Here is a running list of the books I had the pleasure of reading in 2020.
Sapiens
Yuval Noah Harari
Finished this around New Year’s. Was reading over the holidays, end of 2019.
Brain Rules for Baby
John Medina
In January, while Brittany was 9 months pregnant, getting close to delivery.
God
Reza Aslan
Same, while Brittany was 9 months pregnant.
Peter Pan
J.M. Barrie
9-months pregnant time frame.
Look Homeward, Angel
Thomas Wolfe
Leading up to Jude being born, then right after. Read this a lot during her first month while I was on Paternity leave.
The Minuteman
Greg Donahue
Leading up to Jude being born, then right after. Read this a lot during her first month.
The Happiest Baby on the Block
Harvey Karp, M.D.
On Paternity Leave. Leading up to Jude being born, then right after. Read this a lot during her first month. This book was a life saver.
Break Shot: My First 21 Years
James Taylor
Returing back to work. Reading this for entertainment.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
David Browne
Reading this for entertainment, midst of Coronavirus quarantine, Jude 1-2 months old, back to work.
Combat Medic
S.M. Boney IV
Right around Brittany’s 30th birthday, still in the midst of Coronavirus quarantine, Jude approaching 2 months old.
Caffeine
Michael Pollan
Still in Quarantine. Jude is between 2-3 months old. My work is really busy. Actually drinking the most coffee I’ve ever drunk in my life right now! Sleeping very little.
Farewell: The Greatest Spy Story of the Twentieth Century
Sergei Kostin & Eric Raynaud
Another quarantine book. I read it on Kindle. Included some hearsay and unsubstantiated claims but other than that it had some high points. Not my favorite book in terms of the quality of the storytelling but the story itself was interesting. Jude starting to smile, Robert out on Paternity leave. Trying to sleep a bit more, Jude is sleeping better. Knock on wood.
Blood and Money: The classic true story of murder, passion, and power
Thomas Thompson, 1976
While in quarantine still. Jude is almost 3 months old. Finished over the weekend Brittany and I got sick with coughs and fevers, tested negative for COVID-19. Book was entertaining, brought a story to life from 50 years ago. Learned a bit more about an interesting author in Thomas Thompson.
Blood Territory
Mark Whittaker
States are opening back up but we are still quarantining. Masks at grocery stores. Busy with work, Jude’s a growing girl!
The Immortal Irishman
Timothy Egan
One of my favorite books of the year! What a life for Thomas Meagher!
Life
Lu Yao
Really nice surprise. The author reminded me a bit of Hemingway in style. Revered in China, died too young. Excellent work of fiction. Interesting portrayal of the dynamic between rural and urban life in China towards the end of the 20th century. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Man’s Search for Meaning
Viktor E. Frankl
One of the most touching, emotionally difficult, intellectually challenging and enlightening books I’ve ever read.
4-Hour Workweek
Timothy Ferriss
This book was a very thoughtful gift from my wife. Thanks hunnie! Wow, this book was jam packed with amazing insights. I don’t know if a four hour work week is ever achievable for me, but this book is a masterclass on productivity hacks. Obviously, Ferriss is the godfather of modernist escape the 9-5 lifestyle design and it was neat to read the book that was the origin of some of these philosophies.
Never Lose a Customer Again
Joey Coleman
I wasn’t sure what to expect but pleasantly surprised with this book. He wrote it using the company Book in a Box. It was a good read, a lot of great examples.
Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson
Loved this book. This may make me sound silly, but what an incredible storyteller. His storytelling has such an enduring quality. Will be reading more Robert Louis Stevenson soon. Probably his blockbuster, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.
A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs
Ben Garrod
Really entertaining and fascinating. Spoiler – Birds are dinosaurs!
The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck
I think I’ve read a Steinbeck book every year for the past 4 years. I think that will be a thing I do from now on until I have read all his books. This was an interesting read especially in the context of the technological disruption of jobs happening right now. The dust bowl/depression era he wrote about was similarly caused, somewhat by improvements in farming technology. There were some parallels to what is happening now because of technology and COVID-19. However, this book makes you thankful for the era of social safety nets we live in now in the USA. A reminder that it wasn’t always like this and still isn’t for many people around the world.
The Outpost
Jake Tapper
This might be the most eye-opening book I’ve ever read. Military men and women and their families go through so much for this country. I lived through the war in Afghanistan as a teenager/college student and I was humbled at how much I didn’t know about the sacrifices of our soldiers. God bless them and their families. I’m honored to have read the story of these soldiers.
The Space Race
Colin Brake, Patrick Chapman, Richard Hollingham, Richard Kurti, Sue Nelson, Helen Quigley, Andrew Mark Sewell
Entertaining and educational! Wow, I learned so much about the history of the United States (and bits of the world) space program. This story got me excited about the upcoming Artemis missions! Finished this right around Thanksgiving 2020… COVID-19 is spiking and many people (including us) spent the holiday with just their immediate family. Wishing everyone safety and well being!
Herbie
Rich Cohen
Interesting story that was interestingly told.
The Billion Dollar Secret
Rafael Badziag
Good anecdotes. Nothing revolutionary revealed.