As I began this year, I had no official goal set for how many books I'd like to consume in 2020. I felt the pull to read 52 again now that I know it is feasible, however, I would rather strive for quality as there were several books last year I did not enjoy. With the pandemic well underway I was grateful for my audiobooks from the New York Public Library now, more than ever.
As I began writing this post at the beginning of the year, this post will be updated regularly as I finish new books, all the way to Dec. 31st 2020. Check in every so often to see what the NYPL and Barnes and Noble online (thanks 'Rona) have sent my way!
I have found the most valuable thing in my wallet is my library card. - Laura Bush, Librarian + Former 1st Lady
Color Glossary: Purple = Audiobook // Light Green = Physical Book
2020 Books:
1. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron - Nora's brief recap about how aging sucks but it’s ok, because we all have to do it and what's the alternative? A quick, easy read that is lighthearted, for the most part. ★★★
2. Democracy by Condoleezza Rice - A long read that required attention due to so many details, but as a millennial who didn't live through a lot of the history described, I found it fascinating. This book focused on democratic triumphs and failures around the world, both that Rice was involved in and that predated her. Highly recommend for any history buffs. ★★★★★
3. Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle - This book focused on the struggles of having meaningful convos in a digital age and outlines how we can re-engage with each other as we set the phones aside, or at least learn to apply those skills to better engage through phones. ★★★
4. A Man Called Ove by Fedrik Backman - Charlie's Recommendation // A wonderfully written book about a perceived cranky old man, who learns there may just be life after death, and it's never too late to have a second chance at joy and family. ★★★★
5. The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu - Through a week-long conversation between the two holy leaders, they focus on sharing how they've overcome struggles, and help others find joy from within, as they did. Great read but I found myself taking frequent pauses to take in the lessons shared. ★★★
6. Here We Go Again by Betty White - In this short book, Betty writes about her life in Hollywood, friendships with animals (the ones she prefers), and her marriages (specifically her favorite one). An easy read that will lift your spirits. ★★★★
7. My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg - This book focuses on Ruth's life and upbringing, but mainly on the major trials she was involved in and her deciding opinions. Intriguing to get insight into her world, but it was very law intensive for a non-legal mind, the reason I even considered giving it 3 stars, but for RBG... ★★★★
8. The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks - Hillary's Recommendation // Nicholas Sparks never lets me down when it comes to romance novels and this is no different. A book about Ali and Noah's daughter, and her husband. Focusing on love and the change in your vows after 30 years together. ★★★★
9. Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt - Charlie's Recommendation // A book that outlines the lessons from Silicon Valley’s best coach, from the football field to the corporate boardroom, helping leaders and the reader be better communicators and critical thinkers. I liked, didn't love it. Helpful, but nothing groundbreaking if you regularly read business acumen books. ★★★
10 First: Sandra Day O’Connor by Evan Thomas - As the first woman on the Supreme Court, this book depicts SOC's life and trials of being a woman, a mother, and a judge. Through struggles that seemed effortless to her and life events that would cripple most, this book was a great listen on my strolls through West Village. ★★★★
11. Maid by Stephanie Land - Nicole’s Recommendation // A young single mother's struggle to make ends meet, and striving to have dreams despite little things in life seeming to get stacked up against her. Not exceptional but glad I read it. ★★★
12. The Latte Factor by David Bach - A fast book to power through. I read this as the pandemic began and I wanted to distract myself. The story is a modern-day parable that centers around a young girl learning to manage her money responsibly. Easy and likely helpful to people who have low financial literacy. ★★★
13. Originals by Adam Grant - This book seemed a little repetitive, but I did like it. It had a lot of interesting examples, focusing around one main point: you don’t always have to be first, you just need to be creative and make something useful, not just cool. ★★★
14. Eating on the Wild Side by Jo Robinson - As one of the first books I listened to during the Pandemic, this book made my heart yearn for the Union Square Farmers Market. It focused on the best practices to cook and eat a high-nutrient diet, as well as the history and evolution of the fruits and veggies we think we know so well. This book made learning about food much more interesting than the previous food-focused books I've read. ★★★★
15. The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates - Similar to the book Half the Sky, but lighter and easier to read. Focused on Melinda's life and experiences with the Gates Foundation, and their work to help women in developing countries. ★★★★
16. Northern Lights by Joan Green - Written by my Aunt // Short stories about outstanding Canadian women, from astronauts to authors, businesswoman, and concert cellists. An easy read to pick up and put down since each woman's story is only 4-6 pages long. ★★★
17. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell - A book about misinterpreting others and their reactions, and then engaging off those misconceptions. Fascinating read although I found it personally challenging to read at nights, as difficult topics such as rape and death are discussed throughout. ★★★★
18. The Ride of A Lifetime by Robert Iger - Ben + Nicole’s Recommendation // I read a lot of CEO books, and this has been by far my favorite. Well written and easy to follow. Focusing on the relationships Bob has in and outside of Disney and his journey to the top. ★★★★★
19. How to be Parisian Wherever You Are by Ann Berest - A quick and easy read, I listened to the entire book on 2x speed during a single quarantine walk. It gives the genesis story behind a Parisian woman's attitude and actions, giving advice and recipes to live life effortlessly. It made me wish I was walking the cobblestone streets to a cafe rather than the neighborhoods of St. Louis. ★★★★
20. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown: - This was a surprisingly long read for me. But despite the time to read it, I felt like I gained a lot of helpful vocabulary to express feelings along with impactful communication skills. Brené outlines how to be courageous and "rumble" with difficult emotions, situations and conversations. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to be a better communicator with friends, a spouse, family or even yourself. ★★★★
21. Tightrope by Nicholas Kristof - A look at American life, through the lens of the kids that rode the #6 school bus with Kristof. Similar to Educated and Hillbilly Elegy, it covers tough topics that now plague American life; domestic violence, poverty, substance abuse. A good and informative, yet heart-wrenching, read. ★★★
22. When Paris Went Dark by Ronald C. Rosbottom - As a self-proclaimed Francophile and WWII enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed this look at Paris during the Nazi occupation. I recommend this for history buffs, or for anyone wanting to be reminded of how there have been much tougher times than quarantine 2020. ★★★★
23. No One Ever Told Us That by John D. Spooner - Spooner writes what I would call love letters, but essentially words of wisdom, to his two college-aged grandkids about love, life, business and money. I think all young adults would benefit from this read, and hopefully it will spark their own conversations with grandparents/parents about their experiences and wisdom that should be passed on. ★★★★
24. Wild by Cheryl Strayed - A great tale of self destruction and discovery. Following Cheryl through her travels along the PCT and back in time through the events that she didn't realize led her there. A great read. ★★★★
25. The Gift of Forgiveness by Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt - This book is not a "how-to" book for getting past hardships in your life. Covering a range or challenging topics - the stories are as extraordinary as the resilience of the forgivers highlighted. A great book to put life in perspective, and despite not being a "how to" book, it has a lot of wisdom that can guide you forward in your own forgiveness journey. ★★★★
26. Missed Translations by Sopan Deb - A great story about a grown child's exploration into his recondite immigrant parents' life, and the rebuilding of their lost relationships. It was fascinating to see someone roll back the clock and take time to learn what happened in his parent's relationship when he was a childhood, and their lives before he was born, to understand what shaped them - and ultimately him.★★★★
27. An American Family by Khizr Khan - Narrated by the author, this book gave a truly admirable look at a man's desire to provide for his family, an immigrant's love for his new country, and a deep respect for the legal doctrine that shaped the United States. The author's son, Cpt. Khan, is is American hero and this book proves it takes an exception human to raise one. I highly recommend this book. ★★★★★
28. Why Courage Matters by John McCain - Recommended by Book #27's author, Khizr Khan, he gave this book to all ROTC students who came to pay respects to his son for his sacrifice // This book goes beyond what I expected, which was stories of bravery by John McCain and his family members who served for United States military. It also highlights stories of those who shape our country, like John Lewis - a timely read as he just passed away, alongside every day American's shaping the lives of their children, friends, and local communities. ★★★★
29. Wisdom From a Humble Jellyfish by Rani Shah - A quick and easy read, showcasing life lessons through the eyes of mother nature's creations that have self-care and self-preservation practices in their DNA. It also gives a lot of fun facts, should you ever find yourself at an animal themed trivia night. ★★★
30. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek - This book starts strong, focusing on the human aspects that make leaders great: empathy, compassion, and treating employees like family. Although, it segued a bit too much into the scientific aspects in the second half, explaining the difference between dopamine and cortisol and how it effects workers. I'd recommend the 1st half of the book, could do without the 2nd. ★★★
31. Ladies Who Punch by Ramin Setoodeh - I really liked watching The View in the first few years I moved away from home. I felt like I was sitting around the table listening to my family members go back and forth about current events. I found the book interesting as a View-viewer to learn the history of the show and it's co-hosts, but it wasn't amazing by any means. If you don't like the show, gossip magazines, or Rosie O'Donnell, you won't enjoy this book. ★★
32. Born A Crime by Trevor Noah - Trevor writes about his upbringing in South Africa; covering religion, relationships, and sparing no detail or joke when describing being brought up during Apartheid and being viewed differently by society than how he identified himself. A great book and an even better example of laughing through tough times. ★★★★
33. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - This 'listen' was at times tough to hear, describing war crimes and experiences that would break the average human. Following the life of Louie Zamperini through his famed running days and beyond his heroic survival of WWII in the Pacific, literally in the Pacific. I think it's as valuable as a textbook, anyone interested in WWII history should read, or listen as I did. ★★★★
34. My Life in France by Julia Child - A wonderful read for any Francophile. Although, in the challenging time of the US elections and the COVID-19 pandemic, I identified with Julia on more levels than just our love for France and food. She writes vividly about family tensions, office bureaucracy, and understanding the limits of some friendships. Highly recommend, just not when hungry. ★★★★★
35. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande - Nicole’s Recommendation // This book is challenging to read - if you are looking for a light nighttime read, this is not it. Expressing challenges and real-life examples of those terminally ill, elderly, and/or both; Atul takes a personal look at how the United States population views hard choices, hard times, and the difficult medical/life choices families have to make for themselves and their loved ones. ★★★★
36. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng - Nicole’s Recommendation // A rapid and riveting read. It left me on my toes till the end (with a few unanswered questions and hoping for a sequel). With multiple storylines that all intertwine, yet making complete sense - the book follows one main family, and a mother and daughter who come into their lives like a comet and leave almost as quickly. ★★★★
37. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Gizele's Recommendation // This was a great read, and a wonderful escape into old-Hollywood with all it's glamour, secrets and grime. Following a fictional Hollywood icon, Evelyn Hugo, she shares her life story and inside scoop of who her "true love" was. ★★★★
38. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead - A challenging read that is based on a true story, following the life of a handful of boys who were sent to a reform school by the state of Florida during the 1960s. I struggled to read the chapters with descriptive abuse scenes and others where the author unfortunately left you to interpret the silence. Beautifully written but heavy on the heart, not a nighttime read. ★★★
39. Setting the Table by Danny Meyer - I enjoyed this read so much, as Danny Meyer talks about his life and experiences as a budding restauranteur in New York City. All the professional highs, and personal lows - he writes personally to make it seem like you're reading an email from an old friend. Highly recommend. ★★★★★
40. Atomic Habits by James Clear - A quick and easy listen, covering strategies for creating best habits and breaking bad ones. From personal examples to medical studies, James did his research to be able to share how to be your best self. A great read when preparing 2021 new year's resolutions. ★★★★
41. Fortitude by Dan Crenshaw - Hillary's Recommendation // I will be honest, I didn't agree with everything in this book, but I did really enjoy it. As someone who grew up in a post 9/11 world (I was in 3rd grade in 2001), I always felt like soldiers were America's super hero's and learning about Dan's transition for soldier, to wounded veteran, to congressman was worth the read. ★★★
Here is my lesson from this year: Life is too short to read a bad book. I've stopped many books a few chapters in this year - going to my book graveyard so to speak. I found great pleasure in having the courage to say, "eh, not for me." Read what you like, challenge yourself, but don't read something you don't enjoy just for the sake of reading it to say you did.