My Favourite Books of 2020

In no particular order, here are the books that have stayed with me from 2020.

… that is the question … Over the course of an extraordinary year, I found myself turning to Cleo’s words time and again. Her deceptively simple poems have a way a cutting right to the core of what is truly important.

On the surface, this is a travel or natural history book – but Matthiessen’s search for the elusive snow leopard revealed far more than I expected … mainly about myself.

Extraordinary storytelling, perfect for the times when I wanted to lose myself in another world. [Which happened rather frequently in 2020!]

We are living in a seemingly increasingly polarised world [hint: it’s never black and white] – this book helped me understand why, and – more importantly – how to build bridges.

Not the easiest read on the list – but definitely worth it. We’re not always the reasoned, rational thinkers we believe ourselves to be, and this book helps explain why.

Exquisitely written, and packed full of practical advice for improving as a writer.

A rollicking adventure story, featuring perhaps the most casually violent hero I’ve ever come across. There’s a lot of blood and gore in this one – but Willocks’ characters are what I remember best.

A surprisingly honest account of challenge-obsessed Humphreys’ journey to redefine ‘adventure’, and discover what he really cares about.

Syed explains the power and importance of exposing ourselves to diverse thinking in all aspects of our lives.

Novogratz is CEO of Acumen, an extraordinary company who are changing the way the world tackles poverty. This is her inspiring vision for a better future – rooted in her practical understanding and decades of experience.