.My top 9 Books of 2020 (out of 95).
Happy New Year Friend!
Happy 2021. Now that each minute of 2020 is over, I can finalize my tally of read books at 95. Most of us certainly had more time for reading. I hope your reading endeavors increased this year! Note: a positive outcome of 2020. That is at least 1 for last year if anyone is counting!
I read physical books from friends, books I found at independent stores /thrift shops, from Little Free Libraries, and at the library (when open). I read eBooks through Glose (getting 1 free eBook and audiobook monthly was alone worth my Wall Street Journal membership), Amazon (I am now buying less of their enticing $.99 eBook sales, but that is another topic), Apple Books, and lastly the ahmazing app Libby.
Please download Libby if you don’t have it. It made borrowing library books a breeze and I liked reading from Libby just as much as from the eBooks I own (a bonus tip is you are able to easily export any highlights and notes you make). If my preferred book had a hold on it, sometimes of 15+ weeks, I never found I was that desperate to read that exact book. My Goodreads account holds plenty of books in my ‘Want to Read’ lists. It was fairly simple to find another available eBook to borrow or to pickup a physical book I already had.
95 books read in 366 days is definitely a personal record. I do admit my main purpose was to read many pages and good content. So out of all such books, shortest being 12 pages (more of an article than book!?) and the longest 496 page (I am surprised by this, as some seemed to last 1000s of pages), I read a total of 19,362 pages. Book count is easier to tally, but I believe that page # is SO much more telling (so a BIG thank you to Goodreads for calculating the page #s). I mean, what if I read 95 books that were all 12 pages long? That is much less than my actual count - not even 1,500 pages! If we added all the articles I read for fun and allll the work emails, my eyeballs saw plenty of words this year (even if they glazed over them in disinterest!).
Quality over Quantity!
Now, the purpose of the above is simply to quantify my achievement. Which, as humans we loove to do. If looked at from a more practical standpoint, how many of those books were actually worth anything to my life? Out of those 95 books, did I actually learn, grow, or enjoy them? Ideally, I learned from the book’s concepts, grew as a result of reading the book, and enjoyed reading them. Well, that is not the case for all books I read last year. On average, I definitely valued from most of the books I read. Here, I want to share the top 9 books of my 2020.
Top 9 Books of 2020
1. A Whimsy of the World - Amor Towles
Such a delightful short story to read. Historical fiction of sorts as it follows a young American girl, Ellie, and her ‘Whimsy’ nature as they experience a trip to Europe. The link in the book title actually takes you to the story and you can read it right now!
Top Dimensions of Holistic Health: Emotional, Spiritual
A Whimsy of the World - Amor Towles
2. Three Women - Lisa Taddeo
The Goodreads link above details a great blurb about this book. The author spent years living in the towns of these 3 women whos stories are told in this book. It was transformative for me. I know it was a window to a very limited grouping of women (three white cis women), but their sexual experiences as children/adults was very eye opening at points and at other times, very relatable. As I read these stories from an outsider viewpoint, it woke me up to what experiences and people in my past were not healthy. What I myself used to call ‘normal’ was in fact very manipulative. In turn, I was able to reconcile in my mind with those who un/knowingly hurt me (an ongoing healing process).
For both men and women, I think this is an important read to increase awareness on the potential dangers of assuming, normalizing manipulation, accepting retaliation, and even repeating abusive behaviors you were exposed to with other partners. Likewise, it calls our to me the benefits of asking questions, having communication, treating all others with dignity and respect, and most importantly knowing your self worth and not accepting less. If we were aware of what unhealthy patterns we are unconsciously repeating with ourselves or with others, it is the first step to healing that. Let me know
Top Dimensions of Holistic Health: Emotional, Social
Three Women - Lisa Taddeo
3. Emperors of the Deep — William McKeever
While some parts were repetitive in their statements and others were a comment on fishing industry and not sharks themselves, overall this book is extremely educational on a topic so many of us are misinformed about (maybe Shark Week on TV covers some of this? I’ve never watched).
This is a top read this year, not for the eloquent language or the incredible story telling (while some of the book has that), but for the ability to shed light on the IMPORTANCE of one of the oldest living species (450 million years, hello!!??).
Where the book diverted to discuss fishing practices and abuse (of the ocean AND human slaves), it neatly tied in the reason why illegal shark finning is so rampant (demand for consumption and demand for slightly improved wages by the exploited fishers). The disregard for human and ocean life in the fishing industry is enough that everyone should think twice about why they are eating fish and at least where it is coming from.
“‘Our greatest mistake,’ Rochat said, ‘has been to assume we are superior to all other life and to disconnect ourselves from nature, forgetting that we are, in fact, part of nature and that when we harm other life, we harm ourselves.’”
This quote represents a constant reminder throughout the book: sharks are an integral part of maintaining ocean life AND our life. If they go,, just like the wolves once eradicated from Yosemite, the food chain and ecosystem crumbles.
In the end, my fear and slight repulsion for sharks was replaced with so much awe, respect, and desire to protect them. The book achieved rousing emotions and strong urge to share this with others.. even if the essence of the book is shared to spare the non-readers out there from reading, it is worth it with this book.
Top Dimensions of Holistic Health: Environmental, Social
Emperors of the Deep - William McKeever
4. Genhis Kahn and the Making of the Modern World — Jack Weatherford
I had heard this book recommended a few times in previous years, but finally picked it up from a relative who had read it in preparation for a trip to Mongolia. This was a tough book to get through with so much historical events and explanations, but well worth it. A reason why this information was so new and difficult to me is one I would attribute our education in American schools: a lack of world history. And at that, the history I did know of Genghis Kahn was that he was a ruthless killer who ransacked villages. To boil his life down to that crumb of a fact is a disservice.
Even reading the book introduction is reason to see just how influential the Mongol empire was under Genghis Kahn. This book review paints a great summary of Kahn’s achievements. Overall, a pretty new outlook on many areas of modern life (ex: under his rule paper money was invented and agricultural systems greatly improved).
Top Dimensions of Holistic Health: Environmental, Social
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World - Jack Weatherford
5. In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin - Lindsey Hilsum
Written by a friend, this details American war correspondent, Marie Colvin’s life from childhood to death. It is an amazing display of what possibilities Marie was given, what she created and how she dedicated her life to reporting. The dimensions on holistic health I tagged (i.e. mind spirit, body) mostly because this book showed through Marie how greatly life can test the 3 core aspects of a human. My favorite review here.
Top Dimensions of Holistic Health: Intellectual, Spiritual, Physical
In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin - Lindey Hilsum
6. The Big Leap - Gay Hendricks
The biggest takeaway from this book was the concept of '“Upper Limits”; acknowledging that for your safety, you sub/consciously self-sabotage upon opportunities for great growth (a large public speaking engagement, a big test, getting sick right before an opportunity you’ve actually been dreaming of). The craziest claim by the author is that after discovering the concept of Upper Limits and admitting to himself where he was “living safe”, he has not gotten sick for many years since (viewing sickness as a method of self-sabotage. My favorite, comprehensive review here.
Top Dimensions of Holistic Health: Spiritual, Occupational, Emotional
The Big Leap - Gay Hendricks
7. Doing Good Works! Small Acts That Make a Big Difference — Bryan Douglas, Sean Elliot Martin
Quick, but inspiring read on easy and inviting ways to take action in your community or outward, to improve other’s lives and improve your life in the process. A great call to action!
Top Dimensions of Holistic Health: Environmental, Financial, Social
Doing Good Works! - Bryan Douglas, Sean Elliot Martin
8. Personality Isn’t Permanent — Benjamin Hardy
Best summary of book here.
Top Dimensions of Holistic Health: Emotional, Occupational, Spiritual
Personality Isn’t Permanent - Benjamin Hardy
9. Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World — Anand Giridharadas
Quite a few worthy reviews and critiques on this book - this one and others on the Goodreads page.
Top Dimensions of Holistic Health: Environmental, Financial, Social
Winners Take All - Anand Giridharadas
Bonus Books:
Here are books from my partner, that he read and enjoyed (in no order):
White — Bret Easton Ellis (read last year, I also took a lot of value from this book. May have more in depth commentary later.)
America, 1908: The Dawn of Flight, the Race to the Pole, the Invention of the Model T, and the Making of a Modern Nation — Jim Rasenberger
Stillness is the Key — Ryan Holiday (Ryan’s third book in his trilogy of Buddhist and Stoic inspired commentary on why slowing down in our world of business is critical. I have gifted this to quite a few people. A valuable read.)
Carter Beats the Devil — Glen David Gold (I’m looking forward to reading!)
A Gentleman in Moscow — Amor Towles
My Uncle Oswald — Roald Dahl (I agree! A humorous adult book written by this author typically known for children’s books. Some sentences may have not aged well, but reading with understanding of the era it was written, I quite liked the inclusion of big figures from the turn of the 20th century. For me, historical figures are always a fun additions into historical fiction books… when done well of course.)
In 2021, I am planning to maintain the amount of pages I read but increase the value of the books I read. Based on my interests and what I would like to share with you here, I will focus on books covering Stoicsm, and all the dimensions of holistic health. Look for more book reviews this year.
Let’s hear from you! Do you have suggestions for me or others on must-reads this year? What were your favorite reads for learning, personal growth, or enjoyment in 2020?
In Sympatheia, The Holistic Stoic
Cover Image from @ItFeelsLikeFilm
Book Images from Goodreads
