• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

ReachingSelf

Discover what's possible.

  • Blog
    • Productivity
    • Personal Development
    • Learning & Reading
  • Weekly Review
  • About

The Best Books I Read in 2020

January 4, 2021
The Best Books I Read in 2020

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links which means that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through the links and make a purchase.

1shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

In 2020 I read 85 books. It was my best reading year yet.

I 8X my reading from the previous year using the tips strategies from the article 15 Ways to Read a Lot More Books.

I mostly read books on psychology focused mainly on cognitive biases and learning how to think so you will find the majority of books on this list will teach you critical thinking and challenge your beliefs.

In this article I share the ten best books I read in 2020.

The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe: How to Know What’s Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake

I read multiple books on critical thinking and this is probably the best book on scientific skepticism and critical thinking I read. It was incredibly interesting and very accessible. The format was also very helpful and made going back to find information easy. I can’t recommend it enough.

I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works

I had already read the first edition the previous year, but decided to get a refresher with the new edition that came out. Ramit Sethi is one of my favorites. He’s unconventional and targets the psychology of personal finance instead of the tired advice given to cut out lattes. The book is funny and very actionable. I recommend to everyone wanting to take control of their finances.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

The story of Malcolm X is hands-down the most inspirational transformation story I’ve come across. He was a black man in the sixties sent to prison for burglary after living a life of crime. While in prison, he learned how to read and became a voracious reader. Soon after getting out of jail, he rose to become a powerful leader of the civil rights movement. If you read any autobiography, let it be this one.

Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error

The author Kathryn Schultz makes it clear in the beginning that this is not a self-help book. It takes an interesting and well-rounded dive into the idea of being wrong covering philosophy, psychology, and history. It taught me why we should be open to being wrong and practicing intellectual humility.

“Don’t You Know Who I Am?”: How to Stay Sane in an Era of Narcissism, Entitlement, and Incivility

Dr. Ramani is amazing! I highly recommend her YouTube videos to check out her content. This book kept me sane in 2020 and helped me understand narcissism on a deeper level. Dr. Ramani demonstrates how narcissistic people not only affect us on an interpersonal level in our close relationships, but it affects our world and society as a whole. She also shares how to deal with difficult and narcissistic people in all areas of our lives.

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman won a Nobel prize for his work on cognitive biases. It’s a long read and may be a bit dense at times, but it’s well worth the read. It shares interesting research and information on how we think and make decisions in our lives. 

Bad Science: Quack, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks

This book was an entertaining and fun read yet still informative. It teaches how to notice the difference between science and pseudoscience and touches on explaining why different types of pseudoscience are pseudoscience. 

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

After reading this book, I can easily call myself a Carl Sagan fan. This is the grandfather book on teaching critical thinking and scientific skepticism. This book instilled a sense of awe and wonder and awakened interest and curiosity in science. It should be required reading in schools.

You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 46 Other Ways You’re Deluding Yourself

It’s a bit outdated, but it’s an interesting and fun introduction to cognitive biases and the flaws of our psychology.

The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter — And How to Make the Most Out of Them Now

I recommend this book to anyone in their twenties and thirties. It’s written by a psychologist who specializes in people in their twenties and thirties. She shares the psychology of making the most out of your twenties to take control and direction in your life going forward.

Category: Books, Learning & Reading, ReachingSelfTag: books, Education, Personal Development, productivity, Psychology, Success, Work
Previous Post: « How to Set Goals in 2021 How to Set Yearly Goals: The Ultimate Goal Setting Guide for 2021
Next Post: The 4 Types of Mindsets That Will Transform Your Life The 4 Types of Mindsets to Transform Your Life »

Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a recovering procrastinator and perfectionist who’s also an avid reader and lifelong learner. I’m here to share what I learn to help you become more productive and reach your goals!

Latest Posts

  • How To Do A Quarterly Review: A Guide
  • 10 Ways To Increase Self-Discipline
  • Why Motivation Doesn’t Work and What To Do Instead
  • 15 Powerful Ways To Increase Motivation
  • 15 Things That Kill Productivity

Boost Your Productivity!

Click the button below to download the free Weekly Review worksheets.

Get access to the weekly review guide and receive regular updates for all things personal growth, productivity, and goal setting.

Become more productive!

Copyright © 2022 · ReachingSelf · All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Disclaimer · Contact

This website contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you click on a product link. This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.