Somewhere in the middle of 2019, a year that was a constant swirl of busyness and resistance, I made the choice to consistently slow down and do what I could to take care of myself. Part of this slowdown effort included reading more, and by the close of last year, I’d accomplished just that.
I read some incredible nonfiction books that helped inform me about topics like how to create better habits and how to become more productive (a deeper dive into my favorite productivity books is coming to the blog the last week of January, so keep an eye out for that!). A particular favorite narrative nonfiction book was Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. In it, Lisa details the lives of three women in stunning detail—their careers, their relationships, and everything in between. It’s an amazing look into human nature that we can all find pieces of ourselves in, and I’d wholeheartedly recommend it.
I recently asked W&D readers what their favorite books of 2019 were and the recommendations were incredible. I decided to make a spreadsheet of ALL of your recommendations, alongside the books I read in 2019 and those I plan to read in 2020, with the intent to update and add new books throughout the year ahead. I also created a downloadable reading list template where you can keep track of the books you’re planning to read in 2020.
There are currently 158 books in the spreadsheet (with more to come!)—it’s a comprehensive look at what we’ve been reading in the past year and what we will be reading in the year ahead. If you have any additional suggestions for books you’d recommend, please add them in the comments below!
One of my hopes for 2020 is that we can all spend a bit more time getting lost in the wonder of reading and the pages of our favorite books. Visit your local bookseller, fire up your Amazon account, or head to your nearest library, and let’s make 2020 the year we prioritize reading in our lives.
To view Wit & Delight’s list of book recommendations, click here.
To download a free 2020 reading list template (pictured below), click here.
Happy reading!
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
BY Kate Arends - January 9, 2020
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Thank you for being here. For being open to enjoying life’s simple pleasures and looking inward to understand yourself, your neighbors, and your fellow humans! I’m looking forward to chatting with you.
Hi, I'm Kate. Welcome to my happy place.
Oooh so excited to have access to this list, thank you for compiling! Eager to get reading.
I feel compelled to add Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a necessary read for everyone alive in this era. Already googled the summary for you 😉
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. With deep compassion and graceful prose, botanist and professor of plant ecology Kimmerer (Gathering Moss) encourages readers to consider the ways that our lives and language weave through the natural world.
So glad you’re excited to read some of these books, Andrea! And thank you for the recommendation! We’ll be sure to add this one in when we next update the list.
Not to make more work for anyone but it would be awesome if Wit&Delight made a group on the Goodreads app! It’s a lifesaver for keeping tabs on what I want to read.
Thanks for the suggestion, Brittany! This is a great idea—we’re definitely going to look into it!
I really like your site and the ideas that you share with people are very inspiring. Maybe you would not like to create and share your different lists on the site – https://listmaker.com/, so that more people could see and discuss?
Thank you