Today I finished my 100th book for the year. I followed Tim Challies' 2020 Reading Challenge and fell 4 books short of the Obsessed Reader category. My goal for the past year was to cover 104 books, and only a minority could be audiobooks. I physically read 61 books and listened to 39 audiobooks. (I realize many people don't count audiobooks, but I count them because I'm picky about which audiobooks I choose. I can listen well to genres like fiction and biography. Besides, I spend quite a bit of alone time every day in the kitchen decorating cookies and in my car driving to my kids' school, so why not fill that time with some mental productivity?)
Here are my favorite books that I read in 2020:
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker - Who knew that sleep (or lack thereof) could be so interesting? I found this book absolutely fascinating. We have all heard that sleep is important, but Walker goes into great scientific detail to explain why it is so important and what happens when we do not take it seriously. He covers the effects of sleep on many areas of life, such as cognition, aging, diabetes, and hunger. I especially enjoyed the chapter on dreams. I will never view my "flagrantly psychotic" episodes that occur each and every night the same! While Walker attributes the functions of sleep to evolution, I can see the hands of God all over this incredible science.
Between Life and Death by Kathryn Butler - This book should be required reading for everyone. Butler is a Christian ICU physician who faces the suffering and death of her patients on a daily basis. She details the various end-of-life treatment options and gives pros and cons of each one. She emphasizes the importance of having a living will and discussing it with your loved ones since they will ultimately carry the burden of making those tough decisions if something tragic happens to you. It was encouraging to read a Christian perspective on end-of-life care.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi - In this poignant memoir, neurosurgeon Kalanithi discusses how he counsels patients and their families prior to brain surgery. His philosophy of life and death deepens as he himself is diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic lung cancer and becomes the patient rather than the doctor. This book is heavy and tackles tough questions about the meaning of life.
Knowing God by J.I. Packer - I have intended to read this theological masterpiece for years. Following Packer's death this year, I decided it would be the perfect time to pick it up. Each page is overflowing with deep theological truths that every Christian should know and love.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - What an incredible book of perseverance and hope! This riveting (and true!) story of survival during unimaginable circumstances in WWII left me in awe of Louis Zamporini's desire to live.
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard - I knew virtually nothing about President James A. Garfield before reading this book, but I was ready to vote for him after reading it! In today's political climate, it's hard to imagine such a humble leader. Millard's writing reads like a novel. The medical practices (and mistakes) surrounding the assassination attempt on the president were especially interesting. It was a timely read as one considers the parallels between Garfield's doctor and the medical leaders during this pandemic.
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown - I love to read anything that provides details about WWII. While this book is primarily about an eclectic group of college students who earn a coveted spot as a rowing team in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, I was particularly interested in how Adolf Hitler used the Games to fool the world about his future plans for Germany. Virtually everyone left the 1936 Olympics with a positive view of Hitler.
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson - This book filled in some gaps for me concerning Hitler's rise to power. Larson tells the stunning story of how William E. Dodd, the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Germany, warns the U.S. State Department of media censorship and increasingly violent attacks on Jews. His warnings fall on deaf ears, and no action is taken. Meanwhile, Dodd's daughter has multiple affairs with top Nazi officials. It is almost unbelievable how long it took for the rest of the world to notice Hitler's Germany.
The American Puritans by Dustin Benge and Nate Pickowicz - During Thanksgiving, I enjoyed reading about the Puritans who sought religious freedom in the New World. This book highlights nine individuals who made a great influence in church planting, missionary work, and government leadership. The sacrifices and perseverance of these men and women laid the groundwork for the freedom American Christians enjoy today.
The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer - I read this book because my husband and I were considering homeschooling our kids due to the pandemic. Even though we chose not to homeschool, this book revolutionized my approach to encouraging my children's education, most notably in my approach to reading with them and helping them pick books across multiple genres. Thanks to this book, I have read with and to my children more than ever. We have covered classics, biographies, history books, scientific books, and more. My second grader is an avid reader, and this varied approach to reading has greatly broadened her horizon.
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