Favorite Books - 2020

This year has been one for the ages… and not for the right reasons. It’s been a dreadful 12 months on a global scale and saying good riddance to 2020 resonates with everyone. Covid-19 has changed the world for all the wrong reasons… health, travel & lifestyle have been forever altered and getting back to some degree of normalcy will probably require a minimum of one or two years.

The sooner we turn the page the better!

Speaking of pages… this brings me to my annual list of holiday books for 2020. Because there seems to be a desperation to scurry past Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday of the year) to get to the fond memories of Christmas, a few books to pass the time seems more appropriate this season than ever before.

As in previous years, I’ll highlight a few books that came on my radar over the last twelve months. Most are new titles and several are becoming classics in their own right.

I’m sensing everyone will have more than ample time to read an extra book or two in coming months. You can always binge watch Netflix, but that’s no fun! Reading is fundamental… and more enjoyable in my opinion! If you’re like me, there’s never enough time to read everything on my list.

Let’s get to it. Here are 9 titles certainly worthy of your time this holiday season…

Before we start, I’ll apologize for the fact there are no fiction titles on my list. Nothing against the genre, I simply prefer non-fiction titles.

This year, I once again selected a mix of biographies, self help and photography books. All have solid reviews on Amazon and are leaders in their respective categories.

This year has caused a fair amount of anxiety & stress, so it seems appropriate to start with “Think Like A Monk” by Jay Shetty. The author reflects on his time as a monk and discusses overcoming negative thoughts & roadblocks in order to find your inner peace. Although some of the exercises are a bit abstract, the advice and guidance is priceless. Considering the book was only released in Sept 2020, it has amassed 7,034 reviews and garnered a 5-star rating.

Next up is the thought provoking book “Photo Therapy - Motivation and Wisdom: Discovering the Power of Pictures” by Rick Sammon. He’s written so many books in his career, I’ve lost count. This one is certainly one of his best… and most creative having no pictures in the entire book. Zero. And yet, it’s one of the most practical books on how to improve your photography I’ve read.

In “12 Rules for Life…” by Jason Peterson, the Canadian born psychologist takes you on a poetic journey through the world of chaos and order. A well written & captivating book, my favorite rule is #4: “Compare yourself with who you were yesterday, not with who someone else is today.”

One of the most charismatic President’s of our lifetime, “Obama - An Intimate Portrait” by Pete Souza is a collection of 300+ world class images (and stories) exquisitely captured by the former Chief White House Photographer. The collection of images put you inside the White House to capture the energy of the Oval Office. This one will be a cherished piece of history one day.

Perhaps one of the most acclaimed books of our time, “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover is truly remarkable. Born to a survivalist family in Idaho, the author didn’t step foot into a classroom until she was 17 years old. Her quest for education proceeded to grow exponentially and she later attended Harvard & Cambridge.

We’ve all seen photo projects over the years. They can range from identical twins to trees to cabins. Some have longevity, most don’t. One of the most endearing projects in recent years resulted in the book, “Humans” by Brandon Stanton. Building upon his best seller ‘Humans of New York’, he has raised his own bar. The Washington Post calls this latest addition ‘One of the most influential art projects of the decade.’ Capturing the human spirit around the globe in a candid and intimate manner reveals how much we all have in common.

“Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey is rapidly moving up the charts as I type. This unconventional memoir is a culmination of life with the author stating, ‘It’s medicine that tastes good, a couple of aspirin instead of the infirmary, a spaceship to Mars without needing your pilot’s license, going to church without having to be born again, and laughing through the tears.’ Enough said… alright, alright, alright.

Next up is “Understanding Portrait Photography: How to Shoot Great Portraits of People Anywhere” by Bryan Peterson. He’s another one of those prolific photographers who writes as easily as I find the ski slopes. He’s had numerous besting selling books under the ‘Understanding…” banner and this one is possibly his best. The author doesn’t rely on dumb luck or stumble upon his portraits; rather, he explains how to identify the many universal opportunities to capture these wonderful life moments.

Not a stranger to my annual book list, the latest from Chris Orwig titled “Authentic Portraits: Searching for Soul, Significance and Depth” is a well thought out book on a common topic. I don’t consider myself a portrait photographer, so reading anything on the subject is enlightening. The author lightly touches upon the technical elements of a good portrait, but focuses more on ambient light and the light shining within all of us. Capturing the essence of the individual should be the holy grail. He recommends asking your subjects lots of questions in a compassionate manner to learn about them. In summary… it’s a very intriguing book and my personal favorite this year.

There you have it... my favorite books for 2020.

Until next time.

Cheers…