The first half of 2020 has come and gone, and it was certainly a half-year to remember. Common themes of the first half include Covid-19, the economy, Black Lives Matter, and the US Election.
My reading reflected some of these themes. Okay, so I didn’t read scientific journals about the Coronavirus. I wouldn’t have understood them if I had. Still, I read a lot of timely books. Overall my reading pace slowed to 44 books in the first six months, probably because of not commuting (thus fewer audiobooks).
Here are a few of my favorites so far. These books are relevant to the conversations and issues of the day, well written, and informative.
Understanding racism (and doing something about it) is an important conversation. A bestseller for good reasons, I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown is the kind of book white guys like me need to read. It made me uncomfortable, sad, hopeful, and even laugh out loud at times. Basically all the things a book needs to be memorable and powerful. A must read.
If you are wanting to better understand issues around immigration, check out A Good Provider is One Who Leaves by Jason DeParle. The author tracks the lives of one family from the Philippines as they disperse across the globe in search of meaningful work and a better future. It’s a good blend of micro-study (the one family) and macro-study (the full immigration picture).
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson might not be a timely topic — it tells the story of Winston Churchill during the Blitz. But reading about a historical figure at a time when we are weighing the value of statues and memorials of other historical figures is helpful. At least it was for me.
We all knew political dialogue was going to be ugly this year because it is an election year. And politicians have perfected the process of feeding our outrage. Peter Wehner is a voice I appreciate, and his book The Death of Politics is well worth reading. Trump supporters might not like it, but there is no denying his conservative credentials. Progressives might not like it, but there is no denying his disdain for this current administration.
As the election noise grows louder we will hear a lot about globalism. We might not hear that word precisely, but we will hear debates around trade, international engagements, democracy, China, the World Health Organization, the European Union, etc. Two books worth reading to make sense of all this are Trade is Not a Four Letter Word by Fred Hochberg and The World by Richard Haass. If you want to be informed about how our world operates, these are helpful books.
If you are looking for spiritual strength, and assuming you have an open mind about different faith traditions, you’ll enjoy The Hope of Glory by Jon Meacham. I was unaware Meacham is a Christian so this book caught me by surprise. My kindle version is decorated in yellow highlights.
So let’s say the news is depressing and gives you a terrible dose of anxiety. You just want to escape it all. Rachel Joyce has written the perfect book: The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy is simply brilliant. A follow up to the wonderful book The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, this is the same story but told from the woman’s perspective. You will love it.
There you go — my list of books worth reading. Let me know what you think, and by all means give me your suggestions!