Top Ten (Or So): Books Read in 2020

This was a weird year for everybody, and although I had way more free time than usual since COVID affected my job, I read fewer books than I ever have, at only 26.

I continued what I started last year, reading books that I've owned for ages and never read, and then discarding them if I didn't love them. I was less successful this year than last, though, because of reading fewer books in general, and because it was getting hard to find the audio book versions. Audiobooks are one of the few ways I can focus enough to finish books these days.

So without further ado, in sort-of approximate order from least to most favourite, are some of the best books I read in 2020:

Runners Up

The French cover for Martian Time-Slip.
I like the atmosphere it gives.

--Martian Time-Slip by Philip K. Dick. I didn't actually love this book that much, but the character's descent into uncertainty about reality was well done and quite evocative. It was also quite atmospheric, which I enjoyed. Normally I wouldn't add a book that I didn't really like, but the fact that the feelings from this book stayed with me, and I managed to remember them, says something, I think.

The man himself, Gabor Maté. I feel extra
proud of him because he lives in Vancouver,  
Canada, close to me.

--When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté. Some really fascinating ideas in this book, but I really don't know how accurate they are, or scientific. Health and human biology is not my area. I suspect science will discover more and more how much our mind and body are connected, but I have no idea if it's quite so connected. It did make me want to make sure I was as mentally strong and healthy as I could be, though. Rather inspiring.

--What Makes Love Last? by John M. Gottman. Really useful information here about how to keep a relationship healthy and alive. I wish it was more well known. It seemed, however, like much of it was not too applicable for my relationship, which is why it's not higher on the list.

--The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. I'd love to get this book for my kids one day. I feel like it would be a great book to learn about money as a teenager. I enjoyed it myself, but didn't learn a lot, since I've read quite a few financial books now.

Third Place: The Books That Gave Me Encouragement

--Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig. This was such a cozy, little book to read. The subject matter wasn't always pleasant, since it talks about his anxiety a lot. But sometimes slightly sad things can be super cozy, too. I also loved the cover and page design. I definitely want to read the other book by him, Reasons to Stay Alive.

--You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero. This book is definitely not for everybody, due to the slightly "woo" elements. But it gave me actual ideas and gave me the energy to start trying them, which is pretty huge for me.

Second Place: The Books That Gave Me Awesome Things to Try

--The Prosperous Heart by Julia Cameron. I really love books with exercises in them, and these exercises were really fun. I'm not sure if it actually directly made me feel or be more prosperous, though. Well, in the short term maybe, but Corona happened soon after, and it did not help things in that department. I do really want to do her more famous book now, though, called An Artist's Way. (I've actually tried to start before, but I couldn't manage to keep up the morning pages and artist dates. I think those will be very good for me, even if I don't do the book, though. So hopefully I can manage to start that up before too long.)

One of the best recipes from Yum & Yummer.
(I made this! And it was so good!)

--Yum & Yummer by Greta Podleski. This is one of those cookbooks that I actually read through every recipe, and thus count it as one of the books for the year. (I don't count most cookbooks because I skim through them looking for recipes that appeal to me.) The recipes from this book never astounded me (like some of the recipes from the cookbooks on 2018's list), but almost every single one I tried was really good, pretty cheap, pretty healthy, looked yummy. Every recipe ticked all the boxes, and what more can you ask for in a cookbook?

Another favourite recipe. Doesn't it look spectacular?

I'd also like to give a mention here to Cook Once, Eat All Week by Cassy Joy Garcia. I didn't actually read it cover to cover, thus why I haven't included it properly. But it's a fantastic book about meal prep, with some great recipes. It basically changed the way I meal plan, and was a definite plus for my life.

First Place: The Books That Gave Me Awesome Things to Think About

--Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki. I've been reading a lot of financial books recently and watching lots of Youtube videos on the topic. They usually all say pretty similar things. Very, very useful things, but once you've read a few, you know the gist. This one was a little different, and managed to give a different perspective. A perspective that it turned out I really needed, for balance. It gave me ideas, too, and actually made me excited about my financial future. I really appreciated this book.

--The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. This book said things that I'd read before, but it said it in such was that I was actually struck by it. It felt like it was a bit life-changing, although now that I write that out, I'm not sure I can think of any specifics... Maybe it's not quite as good as I thought, but I can't deny that I really enjoyed reading it.

A happy city

--Happy City by Charles Montgomery. I found this fascinating, and I want the mayors and leaders of all the cities to read it. Our happiness is improvable, and we already know many of the ways to do it. But convincing people is the hard part...

Honourary First Place: The Series I Didn't Technically Finish

--My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi. Usually I don't include manga series unless I finish them, but who knows how long it will be until this series is finished. And this is the year I fell in love with it. So here it is, as an honourary first. And first it definitely should be, because it's so awesome. I love all the characters so much--it's so rare that a series has this good of an ensemble cast. The world building is such fun, and some of the fight scenes are so brilliant. Plus it has Bakugou, who blasted his way up to one of my favourite characters of all time. (I even got a figurine of him, as embarrassing as that is, and it gives me inspiration to give my all.)

Bakugou Katsuki. He wins all the popularity polls for a reason.

P.S. See also the Top Ten (Or So) lists from previous years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.

Top Ten (Or So): Covers of Books Read in 2020

I only have four books on my top covers list this year! Four!! I mean, I could add more, but only four actually appealed to me enough to put on a list. I'm sure the lack of good covers is partly just because I've read less this year than I ever have, at only 26 books.

Anyway, but here we are, in approximate order from favourite to least favourite, my top ten (or so) of last year:

I found the cover for The Institute pretty striking, and was a big reason why I read it in the first place. It's so mysterious, and I love the colours. Who is that boy? What's he doing? Will the book be all weird and full of cool mysteries like it looks like?

Outer Order, Inner Calm is minimalist in subject matter and cover, and that happens to be a style I like, especially when blue is featured strongly. The yellow also makes me feel happy, so just just looking at this cover makes me feel like decluttering my house until it feels fresh and clean and happy and calm.

Martian Time-Slip has a pretty minimalist cover, too (although the subject matter of the book is not remotely minimalist). I think the use of light is beautiful, and wouldn't mind having this as a featured picture in my house.

As I say every year, I think, the feel and size of a book, combined with the cover, can make a big difference to my reading experience. I'm including Notes on a Nervous Planet, not because the cover itself struck me that much, but because the cover, the paper used, the small cozy size, and the content of the book all worked so well together. It was a lovely and cozy reading this book.

P.S. See also my previous lists: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.