2020 was a difficult year for all of us, and while the positives of a nationwide lockdown are very few and very far in between, one of the things we were thankful for was the opportunity to read many of the books we had in our backlog.
Although it was one of the worst year of our lives so far, 2020 gave us a whole bunch of best-selling books that were poignant, fun, and engaging. Here are some of the best books of 2020 that you can find off of Amazon:
- A Promised Land by Barack Obama
- Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Dangerous ManbyMary L. Trump, Ph.D
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir by John Bolton
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
As one of the most iconic leaders of the 21st century, Barack Obama managed to navigate the United States through one of its worst recessions, conduct a pullout of American forces in the Middle East, and deal with a Republican congress, all while maintaining one of the highest approval ratings in American Presidential history as the first African-American president.
In this presidential memoir, Obama tells his story of overcoming the odds as a young African-American in the ‘70s, searching for his identity, and eventually becoming the leader of the free world. It’s honestly one of the most stirring reads in recent history, one that is full of poignant insights, striking personal detail, and of course, Obama’s trademark charm.
Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Dangerous ManbyMary L. Trump, Ph.D
As a scion of the now-infamous Trump family, Mary Trump could have gone over to the dark side and followed in her family’s footsteps; instead, she decided to pursue higher knowledge, eventually earning a Ph.D in psychology. In this tell-all memoir, Mary Trump talks about her upbringing in the Trump matriarch’s household and what it was like growing up with her uncle, Donald Trump.
A string of trauma, abuse, neglect, and destructive relationships paint a sordid picture of what young Donald Trump’s upbringing was like, offering people a glimpse of the dangerous man who will one day ascend to the highest office in the land.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
A wonderful and heartbreaking tale of murder, coming-of-age, and the natural world. Where the Crawdads Sing tells the story of a young girl who is suspected of murder, and the two boys who seek her out for her mysterious charm. Delia Owens manages to craft a tale about the wonder of childhood, the innocence we all once held, and how our lives are impacted by the often terrifying yet beautiful aspects of the natural world.
Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer
Love it or hate it, the Twilight franchise is, perhaps, one of the most defining media series of the 21st century, and in Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyers revisits her world of vampires and werewolves, only this time, telling the story through the eyes of the immortal Edward Cullen.
In Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer transports us back to a world that has captivated millions of readers and brings us an epic novel about the profound pleasures and devastating consequences of immortal love.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Glennon Doyle is widely considered as one of the best speakers and authors regarding female empowerment, and in her riveting memoir Untamed, Doyle talks about a transformative experience that uproots and challenges everything she’s held dear.
Simultaneously somber and hilarious, gentle yet decisive, Untamed is more than just a story of one woman’s awakening from an unhappy marriage: it’s a story of one person’s realizations of what it is to be a mother, a partner, and a woman, and how each of these elements, capricious as they are, must all come together to navigate raising a family.
Untamed teaches us about boundaries, about being at peace with our physical selves, that anger and heartbreak are not only natural but essential, and how to un-tame ourselves to finally become the woman we’ve always yearned to become.
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Despite claims that we now live in a ‘post-racial’ society, the truth of the matter is: racism, specifically by white people against BIPOC, is still a living, breathing reality. In the book White Fragility, antiracist educator and activist Robin DiAngelo talks about the struggle other white people feel when discussing sensitive issues regarding race and racism.
Robin DiAngelo reminds fellow white people that racism isn’t just something ‘bad’ people do; it’s an innate idea cultivated by centuries of toxic mindsets, both in white people and in people of color. However, this doesn’t mean that all white people are bad: on the contrary, Robin DiAngelo makes the case that, by overcoming behaviors of white fragility such anger, fear, and guilt, white people can engage in cross-racial dialogue that is both meaningful and constructive.
The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir by John Bolton
John Bolton spent 453 days as President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor, and in that time, Bolton says, the story of an unhinged man hell-bent on retaining power unfolded before him. In The Room Where it Happened, Bolton cerates a hauntingly detailed account of the Trump presidency, from Trump’s seemingly lackadaisical pronouncements on social media, to often tense and terrifying showdowns between the President and his advisors.
As one of the few top-ranking officials to come out with a memoir detailing both displeasure and disgust at President Trump, The Room Where It Happened is a timely piece that can serve as a warning for future generations about voting into power demagogues and tyrants, and how the latter can leverage democratic institutions for un-democratic ends.
As President Trump’s National Security Advisor, John Bolton spent many of his 453 days in the room where it happened, and the facts speak for themselves.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Not content with simply being some kind of trophy wife beside her husband, Michelle Obama decided to turn the role of ‘First Lady’ into an active role that is befitting the women who have come before her. As First Lady of the United States of America (and the first African-American to do so), Michelle Obama transformed the White House into a welcoming and inclusive space, encouraged health and wellness, all while becoming one of the most powerful and influential advocates for women and girls across America.
In Becoming, Michelle Obama talks about what it was like to stand by her husband during the country’s most challenging moments, and offered people a glimpse at the humble, down-to-earth family that Barack and Michelle have raised. A stark contrast to the leader that followed.
