Get Inspired by Lirra’s Favourite 20 Books of 2020!
Readers, this may just be the year for you. Whether you’ve fallen back in love with reading, or you’ve finally decided to pick up that dusty paperback on your shelf as you study or work from home, you – our readers, have responded enthusiastically to our call for your favourite books of 2020. The team at ReadNUS are voracious readers, but we couldn’t have grown our reading initiative at NUS without the support of book-lovers like you.
For our Favourite 20 of 2020 list, we’ve put together some of your enthusiastic recommendations, along with top picks by our own team and by the librarians at NUS Libraries. We’ve found that the top picks could be segmented into 5 big categories: Biographies and Memoirs, Environment, Politics, Self-Help and Fiction. Scroll down to read the reviews by your fellow peers, so that you can #KeepReading well into 2021 and beyond!
Biographies and Memoirs
Biographies and Memoirs is one of our top recommended categories this year! Clearly, we needed to feel inspired, and for good reason!
1. A Promised Land by Barrack Obama
Incredibly provocative and personal, this book transcends all old expectations of a memoir. Obama weaves storyline into storyline, his entire life bearing meaning often only found in fiction. His incredible attention to detail is only surpassed by the unwavering, almost religious, belief in his vision of the American dream – and this book is a glorious amalgamation of a fresh new hope for humanity. He has brought life and colour to the dreariness of an administration wrought with gloom over the past 4 years, most especially the last, and reminded the world of why the star spangled banner continues to fly high. A Promised Land is truly a book not to be missed.
– Follower Submission
2. Dear Life: A Doctor’s Story of Love and Loss by Rachel Clarke
A superbly poignant read of what it means to live even in the face of death, as told by a palliative care specialist. This book truly anchored my decision to pursue medicine and resonated with me as I was going through the same things as the author. To me, a good book is one that speaks to you and touches your heart – this book truly did that for me and so it’s my favorite book of 2020! 🙂
– Follower Submission
3. Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong
4. Sex and Lies by Leila Slimani
I love the author, Leïla Slimani, for writing this book! She directly confronts the double standards when it comes to sex, culture and women. By reading these stories, you get a clear sense of the intersectionality of gender, culture, religion and politics when it comes to sex. I personally love books that compile interviews from various primary sources, enabling us to get a good, macro picture of how a single theme can affect people from different walks of life. Sex and Lies is also a great book to broaden your cultural horizon. You get an exclusive look at the undercurrents of another culture that you normally wouldn’t get from ‘official accounts’. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for 2020!
– Follower Submission
5. The Ratline by Philippe Sands
I have always found history really interesting, and also particularly love reading biographies a lot because I enjoy learning about the lives of others. The Ratline is an account of Otto von Wachter and his wife’s life before and after the War, which really fascinated me because I really love historical biographies!! But I think what made the book so interesting was because of the fact that Otto von Wachter was not only a war criminal, but also a husband and a father at the same time.
– Follower Submission
Politics
The significant number of political developments this year might be the reason why Politics is a major category for our 2020 list. This section – containing 5 books, will be great for those wanting to go into 2021 with a better understanding of the political issues that affect them.
6. Air-conditioned Nation Revisited by Cherian George
While it is impossible to remain completely objective in any discussion about politics, Cherian George comes quite close. In this anthology that strings together a collection of essays that span almost two decades, Professor George skillfully pokes holes at a number of seemingly benign narratives that many Singaporeans have obediently accepted. In doing so, however, he manages to avert the kind of cynicism that has plagued other local critics, measuredly giving credit to Singapore’s ruling party whenever he feels it is due. Clear, insightful, and relevant, this book is a must read for anyone interested to gain a better understanding of the quiet tension between Singaporeans and their leaders.
– Tarmidzi, Publicity Executive at ReadNUS
7. Disunited Nations by Peter Zeihan
8. Has China Won? by Kishore Mahbubani
Has China Won? is a book that explores the tumultuous relationship in US-China politics. I love this book because it actually goes into the context of both countries and discusses where both parties have went wrong with their approaches, instead of the usual surface blaming that we see every time in the media. I think going into this book, one must approach it with an open mind. Some of the arguments made in the book may not be immediately obvious to the average reader (sometimes, it’s even a bit controversial in my opinion). As a fun challenge to everyone, try and form your own thoughts and opinions on them (supported by evidence and research of course)!
– Soo Qing, Deputy Director of ReadNUS
9. Our Time is Now by Stacey Abrams
Stacey Abrams has made a name for herself as one formidable political leader, galvanizing marginalised communities to vote no matter how disenfranchised they may feel. So when this book came out, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Her writing may be contextually about America, but I found the message of self-empowerment, determination, and hope in the face of suppression to be highly universal. Abrams writes not only with an emotional flair, but also with a unique perspective on how she – a political underdog – managed to go against all odds to win a system rigged against communities like her. This is a book that is well-balanced in its logical and emotional appeal, and is perfect for those wanting to feel inspired!
– Haris, Assistant Director (ReadNUS)
10. PAP vs. PAP by Cherian George and Donald Low
With the General Elections just over in July this year, many issues such as inequality have been debated by politicians from both ends of the spectrum, even as the government continues to roll out economic measures to assist Singaporeans affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. Unlike other critics, the book’s authors argue that it is in Singapore’s best interest to have a PAP led government in the long run, even as they urge the party to become more open to political competition and implenent policies that could ensure greater economic and social justice. This book provides a refreshing outlook on how politics and policy in Singapore could evolve in the coming years which could potentially benefit Singaporeans, even as the authors acknowledge that it is unlikely for some of their ideas to be implemented.
– Bryan, Events Team (ReadNUS)
Fiction
We have have grown up, but we can still do with a little fiction in our lives! For this year, we’ve received submissions for comedy, mystery and fantasy fiction, under themes that include minority representation, addiction, and the philosophy of life. Overall, a perfect blend of imaginative books to balance your non-fiction list!
11. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
I chose this book because I was blown away by Backman’s polished and tight writing style. The language is witty, the characters are funny, and the themes are endearing. I would especially recommend this book for readers like me who have been focusing too much on non-fiction. As Backman takes us through the deep, complex backstories of these anxious hostages (the antagonist included), you might find yourself reflecting on your own life anxieties, making this a perfect balance between funny and thought-provoking. Originally published in Swedish and republished in English in 2020, this book is a good fiction respite!
– Dixon, NUS
12. Circe by Madeline Miller
I’ve always been deeply interested in Greek mythology, so when I came across this book, I immediately fell in love with all the Greek gods, goddesses, and titans in this story. You may be thinking, is this yet another Percy Jackson epic fantasy? No, no, it’s a very refreshing perspective on the Greek legends, because Miller focuses her story on a relatively unknown lesser God, Circe. While she may sit with the gods, Circe finds herself as an outcast among her peers, making this story a resonant one about discovering your own power when no one else believes in you. Because Miller writes with such an elaborate, vocabulary-rich style, I found myself easily transported to the vivid world of the Titans and Olympians. Add in the highly thematic narrative about love, power and independence, and you get a fiction novel that truly deserves its place as one of the best of 2020.
– Haris, Assistant Director of Publicity (ReadNUS)
13. Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
When Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown opens with the line, “Ever since you were a boy, you’ve dreamt of being Kung Fu Guy”, I was immediately drawn in. A book that was written in the form of a television show screenplay, the story is centred around Willis Wu, who has finally worked his way up to play the character ‘Generic Asian Man’ in a blandly titled police procedural called ‘Black and White’. Much of the book tries to follow Willis in his quest to become ‘Kung Fu Guy’, the highest level role that Asian males in Hollywood aspire towards.
As the book goes on, we see Willis trying to question whether or not he wants to be trapped in a stereotype, or break free and form his own identity and role. The book as a whole is an extremely playful jab at the state of representation in Hollywood and the many ways in which we are playing roles all of the time.
– Saishwar, Vice President (Engagement) at NUS Students’ Political Association
14. Long Bright River by Liz Moore
Although set in a fictional storyline, this book captures the nuances and effects of addiction with a high level of sensitivity and depth. The point of view of Mickey, a police officer and sister of the drug-addicted Kacey, is clearly written to show her multifaceted struggle with family, motherhood, corruption and the drug crisis in America. I’m also a sucker for novels that use comparative story-telling heavily, so the flashbacks to adolescence, and the thematic analysis of the different paths the sisters take are perfect. To top it off, the crime element in this story makes this book a real difficult one to put down. Keep this book in your reading list for when you need a thriller – Moore writes with a flair for suspense!
– Follower Submission
15. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
From the book’s title, Piranesi, the theme of an “Imaginary Prison” after the classical Italian archaeologist Giovanni Battista Piranesi is foregrounded. Piranesi, who narrates the story through his multiple journal entries, and the book in itself, is a puzzle. Piranesi is an inhabitant of a labyrinthine, a place which he calls the House and the World. The House has no entrances and exits. Waves from the ocean and floods cover the lower levels of the House continuously but provide him with food. However, the House is not exactly empty. The remains of thirteen other human beings which Piranesi continuously cares for as well as one living man, the Other, who visits the narrator twice a week to provide knowledge that he has collected regarding the House. The more you read, the more you fear for the extremely innocent Piranesi. Despite the puzzle of the narrator and the House provides readers, the beauty of the book lies in the ability of Clarke to create the House so vividly, portraying the scarily beautiful world of Piranesi.
– Preeteashwari, Events Team (ReadNUS)
16. The Burning God by R.F Kuang
As the conclusion to the debut trilogy, the book was even richer and darker than the previous installments, daring to deal with ugly and gritty topics. Kuang does not hold back her punches as she viscerally rends raw and horrifying realities of war and politics. By interweaving Chinese folklore in a rather realistic setting, she forced me to consider an alternate history of the world even within her fantasy text. And if anything, her book was the immersive getaway I needed this year.
– Submission by our follower and winner of the Favourite books of 2020 Giveaway, Rachel
Environment
Of course, as one of the biggest issues of our generation, it does not come as a surprise that the theme of Environment should feature heavily in our reading habits. Even if it’s not something that you entirely agree with, these books offer some refreshing perspectives on issues like climate change, sustainability, and the idea of growth.
17. Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene by Matthew Schneider-Mayerson
I’m not a big reader of local books(which really is a shame!), and I would never have come across this book if my friend didn’t recommend it, but I’m glad he did! Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene offers a very refreshing ecological perspective on all things Singaporean, connecting seemingly unrelated aspects of our nation’s development to the broader issue of the environment. While it is a compilation of essays by different scholars, they all share a common passion for sustainability and climate change, enabling their essays to resonate particularly with younger readers like me who increasingly want sustainability to be included inside the concept of growth. Honestly, I do find some of the writing overly idealistic, and I can think of a few friends of mine who will definitely not agree with these alternative viewpoints, but overall, this book inspired me to think more urgently about climate change. Even if you don’t agree with their viewpoints, it’s a good, refreshing read.
– Follower Submission
18. Slowdown: The End of the Great Acceleration by Danny Dorling
Dorling presents us with a refreshing perspective: the slowing down of our world’s growth in almost every aspect – economic, population, technological, etc. – isn’t a phenomenon that’s just better, but essential. The book paints us an evidence-packed picture of the history of human activity, and why the end of ‘the great acceleration’ is necessary if we seek a future that’s both more stable and sustainable. Published in the middle of a global pandemic, the optimism of this book is almost like a breath of fresh air reminding us of the brighter-than-expected silver lining behind being able to revaluate how we view constant work in our lives and why, for our own sakes, we should learn to be okay with hitting pause and going with the flow of the slowdown.
– Fithri, Assistant Director of Events (ReadNUS)
19. Tales of two planets by John Freeman
Tale of two planets is an excellently compiled set of stories and poems about the urgency of the environment. The themes of these short stories are dystopian yet intimately told, such that you’ll be able to empathise with the experiences, particularly when these stories come from countries immediately affected by climate change. More importantly, Tale of Two Planets reflects the importance of literature as a vehicle for climate action. By putting together stories from all over the world, this anthology, like Freeman’s previous ones, galvanizes readers to think carefully about the interconnectivity of their actions. The message has never been clearer: We have to act now.
– Follower Submission
Self-Help
Finally, let’s not forget the importance of helping ourselves in a particularly difficult year. We’ve received a few selections on self-help, but found this particular submission to be a unique addition to the fave 20 list.
20. Its about damn time by Arlan Hamilton
Arlan Hamilton is the minority superstar of entreprenuership. Her story of having to work much much harder than her priviledged peers to earn a spot on the silicon valley table is something that struck with me. But the book isn’t just a feel good one meant to score sympathy points, it details the strategies Hamilton adopted to rise from homeless to a powerful venture capitalist. Both a textbook to life and a narrative of hope, I’m recommending this book particularly for those who feel that 2020 has beaten them down.
– Follower Submission