The Books That Made Me: 2020 Edition
How I Read 54 Books Last Year*
* Just barely.
I love to read, but 2020 was a TOUGH year. I say “just barely” because I wasn’t able to read a single book much of the year. From April to August, I couldn’t get through a single book. I was burned out, the pandemic was only recently in full swing, and my business was up and down and up and down.
At the same time, I was working long hours for a very tough client. One that required 30 hours of video training in March when I was already working 50 hour weeks.
Which is why it’s taken me so long to write this blog post. Normally, my “what I read” post is the first thing I do in January. But last year was difficult, and in many ways I’d like to just move on.
Reading for pleasure is one of my favorite things in the world, but I just couldn’t do it for a third of the year. I was tired, depressed, and trying to manage extreme social isolation.
I’m going to make this post short because I want to focus on the future (and just get this damn post done – it’s been on my mind for months!). If you’d like to learn how to read more, I encourage you to check out my 2019 and 2018 reading lists that include tips and tricks to read more.
Reading can change your life – but only if you enjoy it.
Top 3 Business Books
5x Your Sales - Todd Brown
Digital Minimalism - Cal Newport
Steal Like an Artist - Austin Kleon
Top 3 Fiction Books
The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon
The Dragon Republic - R.F. Kuang
City of Stairs - Robert Jackson Bennett
[edit, Oct. 19, 2022] I’ve only just realized that I read The Monster Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson this year. As a Goodreads aficionado, I sometimes find dangling books that were completed without a date. Today, I found one, used my epic math skills (addition and subtraction) and my research superpower (control-F) to determine I read this in 2019.
tl;dr Baru Cormorant needs to be on this list, but I can’t boot any of my other top 3s.
Without further adieu, here’s the full list:
One Million Followers - Brendan Kane
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything - (Dungeons & Dragons)
Exploring Eberron - Keith Baker (D&D)
5x Your Sales - Todd Brown
Jingo - Terry Pratchett
The Fifth Elephant - Terry Pratchett
Hyperion - Dan Simmons
Practical Magic - Alice Hoffman
Carpe Jugulum - Terry Pratchett
Pyramids - Terry Pratchett
Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
Eric - Terry Pratchett
Lords and Ladies - Terry Pratchett
A Matter of Oaths - Helen S. Wright
Feet of Clay - Terry Pratchett
A Study in Honor - Claire O’Dell
The Disasters - M.K. England
Men at Arms - Terry Pratchett
Interesting Times - Terry Pratchett
Poison or Protect - Gail Carriger
The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn’t - Gail Carriger
Manners & Mutiny - Gail Carriger
Waistcoats & Weapons - Gail Carriger
Curtsies & Conspiracies - Gail Carriger
Etiquette & Espionage - Gail Carriger
The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett
The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett
Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett
Witches Abroad - Terry Pratchett
Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett
Reaper Man - Terry Pratchett
Digital Minimalism - Cal Newport
Stardust - Neil Gaiman
Gideon the Ninth - Tamsyn Muir
The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzi Lee
City of Stairs - Robert Jackson Bennett
Competence - Gail Carriger
Reticence - Gail Carriger
Imprudence - Gail Carriger
Perdido Street Station - China Miéville
How Long ‘Til Black Future Month - N.K. Jemisin
Steal Like an Artist - Austin Kleon
Prudence - Gail Carriger
Foundryside - Robert Jackson Bennett
The Dragon Republic - R.F. Kuang
Hogfather - Terry Pratchett
Eyes of the Lich Queen - (D&D)
Icewind Dale - (D&D)
Mythic Odysseys of Theros - (D&D)
Explorer's Guide to Wildemount - (D&D)
Acquisitions Incorporated - (D&D)
The Curse of Strand - (D&D)
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson