Lives of the Stoics takes the famous, infamous, and unknown Stoic philosophers of Ancient Greece and Rome and brings them to life in these pages. Holiday is thorough (with the available surviving information) with these mini-biographies. He points out the highs and lows, how each Stoic lived the philosophy, and where they fell short – often to their downfall. I initially read this on Kindle but got a physical book (Christmas gift- thank you, Hubby!) because the timeline and chronology are easier to flip back and forth in the physical book.
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art – James Nestor
For one of my last books of 2020, this was a breath (wink) of fresh air. I kept seeing people recommend this in my LinkedIn network, so I figured, why not? I couldn't put this book down. I always enjoy learning ways to improve my health and wellness, but never once considered breathing. Apparently, most humans don't either. Breath dives into Nestor's decade-long quest into his personal breathing issues, how we all are breathing incorrectly, and how a few simple exercises, practiced consistently, can genuinely change your overall health and well-being. Breath is my favorite kind of book: woo-woo backed by science. Worth the read!
There's no right or wrong when it comes to reading. All that matters is that you do read, and you read widely across genres, topics, and authors. I've set myself another 100-book challenge for 2021. What are your recommendations for this year? What were your favorite books in 2020?