It’s that time of the year when people make New Year’s Resolutions they probably won’t keep. I’ve been guilty of that myself many times, but one time I actually kept my resolution.
In 1998 I made a resolution to read at least two books a month. I’ve kept that resolution for the last 23 years. In that time, I’ve read 966 books. A few of those I read more than once, but that’s still a lot of new reading! I figure that’s time better spent than watching television, especially the news these days.
Here is my top ten books for 2020 in no particular order:
- Forged in Crisis – Nancy Koehn – This book profiles the lives of five masters of crisis, leaders when leadership was needed most. The five individuals are Ernest Shackleton, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rachel Carson. If some of these names are unfamiliar, it’s time you got to know them better.
- Blackett’s War – Stephen Bodiansky – A great read about the submarine warfare during World War II under the leadership of British physicist, Patrick Blackett. He made have had more to do with winning the war than you know.
- The Nine – Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court – Jeffrey Toobin – A study of the Supreme Court over many years, with revealing insights to the men and women of the highest court in our land. Well worth your time.
- Googled – Ken Auletta - A fascinating read about the formation and growth of one of the largest companies in the world, which is having an increasing influence on our world today. Everyone should know about the inner workings of this information behemoth.
- Band of Brothers – Stephen Ambrose – I took this book off my shelf and read it again because it is a fascinating account of the men of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army that parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, beginning the battle that would eventually lead to the Allied victory over Nazi Germany. The fact that my father was one of those paratroopers is irrelevant to those who want a good read.
- Hillbilly Elegy – J. D. Vance – This insider account of the life of hillbillies in West Virginia is a terrific read because it gives great insights into a culture most of us will never understand. Vance is remarkable for his ability to rise above his circumstances and achieve success despite the handicaps of this backward society. His life is a testimony to what we can all achieve when we don’t make excuses for our situation, but instead strive to do better.
- Miracles – Eric Metaxas – Don’t believe in miracles? You’d better read this great review of miracles, past and present. Some day you may experience one, yourself!
- COVID: The Politics of Fear and the Power of Science – Marc Siegel – This book is remarkable simply because Dr. Siegel managed to get it published! I tried writing about the Covid pandemic and found my work censored by Amazon. Dr. Siegel gives an accurate account of the corona virus pandemic and the political misinformation that contributed to much confusion. Read it while it’s still available!
- The War on Cops – Heather MacDonald – The truth behind the many falsehoods being promoted by the media concerning police and racial tensions. She has the data that shatters the narrative that is promoted by Black Lives Matter and others who want to keep tensions high in our inner cities.
- A Practical Guide to Culture – Stonestreet & Kunkle – If you’re over 40, like me, you need this book to understand what’s happening in the younger generations.
You’ve probably noticed there are no fiction books listed. I love fiction books, especially thrillers, because they take my mind off the real world for at least a few hours. Here are a few good fiction books I’ve read in the last year; some new and some old:
- The Night Fire – Michael Connelly
- The New Girl – Daniel Silva
- The Warsaw Protocol – Steve Berry
- The Guardians – John Grisham
- The Forgotten – David Baldacci
- School Days – Robert Parker
- Beyond Recognition – Riley Pearson
- Fair Warning – Michael Connelly
- The Deserter – Nelson DeMille
- Rainbow Six – Tom Clancy
All of these authors can be relied on for good stories, told by the best of the best fiction writers. That’s it for this past year. Hope you enjoy these and let me know your favorites, too!
P. S. – You might try reading my new book, Changing Healthcare, which can be found by clicking on the link in the sidebar to your left!
