Since it’s somehow already December and the year is coming to a close, I wanted to recap an exciting part of 2020 for me: BOOKS.
If you’ve been following along with me for the past 3-4 years, you’ll know that I’ve never been much of a reader. I found it boring and would rather spend my time doing anything else. Once I started setting book goals for myself for the year—like “always be working on a book to read” or “read 1 book per month”—that changed the game.
Fast forward to this year, I’ve read more books in 2020 than I have in probably my entire life combined (excluding school). This was possible because: 1. I committed to a goal, 2. I embraced audiobooks (via the library), and 3. I made it a solid part of my daily routine.
I made it one of my goals for 2020 to read 12 books, knowing I’d surpass it but not caring to challenge myself beyond that. Well I never could have imagined I would read as many books as I did… 36, to be exact (which should be 38 soon). WHO AM I?!
Here’s a weirdly random stack of books that I read (others were returned to the library or were in ebook or audiobook form).
In addition to feeling a sort of momentum as I finish books, I’m really into the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing them—not to mention opening up a whole new world of reflection and learning. It’s wild.
ANYWHO, I’m going to share all the books I’ve read this year, but I’m going to start off with my favorites—all of which I would not hesitate to read again.
Top 5 Favorite Books I Read in 2020
- The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan (my favorite memoir; I love her down-to-earth attitude, strong work ethic, and general spirit)
- Becoming by Michelle Obama (close second for favorite memoir; Michelle Obama is the most amazing and inspiring human being)
- Between the World & Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (favorite book on race; this was extremely touching and taught me a lot)
- The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman (favorite fiction; witches are my guilty pleasure)
- Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell (the audiobook of this is insanely well done; this left me uncomfortable at times but was very interesting)
Honorable Mentions:
- Find Your Path by Carrie Underwood (favorite fitness book; this inspired my 52 Cards to Fit workout)
- Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West (this was really eye opening for me and I appreciated her perspective)
- Gracefully You: How to Live Your Best Life Every Day by Jenna Dewan (this feels silly to put on a list with such well-researched and important books, but I’m a sucker for memoirs, and I really enjoyed the vibes of this quick read)
Now, for anyone who wants to see all my book choices from the past year, I compiled the full list below.
The Full List of Books I Read in 2020
- I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
- The Good Fight: Wanting to Leave, Choosing to Stay, and the Powerful Practice for Loving Faithfully by Jana Kramer, Mike Caussin
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell
- Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
- The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
- The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman
- Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
- The Wellness Remodel: A Guide to Rebooting How You Eat, Move, and Feed Your Soul by Christina Anstead
- Yes Please by Amy Poehler
- I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
- Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Educated by Tara Westover
- Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life. by Robin S. Sharma
- Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, Michael Eric Dyson
- The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm by Hilarie Burton Morgan
- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
- The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals by Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin
- Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves by Emily Henderson
- Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
- An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz
- Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life
- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
- Pretty Happy: Healthy Ways to Love Your Body by Kate Hudson
- The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman
- Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West
- The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
- Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
- Gracefully You: How to Live Your Best Life Every Day by Jenna Dewan
The order of that list starts with the books I’ve read most recently, then ends with how I started my year. I would happily only read memoirs, but I try to incorporate classics, books that will teach me things, and popular ones that intrigue me.
If you want to learn more about my reading journey, you could check out How & Why to Keep a Book Journal, 5 Tips for Making Yourself Read More, and What I Learned from Adopting an Early Morning Routine.
Are you much of a reader? Or do you struggle with staying interested?
What are some of your favorite books that you’ve read this year?
