20 Good Books I Read in 2020

      It’s no secret – I’m a man of lists. I love making lists, whether shopping lists, to-do lists, book lists, running and biking lists, hiking lists, blood pressure and heartrate lists, and even list lists. I agree with the sentiments of Sheldon Cooper, from The Big Bang, who once said, “If there were a list of things that make me more comfortable, lists would be at the top of that list.”

      Way back in 1986 I followed the advice of motivational speaker Jim Rohn and started keeping a list of books I’d read. It wasn’t a hard decision. I love to read, and my reading habit precedes my list-making habit by decades.

      I don’t expect everyone to love reading as much as I do, or like the same books I like, but I know all of us would be better people if we read a book or two every year. And so, here are some suggestions. These are listed in the order I read them; I didn’t try to rank them by importance or enjoyment … that’s a paralyzing and pointless exercise. However, if you’re interested, give me your email address and I’ll send you my entire Excel reading list for 2020. In fact, I’ll send you my complete list going back to 1986 if you want, but it isn’t a quick glance. And send me your own list. I’m always searching for ideas.

      I read non-fiction almost exclusively. But my audio books are almost all fiction, and most likely spy thrillers and the like.

      This is my list of 20 Good Books I Read in 2020, the books that turned out to be the most meaningful for me over the past twelve months. Reviewing my spreadsheet to find these twenty books helps me remember God’s providence throughout the year. What was it I thought I needed to hear or to learn, or to remember, that caused me to choose that book? Sometimes these lists give me a clue.

      Should you choose to read one of these books, I’d love to hear from you. I enjoy hearing different takes on books that made my year better.

1.     A Dog in a Hat: An American Bike Racer's Story of Mud, Drugs, Blood, Betrayal, and Beauty in Belgium, by Joe Parkin … The story of a young amateur bike racer who went to Belgium and became a pro cyclist.

2.     The Liar's Club: A Memoir, by Mary Karr … an excellent memoir.

3.     The Library Book, by Susan Orleans … about the Los Angeles Public Library and the fire in 1986.

4.     Panzer Commander, by Hans Von Luck … a memoir from a German tank commander during World War II

5.     Break Point: My First 21 Years, by James Taylor … an excellent memoir from one of America’s best song writers and singers.

6.     Unquestioned Answers: Rethinking Ten Christian Clichés to Rediscover Biblical Truths, by Jeff Myers … An appeal to go deeper, leaving behind the trite Christian clichés that keep our faith shallow.

7.     Time is Tight: My Life, Note by Note, by Booker T. Jones … from the leader of Booker T and the MGs, who played with almost every legendary musician of our lifetime

8.     A History of Character: The Story of Midland, Texas, by Jimmy Patterson … Sixty short biographical sketches of Midland, Texas pioneers, leaders, and volunteers.

9.     Bears Don't Care About Your Problems: More Funny Shit in the Woods from Semi-Rad.com, by Brendan Leonard … clever and witty stories about outdoor adventures

10.  Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, by David Epstein … the advantage of being a generalist rather than a specialist

11.  Eye of the Needle, by Ken Follett … a novel about a German spy during World War II who discovered the secret of the invasion, and the race to catch him.

12.  The Upside of Stress : Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It, by Kelly McGonical … I read this book after hearing her speak on a TED talk.

13.  Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It, by Adam Savage … a how-to book for creativity and problem solving and living life

14.  Creativity. Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration, by Ed Catmull … about creativity, movie making, and storytelling from the CEO and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios

15.  1968: The Year That Rocked the World, by Mark Kurlanski … a walk through the year 1968, and how it changed the world. This was a great reminder for me of the events I heard about, even in Kermit, Texas.

16.  Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny Stuff, by Calvin Trillin … more funny essays from the writer who has influenced me more than any other

17.  Classic Krakaur: Essays on Wilderness and Risk, by John Krakaur … ten essays about great adventures and adventurers

18.  Save Room for Pie: Food Songs and Chewy Ruminations, by Roy Blount … funny stories, poems, and essays about food and eating

19.  Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It, by Bob Goff … the author’s mission to help people recapture dreams and follow the path God has for them.

20.  The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, by John LeCarre … a classic cold war spy thriller from the master. (Pro tip: LeCarre’s books are better experienced from audio than paper – something about having a British reader immerses you into the story.)

“I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32