“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
Stephen King
One benefit of having many aspects of normal life turned on their heads in 2020 is this: I have had much more time to read. Between gaining back my hour commute, to having fewer plans on the weekends, I’ve been able to add substantial reading time to each day.
I went into the year with my standard reading goal, to read 52 books – one book per week – but I ended the year at 70, a function of tacking a few particularly wordy weeks onto my usual schedule. I’d guess I spent an average of one hour per day reading, which comes out to a little over five hours per book. That sounds about right given the handful that I knocked out in single sittings, in roughly that amount of time.
This year, I’ve been tracking what I read on this site. My Book List. Unfortunately, because I generally pick up a book only if it comes highly recommended, it would be impossible to give any sort of rank to these. There are just too many that were good, but not great. How would I distinguish?
Instead, I’ve decided to pick just five books, and focus on ones that changed my thinking in at least one critical way.
I’ve long since learned that recommending books to others is a fool’s errand, so this is not a guarantee that you will necessarily like each of these. It is, on the other hand, a sign that something in the book is worthwhile enough for it to make it in the top 10% of an already filtered list.
Let me know in the comments what you’ve enjoyed reading in 2020!
The Most Important Emotional Intelligence Book I Read
Daring Greatly – Brené Brown
Here’s my offer: If you read Daring Greatly, I’ll reimburse you for your copy. Try me. The book is that important to me. I’ve been waiting to re-read this one until the end of the year, so I can go into 2021 inspired to be as confident, vulnerable and self-supportive as possible.
We let other people dictate so much of how we act and how we feel about ourselves, and Brown calls it for what it is: bullsh*t. This book is valuable for anyone feeling nervous about dating, afraid to change careers, not masculine/feminine enough for society, and a whole host of other areas where all we need is the confidence to dare greatly.
A Book to Make Atheists Feel Something
Sum – David Eagelman
Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives is really a manifesto. It’s only 110 pages, but between its cover are forty theories for what happens to us when we die. In one, we relive our lives on Earth, but our time is categorized by activity (i.e. years of watching TV, a dozen consecutive hours of sneezing, etc…). In another, you remain in purgatory until the last memory of you on Earth fades, leaving celebrities and serial killers and inventors to toil forever in a sort of waiting area. Don’t worry, I didn’t spoil the best ones.
The writing is crisp. I imagine it would sound best in audiobook form, read by an old British historian. It will make you think. If you’re lucky enough to convince someone else to read it, the book will provide you with great conversation material. But best of all, it’s digestible – at only 110 pages, it’s roughly two and half pages per afterlife. Read one right before you go to bed and let your thoughts take it from there.
I Understand 50% of the Science, But Who Gives a Sh*t?
Why We Sleep – Matthew Walker
Books like Walker’s are dangerous, because they risk cracking our lives wide open. A lack of sleep can cause Alzheimer’s? Sleeping pills don’t really put you to sleep? Daylight savings can kill?
I read this book and then immediately listened to about six hours of podcast interviews between Walker and Peter Atia, a doctor who focuses on strategies to extend human life. Naturally, his interest in Walker’s research is significant.
We live in a society where sleep is woefully undervalued, and “productivity” overvalued. Why We Sleep will make you think twice about cutting your night short, because it lays out proof that not getting enough sleep tonight not only effects you tomorrow, but also later in life. “Catching up on sleep” is a phrase with no scientific backing.
It’s a fun and readable book as well.
I’d Write a Bestseller With 1/100th the Creativity
Exhalation – Ted Chiang
Exhalation is really hard to explain. I’d heard it described (and have described it myself) as “Black Mirror-esque,” and while that’s true, I think that’s only because the Netflix show is the only thing even remotely similar. Chiang’s short story collection, however, is not Black Mirror. It’s much better.
For one thing, it’s not clear what he’s saying about our society and our technology. The implications of his stories are not overt. What they are is vivid, enjoyable and extremely creative on their own, before you get to the surprise allegorical cream filling inside.
I have yet to read other people’s interpretations of his stories, because I’m not sure I want them tainted with too much analysis. They made me think, and that’s enough.
Too Many Quotes, Too Little Time
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living – Dale Carnegie
We are all more anxious, worried, self-conscious and fearful than we need to be. I won’t quote any numbers here but we all know it to be true. What’s less well known is that Dale Carnegie, back in 1948, wrote down everything we need to know in order to fix this problem.
Carnegie’s book reads as though a Mr. Rodgers type is walking next to you, cluing you in on a thousand little secrets. “By thinking the right thoughts, you can make any job less distasteful.” Why yes, Mr. Carnegie, it would appear you can!
This is self-help at its greatest. Effective advice on reframing the situations that cause us anxiety and fear that has stayed relevant for over 70 years.
Honorable Mention
War of Art, Steven Pressfield
– So much inspiration for creating anything.
The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss
– Is it any surprise I’d love my favorite podcaster’s signature book?
Barbarian Days, William Finnegan
– Epic travelogue, window into an entirely different way of living.
Conversations With Friends, Sally Rooney
– Absolutely tore through this in one night.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami
– As a runner and aspiring writer this was a beautiful read.