My Favorite 2020 Nonfiction Reads

I admit nonfiction usually isn’t my go-to, hence why you won’t see quite as many books on this list than are on my previous two favorites lists (“My Favorite 2020 Fiction Reads” and “My Top 10 Favorite Reads from 2019”). Since I was a kid, I’ve leaned more towards fiction as a way to escape into fun adventures with characters who get to live lives vastly different from my own.

But I’ve always loved to learn and research, too. (I find it all too easy to go down the Google hole.) And yet it’s rare that I pick up a nonfiction book for fun; however, my reading tastes seemed to significantly change last year. If you read my last post about my favorite fiction reads from 2020, you would have seen that I started reading outside of my typical fiction genres of choice. Well, I also started reading a lot more nonfiction than I usually do, and I’m so glad I did. Even though I probably needed fiction in my life more than ever, I also realized I need to turn to sources other than the Internet on my path to understanding, especially about topics like race and faith. Here are the nonfiction books that helped me on that journey last year:

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a powerful memoir which highlights significant moments in Angelou’s childhood years. She and her brother, Bailey, were left to live with their devout Christian grandmother and disabled uncle in Arkansas after their parents’ divorce. Maya writes about her experiences helping out in her family’s store, succeeding in school, living with her mother in St. Louis when she was eight and again a few years later in California. Through her innocent child eyes, the reader sees her go through highs and lows in her young life. Those lows include heavy topics such as rape and racism, but the love of family and of books help her get through it all.

• The Second Eve: Understanding Biblical Equality by Bette Boersma

I was paid to write a review about this one for Online Book Club, but it was by far my favorite to read out of the books I’ve reviewed on that site. In this book, Boersma turns to Scripture and to scholarship to examine where women fit in the world of the Church, especially since so many churches don’t allow equal opportunities for men and women in ministry. The author ultimately argues that it is indeed possible to believe in both the Bible and Christian egalitarianism. You can find my full review here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=144610

• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Written as a letter to his son, Coates tells the story of his life, especially focusing on how racism and the concept he calls the Dream have impacted him and other Black people living in the United States. Of particular note is the murder of his friend, Prince Jones. This book had quite an impact on me. If you’re interested in knowing my thoughts about it, you can read my review on this blog.

• Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America by John Lewis

Across That Bridge is filled with wisdom for anyone seeking to make real lasting social change. While John Lewis looks back on his own life story, especially focusing on his, and partially Martin Luther King Jr.’s, journey in the Civil Rights Movement, he also inspires readers to look to the future. Through chapters centering on themes like faith, patience, love, and reconciliation, he shows us that there is a righteous path we can follow if we so choose, that things can get better. If ever there was a time we needed this book, it is now.

• Speaking of Faith: Why Religion Matters–And How to Talk About It by Krista Tippett

I admit that I’m generally hesitant about reading religious books other than the Bible, but this one was a breath of fresh air. Krista Tippett created and hosts a radio program called Speaking of Faith in which she discusses with her guests about faith and important ideas exploring the complexities of humanity. She draws from these conversations and from her own life experiences to create this book. Tippett has an evangelical Christian background, but she also turns to wisdom from other faith backgrounds. She serves as a great example of how we should all be willing to listen to what others have to offer so that we might master the art of conversation.

• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Written as a remix of Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning, this book is a condensed version of the original with a conversational and accessible voice. Reynolds assures the reader that this is no history book, but he does trace the history of racism, starting with “the first racist.” While racism is not an easy topic to read about, the humor makes the reading experience much more entertaining. If you choose to read Stamped, be prepared to rethink your understanding of history as you’ve been taught in school.

• Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

Along with Stephen King’s On Writing, Lamott’s Bird by Bird seems to be one  of the most recommended books for writers. I can see why. It’s filled with so much useful advice about how one should best approach and think about the craft of writing. Lamott draws from her personal experiences and from the experiences of her students as she effectively paints a picture of the writer’s life.

• Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind by Cynthia Grady

Write to Me is an illustrated children’s book depicting the relationship between a librarian and the Japanese American children who had visited her library before being sent to internment camps during World War II. The librarian, Clara Breed, had gifted the children with books and encouraged them to write to her. This book includes snippets from real letters the children sent to Miss Breed which both illustrate what their new lives look like and also express their joy of reading.