my top 10 books of 2020.

books.

10. Jan. 2021.

2020 - the year I have read more than ever before (a global pandemic and a never-ending lockdown situation is to thank for that achievement!). Nevertheless, it was fun to rediscover my love for reading and just spend hours diving into different worlds or learning something new.

You can find my complete book list of 2020 here: mela’s 2020 book list.

But for now, let’s just focus on my 10 favourite books and why I would highly recommend every single one.

so here we go:


 

1. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

This is probably my all-time favourite book and I read it at least once a year! It’s a beautiful story about a little boy and his journey to find himself, learn about and from others and to observe and not judge others. Equally as beautiful as the story are the hand-drawn illustrations of de Saint-Exupéry! Highly recommend this one to everyone and anyone. Little bonus: it’s a quite short read and won’t take you very long to finish.
 

2. The Universe in Your Hand: A Journey Through Space, Time, and Beyond by Christophe Galfard.

This book blew my mind. It takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the universe, from our solar system to our galaxy the milky way into the vastness of outer space. Christophe Galfard (a former student and friend of the late Stephen Hawking) accomplishes the incredible feat of explaining how time, gravity, the universe (and so much more!!) works in a captivating way and without using complicated formulas. I had a hard time trying to put this book down or not dream of flying through space and watching the Big Bang right in front of my eyes!
 

3. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah.

Many of you will know Trevor Noah as the host of the daily show but in this book he relives his childhood growing up in the townships of South Africa as the son of a black xhosa woman and the son of a white Swiss man during apartheid. Vividly written from the beginning to the end with many funny stories along the way.
 

4. Breath: The Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor.

We all breath constantly and have been since we were born, yet I at least haven’t given it much thought throughout my lifetime and only in the last few years, it has become a topic of interest for me. James Nestor dives into the science and importance of breathing properly and how we can transform our health by changing our breathing habits.
 

5. The Little Big Things by Henry Fraser.

Reading this very inspiring life story made me appreciate the little things so much more. It also sparked the motivation to try new hobbies, go on more adventures and take every moment as it comes. Highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a little inspiration in their lives!
 

6. Atomic Habits by James Clear.

A scientific approach to explaining how we can develop new habits that stick - one tiny step at a time. If you have ever wanted to change some of your current habits and implement a new one, this is the book for you. I certainly found it a little easier to develop new habits now that I know the science behind it.
 

7. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain.

Being an introvert myself, it always felt to me as if it is a disadvantage in today’s day and age. Everyone is happy to say they are an extrovert but there is always some slight hesitation the other way around. This book dives into the many different aspects of which valuable traits and social skills introverts can bring to the table and how their way of socializing and thinking can have major benefits when you have an introvert in your team and company.
 

8. The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations for Clarity, Effectiveness, and Serenity by Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman.

366 inspiring and thought-provoking quotes from many stoic philosophers accompanied by short interpretations. Perfect to start each day with a new quote, to clear your mind and prepare you for what is yet to come. Reading these quotes/this book has certainly made me feel calmer on a stressful day. It changed my way of thinking and reflecting on the individual quotes also changed how I now approach stressful situations while at the same time clearing my mind from overthinking everything.
 

9. Roaming America: Exploring the National Parks by Renee Hahnel.

Are you planning to visit any of the US national parks in the (near) future? Then this is the book for you! It is a beautiful coffee table style book with lots of gorgeous photos that will have you dreaming of getting out in nature to explore every single one of the US national parks! besides the amazing photos and brief information about each park, you will find Renee’s favourite hikes and must-see places to check out while you’re there!
 

10. Anxious Man: Notes on a Life Lived Nervously by Josh Roberts.

I find this book is a must-read for anyone trying to understand what it is like to live with anxiety and deal with panic attacks regularly. I never really had many experiences with anxiety and I always found it hard to understand or relate to people that do. I couldn’t relate to how they felt and what I could do to help anyone who is struggling with this. until one day when I had several panic attacks over a week and sometimes even multiple a day. a whole other emotional world took over everything I was doing and I finally understood how so much more and also how emotionally/physically draining it can be. having read this book, I was surprised how accurate and detailed Josh Roberts described his life living with anxiety, how it manifests in his daily life, how he learnt to deal with it when an anxiety/panic attack happens but also what has helped him over the years.

If you have read any of these books, definitely let me know your thoughts about it/them! I’m always keen to talk about books! And if you have any recommendations yourself, I would love to hear them and add them to my to-be-read book list!

follow along...
@mela_hahn