Top 10 Favorite Books of 2020

Summary:

2020 was a crazy year. Fortunately, I was able to find solace in books. I finished a total of 55 books, surpassing my previous reading highs of:

This was also the first year I completed the 52 book challenge (the challenge is flawed and the 25 x 250 challenge is better for readers but that’s a story for another time).

I read a lot of great books this year in a wide range of genres. But a handful of them were truly amazing and had a big impact on my life. Here they are (in no particular order):


10) “The Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel

This is one of the best books on investing that I’ve read. It’s filled with 19 short stories that will teach you the psychology behind why people spend, save, and invest differently.

Morgan is a fantastic writer who knows how to entertain readers while conveying deeper lessons about personal finance. A few lessons you’ll learn: the difference between rich and wealthy, why freedom is the highest form of wealth, why the lowest-income households buy the most lotto tickets, why half of your investments can go wrong and you can still make a fortune, and so much more.

If you’re looking for a book that will help you understand why people make certain financial decisions and how you can increase your chances of becoming wealthy, read this book.


9) “Ultralearning” by Scott Young

In today’s knowledge economy, having a college degree is becoming less and less valuable while being skilled is becoming more and more valuable. And if you want to accomplish more and stand apart from everyone else, you need to become an ultralearner.

Author Scott Young shares new training methods and research about the most effective learning methods to teach readers how to master any skill faster. Young documents the methods he and others have used to acquire new skills such as earning a degree from MIT in 12 months or learning 4 languages in a year.

If you want an actionable book that will teach you how to learn faster and more effectively, pick up a copy today.

8) "The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg & John David Mann

You’ve heard of the term Go-Getter but have you heard of the Go-Giver?

The Go-Giver tells the story of an ambitious young man who yearns for success. He turns to a legendary consultant who mentors him and teaches him the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success:

  • 1) The Law of Value

    • Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.

  • 2) The Law of Compensation

    • Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.

  • 3) The Law of Influence

    • Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first.

  • 4) The Law of Authenticity

    • The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.

  • 5) The Law of Receptivity

    • The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

This business fable is a fantastic read (I finished it in just a few hours). Many of the business lessons can also be applied to your personal life. If you liked The Alchemist or The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, you’ll like this book.

7) “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon

This book is an inspiring guide to creativity that helps readers discover and free their artistic side. Stealing can have a negative connotation, but Kleon teaches readers that there is an ethical way to steal (study the work of the greats, remix their work, and build what they didn’t).

There’s a lot of pressure to be original, but this book will show you that originality is overrated. The greatest of the greats all “stole” work. It’s okay to do the same, as long as it’s done properly.

In total, Kleon provides 10 short lessons that each present a different principle for developing creativity. The book is both artistic and pragmatic, which makes it an enjoyable read.

Here are a few key lessons from the book:

  • Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started.

  • Write the book you want to read.

  • The secret: do good work and share it with people.

  • Be boring. (It’s the only way to get work done.)

If you’re facing a creative block or are afraid to start your creative journey, grab a copy of this book.


6) “How To Read A Book” by Mortimer Alder & Charles Van Doren

We take reading for granted. Most people believe that reading is something you learn in elementary school and that’s all there is to it. Authors Mortimer Alder and Charles Van Doren disagree. They showed the world that reading was a skill and that people could learn different techniques and strategies to become better readers.

For instance, you’ll learn how to x-ray a book, properly critique a book, and the four levels of reading: elementary, inspectional, analytical, and syntopical, along with many more reading tips.

I hope to one day write a sequel to this book and share all the reading tips I’ve learned throughout my reading journey and interaction with thousands of readers.


5) "Tiny Habits” by BJ Fogg

BJ Fogg, has studied behavior for over 20 years and founded the behavior design lab at Stanford. Reading his book is like getting a PhD in habits–it’s the most detailed and practical habit book I’ve read.

If you want to learn a simple, scientifically sound, and reliable way to build new habits, sustain them, and start to make other positive changes in your life, you need to read Fogg’s book. Since he’s both a professor and researcher, he’s able to convey the science behind behavior without making it feel like you’re reading a textbook.

Even if you read a lot of other habit books, this book is filled with original lessons. For instance, the Fogg Behavior Model will teach you how motivation, ability, and prompts play a role in every single behavior you do. You’ll also learn about the importance of celebrating your success after accomplishing a habit, why emotions, not repetition wire habits, the role of identity in building habits, and much more.

If you enjoyed reading The Power of Habit or Atomic Habits, you’ll love this book.


4) “Nobody Wants To Read Your Sh*t” by Steven Pressfield

If you’re a writer, this book is a must-read.

Pressfield has experience in every area of writing (advertising, fiction, self-help, screenplays, and more) and in this book he shares countless of valuable lessons he’s learned from over four decades as a writer.

Here are a few tips I picked up from the book:

  • Streamline your message: Trim it down to the simplest, clearest, and easiest-to-understand form.

  • Understand that no one wants to read your writing unless it’s valuable and the readers feels they’re gaining something from the transaction.

  • Start at the end of the story, then write the climax, and then the beginning.

  • What idea should you write about? The one that scares you the most.

  • Think in multiple drafts: You can’t fix everything in one draft and thinking in multiple drafts helps take the pressure off.

If you enjoyed The War of Art or are looking for a writing book that’s both entertaining and educating, grab a copy today.


3) “Limitless” by Jim Kwik

Our brain is one of the most complex tools in the world and no one really tells us how to use it, until now.

Jim Kwik is a brain coach and has written the owner’s manual for mental expansion and brain fitness. In his book, Kwik reveals science-based practices and field-tested tips to improve your memory, focus, and reading ability.

A few lessons from the book:

  • Healthy brain foods: Avocados, blueberries, broccoli, eggs, green leafy vegetables, salmon, and walnuts.

  • Sleep is crucial for brain health: It helps remove neurotoxins and distribute components that enhance cellular repairs.

  • IQ may be fixed but intelligence levels aren’t. If you’re constantly learning, you can get smarter.

  • If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them.

In the book, Kwik also dispels common brain myths, teaches readers how to study better, and provides strategies to become a speed reader (stay tuned for an article about it). If you want to be a better learner then this is a great book to read.

 

2) “Indistractable” by Nir Eyal

This is a book EVERYONE should read. Why? Because we all experience distraction and can benefit from learning how to deal with them.

Nir explains the psychology behind what causes distractions and shares a ton of practical steps on how to manage it. He also teaches readers how to hack back meetings, smartphones, group chats, and emails.

If you enjoy want to learn how to better use technology and stop spending so much time on your devices, you’ll love this book.

1) “The Almanack of Naval Ravikant” by Eric Jorgenson

This book is a compilation of all of the best advice from entrepreneur, investor, & philosopher Naval Ravikant.

Naval shares tips on how to get rich without getting lucky, why you need to own equity to become wealthy, how to happier, helpful life advice, and much more. If you want to become healthier, wealthier, or wiser, read this book.

If you follow Naval on Twitter or enjoyed reading Poor Charlie’s Almanack or Poor Richard’s Almanack, you’ll love this book.

My 10 favorite books of 2020.

My 10 favorite books of 2020.