Each year my friend Blake sends an email asking for his friends’ two favorite books and two favorite musicians / albums of the year. I love that and asked permission to copy him with you all.
These don’t have to be from 2020—you just have to have discovered them in 2020. (Feel free to include honorable mentions). I’m always looking for more to read / listen to!
"Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked" by Adam Alter
I read this in the first days of 2020, and I couldn't put it down. If you appreciated "The Social Dilemma," you'll really like this book.
"The Cloister Walk" by Kathleen Norris
I finished "The Cloister Walk" in the final days of 2020, and it's a book all about Norris's experience with Benedictine theology and spirituality. The rhythms she writes about proved to be great opportunities for me to reflect on my own relationship with God during the quarantine.
BONUS: "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner
It's a quiet, simple, and beautiful novel, all about the lives of two married couples and their friendship.
Music:
"Keeper of Days" by Jon Guerra
An album that changed my understanding of worship. Truly beautiful.
"CATCH" by Peter CottonTale
If Chance the Rapper did an entire Gospel album, this would be it.
"On the Road" keeps popping up all over the place, but I'm intimidated because (1) St. Augustine is a genius and (2) James K.A. Smith is a genius. Is it similar to any other books?
I was intimdated, not gonna lie, but it was real down-to-earth to me and super helpful for where I've been at this year (restless, wandering). I'm not sure if it's similar to anything else! I was introduced to James K.A. Smith my freshman/sophomore year of Bible college by a favorite professor of mine and and he recommended this one to me as well!
Haha one of my professors assigned us "Imagining the Kingdom," and I was for sure impressed (even though it went over my head as a sophomore ha). Okay I should dive into that! Thank you!
I was first given 7 Women by my grandma back in the earlier days of the pandemic. Being honest, I almost stopped reading it after a few pages but I must’ve been lead to open my mind to the rest because it became the most meaningful book I have read (besides the Bible :)). These books gave me Christian heroes, and developed my thought as well as my faith. I usually don’t read a lot of biographies (although I do read a ton of autobiographies) but the way this author writes is so informative and enlightening I couldn’t put it down! It also influenced my decision to begin looking at Christian colleges so it will always have a special place in my heart. Right now I’m starting to read 7 More Men! Couldn’t recommend these enough ☺️
As far as songs go, I got really into 90s country music in 2020 but aside from that, two artists/songs that I discovered and recommend are Matthew Mole “Pennsylvania” and Jim Reeves sacred gospel album :)
I love that you loved Crossing to Safety. Stegner is genius like mountains and hills are. Have you read Angle of Repose? My #1 favorite book of all time (when I’m not #1ing Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken). Ok, sorry. 2020.
IThe Broken Earth trilogy and Overstory. Opposites in tempo but both are gasp out loud good. I’m an evagelist for both books now. NK Jemisin won 3 Hugos in a row!! Not even George RR Martin (an excellent sentence writer, btw) did that. I finished all three books in sleepless a week. Overstory is a sip by sip read because I’m trying to savor each sentence and chosen word. It’s slow and tree-like, intentionally.
Ugh. Only 2? I discovered classics like The Godfather (talk about a leader in pacing!) and Dune (so incredibly fun!). I remembered how enriching an entertaining a story could be, and how getting lost in fun fiction can be an act of worship.
What a great idea! I enjoy reading everyone's favorites. Here are mine:
Books:
1. Becoming Better Grownups by Brad Montague - Full of whimsy and childlike wonder. This was such a delightful read during June 2020 amidst a lot of chaos.
2. Honest Advent by Scott Erickson - This was the perfect read for the end of the year. The art mixed with honest reflection was refreshing and comforting.
Albums:
1. Out of Body by NEEDTOBREATHE - The songs, "Child Again," and "Banks," were my two favorites!
2. Folklore by T-Swift - It's been said earlier - no explanation needed!
BOOKS - dare to lead by brene brown!!!! leadership, friendship, showing up for yourself and others. i thought i had experienced brene brown before but this book was her best work in my opinion!!!
MUSIC - majority of what i listened to this year was disney soundtrack instrumentals and the chicks :) :) both really fit the different moods of 2020.
thank you for curating this friend, so many good recommendations!!
The year my music was very focused on lifting my spirits out of the hole that was 2020. Dua Lipa did the trick with her latest album, "Future Nostalgia". Also the artist, DRAMA, is incredible too. The album "Dance Without Me" was on repeat.
Books:
The Choice by Edith Eger. She is a Holocaust survivor and gave a beautiful perspective that compliments, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. Her words are humorous and wise. I also read, "The Outsiders" for the first time. Fun and quick read!
I read ‘When Breathe Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi early in 2020 and am still thinking about it. A stunning work. Also started slowly working through ‘Prayer, Vol 1’ by Strahan last year and it’s quickly becoming a favorite.
As for music, I did a lot of (re)discovering last year. Liz Vice...In a word: brilliant. Jon Foreman also returned to remind me what it means to hold grief and hope simultaneously.
For books, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz-- both are very warm and inviting stories about love and forging your own family.
For music, I really love the band Mission House! Their worship songs are rooted in Scripture, aren't swimming in jargon, and are musically delightful. Also discovered Sammy Rae & the Friends this year-- groovy, jazzy, super fun!
Okay A Gentleman in Moscow popped up on my radar multiple times a few years ago, but I never read it! But a suggestion from Annalise Nakoneczny is high praise ha.
And yes to Mission House! Have you listened to any of Taylor Leonhart's solo stuff? Her album "River House" is one of my favorites.
Literally it feels like reading a hug. I borrowed it as an ebook and loved it so much I bought a copy of my own, which is indeed high praise!
I haven't heard her solo stuff but hey, a suggestion from Drew Brown is high praise! I'll check it out now. Out of the mission house duo I've mostly listened to Jess Ray, who is also amazing!
pretty sure you've read most of the books I read this year but "every moment holy" by douglas mckelvey has been so special to me. for music, I have pretty much exclusively listened to the lone bellow and bon iver!!
oh my goodness it is THE greatest ever, you'll have to let me know what you think. my favorites are: "for the ritual of morning coffee" and "a liturgy for those who weep without knowing why"
Books: Grief is the Thing with Feathers and The Coming of God----- book honorable mentions include The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe because I FINALLY started the Chronicles of Narnia and this was the only one of the books that I read in 2020, the rest were 2021 reads :)
Music: 45 by Bleachers (new Bleachers got me so pumped since it's been 4 years since their last release) and Life Goes On by BTS (2020 was the year I got into K-Pop and I am very pleased about it)
I have never heard of Grief is a Thing with Feathers but just looked it up! And what is your favorite book in the series?! Mine is hands down "Horse and His Boy"
I highly recommend the audiobook version - he reads it himself, but also uses actual audio from his interviews for the book and scene reenactments, etc. Very engaging.
Okay, here are mine:
Books:
"Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked" by Adam Alter
I read this in the first days of 2020, and I couldn't put it down. If you appreciated "The Social Dilemma," you'll really like this book.
"The Cloister Walk" by Kathleen Norris
I finished "The Cloister Walk" in the final days of 2020, and it's a book all about Norris's experience with Benedictine theology and spirituality. The rhythms she writes about proved to be great opportunities for me to reflect on my own relationship with God during the quarantine.
BONUS: "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner
It's a quiet, simple, and beautiful novel, all about the lives of two married couples and their friendship.
Music:
"Keeper of Days" by Jon Guerra
An album that changed my understanding of worship. Truly beautiful.
"CATCH" by Peter CottonTale
If Chance the Rapper did an entire Gospel album, this would be it.
Music: Paper Kites was a discovery of mine, also Mree, and Eustace Scrubb by Sarah Sparks has been a favorite track of mine.
Books: On The Road with Saint Augustine by James K.A. Smith was a good friend to me.
You *might* be interested in The Cloister Walk book I mentioned above!
It looks interesting. I'll add it to my list of to-be-read/bought books!
"On the Road" keeps popping up all over the place, but I'm intimidated because (1) St. Augustine is a genius and (2) James K.A. Smith is a genius. Is it similar to any other books?
I was intimdated, not gonna lie, but it was real down-to-earth to me and super helpful for where I've been at this year (restless, wandering). I'm not sure if it's similar to anything else! I was introduced to James K.A. Smith my freshman/sophomore year of Bible college by a favorite professor of mine and and he recommended this one to me as well!
Haha one of my professors assigned us "Imagining the Kingdom," and I was for sure impressed (even though it went over my head as a sophomore ha). Okay I should dive into that! Thank you!
Just added it to my wish list :)
Books:
Eleanor oliphant is completely fine!
And the ruthless elimination of hurry
Musicians: maverick city music is all I listen to so I only have one...
I kid you not I've had at least 500 people recommend the Ruthless Elimination of Hurry to me.
Books:
7 Men
7 Women
I was first given 7 Women by my grandma back in the earlier days of the pandemic. Being honest, I almost stopped reading it after a few pages but I must’ve been lead to open my mind to the rest because it became the most meaningful book I have read (besides the Bible :)). These books gave me Christian heroes, and developed my thought as well as my faith. I usually don’t read a lot of biographies (although I do read a ton of autobiographies) but the way this author writes is so informative and enlightening I couldn’t put it down! It also influenced my decision to begin looking at Christian colleges so it will always have a special place in my heart. Right now I’m starting to read 7 More Men! Couldn’t recommend these enough ☺️
As far as songs go, I got really into 90s country music in 2020 but aside from that, two artists/songs that I discovered and recommend are Matthew Mole “Pennsylvania” and Jim Reeves sacred gospel album :)
I love that you loved Crossing to Safety. Stegner is genius like mountains and hills are. Have you read Angle of Repose? My #1 favorite book of all time (when I’m not #1ing Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken). Ok, sorry. 2020.
IThe Broken Earth trilogy and Overstory. Opposites in tempo but both are gasp out loud good. I’m an evagelist for both books now. NK Jemisin won 3 Hugos in a row!! Not even George RR Martin (an excellent sentence writer, btw) did that. I finished all three books in sleepless a week. Overstory is a sip by sip read because I’m trying to savor each sentence and chosen word. It’s slow and tree-like, intentionally.
Ugh. Only 2? I discovered classics like The Godfather (talk about a leader in pacing!) and Dune (so incredibly fun!). I remembered how enriching an entertaining a story could be, and how getting lost in fun fiction can be an act of worship.
Also, the only music we listen to are super hero scores and classical musics so no knew ones there. It’s our family compromise with my boys.
What a great idea! I enjoy reading everyone's favorites. Here are mine:
Books:
1. Becoming Better Grownups by Brad Montague - Full of whimsy and childlike wonder. This was such a delightful read during June 2020 amidst a lot of chaos.
2. Honest Advent by Scott Erickson - This was the perfect read for the end of the year. The art mixed with honest reflection was refreshing and comforting.
Albums:
1. Out of Body by NEEDTOBREATHE - The songs, "Child Again," and "Banks," were my two favorites!
2. Folklore by T-Swift - It's been said earlier - no explanation needed!
Books: A spark of light or Outliers. The obsession with Gladwell is real.
Music: John Mayer always or the Soul Coffee playlist on spotify filled with all the R&B you'll ever need.
OUTLIERS. I love Gladwell--if you ever want to borrow anything of his let me know!
BOOKS - dare to lead by brene brown!!!! leadership, friendship, showing up for yourself and others. i thought i had experienced brene brown before but this book was her best work in my opinion!!!
MUSIC - majority of what i listened to this year was disney soundtrack instrumentals and the chicks :) :) both really fit the different moods of 2020.
thank you for curating this friend, so many good recommendations!!
WAIT WAIT I'm reading dare to lead right now! It's my first Brene book and I kid you not, it feels like it was written by you!
The year my music was very focused on lifting my spirits out of the hole that was 2020. Dua Lipa did the trick with her latest album, "Future Nostalgia". Also the artist, DRAMA, is incredible too. The album "Dance Without Me" was on repeat.
Books:
The Choice by Edith Eger. She is a Holocaust survivor and gave a beautiful perspective that compliments, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. Her words are humorous and wise. I also read, "The Outsiders" for the first time. Fun and quick read!
I think this is the first post that I honestly don't know any of the picks! I need to really check out The Choice.
Woo! Yes! It's so good!
I read ‘When Breathe Becomes Air’ by Paul Kalanithi early in 2020 and am still thinking about it. A stunning work. Also started slowly working through ‘Prayer, Vol 1’ by Strahan last year and it’s quickly becoming a favorite.
As for music, I did a lot of (re)discovering last year. Liz Vice...In a word: brilliant. Jon Foreman also returned to remind me what it means to hold grief and hope simultaneously.
LIZ. VICE. Yes yes yes! Also doesn't Jon's new album come out next Friday? I'm excited!
*breath * rolling my eyes
For books, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz-- both are very warm and inviting stories about love and forging your own family.
For music, I really love the band Mission House! Their worship songs are rooted in Scripture, aren't swimming in jargon, and are musically delightful. Also discovered Sammy Rae & the Friends this year-- groovy, jazzy, super fun!
Okay A Gentleman in Moscow popped up on my radar multiple times a few years ago, but I never read it! But a suggestion from Annalise Nakoneczny is high praise ha.
And yes to Mission House! Have you listened to any of Taylor Leonhart's solo stuff? Her album "River House" is one of my favorites.
Literally it feels like reading a hug. I borrowed it as an ebook and loved it so much I bought a copy of my own, which is indeed high praise!
I haven't heard her solo stuff but hey, a suggestion from Drew Brown is high praise! I'll check it out now. Out of the mission house duo I've mostly listened to Jess Ray, who is also amazing!
Wow, okay, that sounds like EXACTLY the type of book I'm looking for!
pretty sure you've read most of the books I read this year but "every moment holy" by douglas mckelvey has been so special to me. for music, I have pretty much exclusively listened to the lone bellow and bon iver!!
I HAVEN'T READ EVERY MOMENT HOLY BUT I JUST ADDED IT TO MY WISH LIST BECAUSE IT LOOKS WONDERFUL! And you can -never- go wrong with the lone bellow!
oh my goodness it is THE greatest ever, you'll have to let me know what you think. my favorites are: "for the ritual of morning coffee" and "a liturgy for those who weep without knowing why"
Truly, truly it sounds wonderful and exactly where I am right now in my embrace of Anglicanism and spiritual rhythms!
Books: Grief is the Thing with Feathers and The Coming of God----- book honorable mentions include The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe because I FINALLY started the Chronicles of Narnia and this was the only one of the books that I read in 2020, the rest were 2021 reads :)
Music: 45 by Bleachers (new Bleachers got me so pumped since it's been 4 years since their last release) and Life Goes On by BTS (2020 was the year I got into K-Pop and I am very pleased about it)
I have never heard of Grief is a Thing with Feathers but just looked it up! And what is your favorite book in the series?! Mine is hands down "Horse and His Boy"
I'm reading that one right now! The Silver Chair has been my favorite so far!
Two of the best books I read.. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Music.. Mapache and Mandolin Orange which I don’t think I discovered in 2020 but I really couldn’t stop listening to in 2020 so I will count it
Wait BOTH of those books are amazing. You should read "We Were Eight Years in Power" next. It's my personal favorite from Coates.
Favorite books of 2020:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Favorite albums of 2020:
The Otherside by Cam
More Love by Sara Bareilles
Wait I read "I'm Still Here" in 2020! That book hits hard...
Honorable mentions for music:
kelsea by Kelsea Ballerini
Six the Musical: Broadway Recording
Positions by Ariana Grande
Jingle Jangle Soundtrack (the Netflix Christmas movie)
:)
Music: Mac Miller's "Circles" and Bring Me The Horizon's latest EP, specifically the last song.
Books: Malcom Gladwell's "Talking to Strangers" and Brandon Sanderson's "The Way of Kings"
I read 3/4 of "Talking to Strangers" in a few days and somehow failed to finish it...
I highly recommend the audiobook version - he reads it himself, but also uses actual audio from his interviews for the book and scene reenactments, etc. Very engaging.
Folklore by TSwift no doubt
i literally was thinking this same thing!!
JUST KIDDING that album rocked
"Commenter permanently banned."