2020 might not have been a great year, but it WAS a great year for reading! And since I launched my own talk show where I talk to other writers, I had a great excuse to read a LOT… so much that I had to divide my Top 10 books of the year into two lists: this one for nonfiction (heavy on history & art, of course!) and another for fiction. Even with 20 books on the two lists combined, I STILL didn’t get to all the great books out there this year, but I hope this helps you find your next escape. Happy reading!
(If you order via the links below, this site will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! #amazonassociate — But if you prefer to order from your local indie, even better!)
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
Isabel Wilkerson’s 2011 The Warmth of Other Suns turned my POV on the history of race in this country upside down, and her latest, Caste, has done it again. This captivating read (be careful or you will highlight the ENTIRE text) delves into the caste system that controls the lives of every day Americans. “The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is about power—which groups have it and which do not.” If you read just one book over the next decade, read this one.
The Joy of Art by Carolyn Schlam
This one is NOT really for the art expert, but rather for people who WANT to connect to art, but don’t know how. And bonus, for me anyway: it’s written by a practicing artist (a painter & glass blower) who gives great insights into what’s really going on inside the artist’s studio. Plus, there are lots of beautiful photographs to help teach you how to look at art on your own.
The Three-Cornered War by Megan Kate Nelson
I’ve read a lot about the Civil War — and watched a lot of documentaries about it — but I’ll admit that before this book, I’d never thought about how the war impacted the West. This story completely changed my POV of that moment in American history — an impressive feat for such well-trod territory as the Civil War. PLUS, I was introduced to some utterly compelling figures from American history, including soldiers, nurses, frontiersmen, and a fearless Navajo weaver…
The Cabinet by Lindsay Chervinsky
This is another book that radically changed my view of American history, as I’d (embarrassingly) thought very little about the Presidential Cabinet before. But this year, I’ve worried and wondered more about who would sit on the cabinet than ever before, and Chervinsky’s book felt like REQUIRED reading to really understand the cabinet’s history and purpose. Plus, I also follow Dr. Chervinsky on Twitter to get her up-to-the-minute take on all of this political news. After reading her impressive book, I know I’m getting well-researched, well-thought opinions from her (which is always a gift these days).
Resistance by Tori Amos
Thanks to my work manning media for Chicago Humanities Festival, I get to watch a lot of great conversations with some brilliant people, and this year one of my favorite events was with Tori Amos. She discussed her book Resistance — part songwriter’s memoir, part political call-to-action — and I was so moved by the conversation, I immediately started reading it. Granted, I have a THING for music/musicians AND politics, so this was up my proverbial ally, but if you’re looking for an inspiring read about living a life of action and meaning, then you can’t go wrong here.
Black Futures edited by Kimberly Drew & Jenna Wortham
This is another Chicago Humanities Festival find, and in this year, when so much attention is finally being properly paid to facing centuries of racism, this book feels like the most timely and important book of the bunch. It’s an archive of contemporary Black creators—images, essays, poetry, recipes, tweets—answering the question of what it means to be Black and alive right now. This will be one of those books that I return to again and again, with always something new to uncover.
Being Lolita by Alisson Wood
This is a courageous and powerful memoir about a young woman coming-of-age while surviving an abusive relationship with her high school teacher. I’ll admit that because of my own personal history, I almost didn’t read this one, but I’m so glad I did… It’s heartfelt and dark at times, but also profoundly hopeful as Alisson learns the power of telling her OWN story and helps pass that power on to others. This one is PERFECT for young women and their moms trying to figure out how to navigate this world.
Warhol by Blake Gopnik
Okay, I may be biased here because I am obsessed with Andy Warhol — there’s something about his art, his strange personality, his fascination with fame — but this book was utterly riveting. Something about Warhol makes him UNGRASPABLE, but Gopnik gets as close as you can come to getting ahold of the man /object known as Andy Warhol. It’s complex, deeply contradictory, and impossible to put down, just like Warhol himself.
Champions Day by James Carter
This is by far my most SURPRISING favorite of the year, but I was so charmed by this book. It’s one of those stories that I didn’t know and didn’t know that I NEEDED to know until I read it, and now I can’t imagine that others don’t know about this fascinating moment of World War II. You’ll follow an odd and engrossing cast of characters through a single day of horse-racing, birthdays, and funerals in Old Shanghai on the verge of war… It’s told in such an engaging way, you almost forget it’s serious history.
Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin
Okay, this may not be your typical nonfiction “read,” but if you happen to be a writer working on your craft, I didn’t want this one to slip by you. I read a LOT of writing craft books, but I’ve recommended this one often this year because it’s so user friendly! A longtime editor, Martin doesn’t give one-sized-fits-all prescriptive advice. Instead, she fills her book with a bunch of questions to help guide YOU on your way to making your manuscript the best it can be. Happy writing everyone!