For the introduction to this series, go back to the first instalment for details – if I try to explain it all again, it’ll take me forever to get to the point. The point being, in this case, great non-fiction published last year. It was an excellent year for this kind of literature and I read many of the books already as they came out. Still, there are about a dozen or so that I still want to check out, including but unfortunately probably not entirely limited to:

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Everyone in the US was talking about this book on race, which postulates that the land of the free effectively has a caste system. I expect it to be forceful, a bit controversial and very enlightening.

Natives by Akala. For an European/British perspective, Akala has written a book that examines race and class in the context of the British empire. This one I probably would not have picked up without the absolutely excellent reviews.

Just Us by Claudia Rankine. After loving Rankine’s Citizen, this was my personal most-anticipated book on race in 2020. I didn’t manage to get it until January 2021, but have in fact already finished it. I am including it regardless because it was on many best-of lists and also because it’s brilliant.

Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener. Another one from the US, this is about Big Tech and how it operates. It’s a memoir by a young woman moving from publishing to a tech job – I have browsed it and believe it to be a fast, engaging and worrying read.

Range by David Epstein. As a generalist myself, I have high hopes for this book that claims we will triumph over specialists. Recommended by Artfulreader and Bill Gates, so cannot be bad.

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. The subtitle says it all: How fungi make our worlds, change our minds and shape our futures. I really wanted to read it already in 2020, as it sounds absolutely fascinating, but ran out of time.

Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald. I never got to reading H Is For Hawk: I may still do it if I like these essays about nature from the author.

The Human Cosmos by Jo Marchant. Sticking with the natural world, but on a larger scale, I am very intrigued about this look at the relationship between the stars and our civilization(s). I read one excellent book about the universe last year from the astrophysical perspective – of which later – and this seems like a perfect companion piece.

X+Y by Eugenia Cheng. Written by a mathematician, this is a refreshing take on gender that attempts to sever the link between certain behaviours and being male/female. I have read about 50 pages and it’s interesting, although I am sceptical about our chances to eliminate gender stereotypes any time soon, mathematics or no.

Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig. While I have done quite a bit of reading on feminism and racism, disability as a rather unknown territory for me. I will start addressing this shortcoming with Taussig’s essays that promise to be excellent.

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong. I know I already have three books about race on this list, but this one has a different angle – the Asian American experience. Talking about minorities, I also want to read 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act, a look at indigenous people in Canada. It doesn’t get its own entry, as it was published in 2018.

Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey. A memoir about a daughter coming to terms with the murder of her mother, this isn’t my usual territory, but I’m becoming more interested in people writing about trauma, extreme experiences and healing.

The Dragons, the Giant, the Women by Wayetu Moore. Another memoir that has plenty of trauma, this one is about escaping the war in Liberia to the US, the adjustment to the life there and the eventual return to Liberia.

Wintering by Katherine May. And now for something completely different – Wintering looks at rest and repair and it seems like something we could all use in this COVID winter.

Mantel Pieces by Hilary Mantel. This is another one I managed to read in January. Mantel’s essays are intelligent and sharp, so it’s a bit confusing that I didn’t love them. I admire her, but there are moments that bother me – including the way she occasionally talks about women’s bodies.

A few notable omissions

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. This seems, by all accounts, to be an excellent book about Churchill and World War II. If this is your jam, check it out. I just feel like there are tens of books about Churchill/World War II coming out every year, while we don’t know what’s the capital of Bangladesh. So my priorities lay elsewhere.

The Dead Are Arising by Les and Tamara Pyne. I’m sure this book about Malcolm X is excellent, I simply am not a big fan of biographies and I think this one would be too much for me (it’s 640 pages).

Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker. A much praised story about an American family with 12 children, six of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia. It was on almost every (US) list, but I’m just not drawn to it. Also, Liina Bachmann didn’t love it.

Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby. Everyone seems to love Samantha Irby and to think she is hysterically funny. I can kind of see that, but I found her previous book annoying (although with some great bits) and will therefore not read this one. I’m pretty alone in this, though, and chances are you’ll love it.

The New Map by Daniel Yergin. I currently work with energy and cliamte issues and I was very excited for this analysis of the reordering of the world’s energy landscape. I bought the book and it’s even on the picture! But a quick browse indicates that it pretty much ignores climate issues, which makes me unlikely to read it and seriously cross with the author.

Books that were on the lists, but I already managed to read in 2020

A Promised Land by Barack Obama. This made it into almost every top 10 or 100 and deservedly so. A must-read for people who have even the tiniest interest in politics.

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado. A structurally genius memoir about an abusive lesbian relationship. Excellent.

The Collected Schizophrenias by Esme Weijun Wang. Clearly I’m more receptive to the topic of schizophrenia when it comes in the form of essays. Not perfect, but interesting and enlightening.

Recollections of My Non-Existence by Rebecca Solnit. Another amazing (feminist) memoir and one of my books of the year. Loved it.

To the Lake by Kapka Kassabova. Not on many list, as this is a book about Balkans – its nature, its people, its history. Not quite as good as Kassabova’s Border, but it’s almost impossible to be better than that, so very much recommended anyway.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I enjoyed this very American book about self-discovery more than I thought I would. Listen to the audiobook when you need encouragement or have just realised you like women more than men.

The Chiffon Trenches by Andre Leon Tally. An amusing memoir by the former US Vogue editor at large, but the lack of self-awareness can be quite painful. Mostly read for the gossip about Anna Wintour (don’t bother, just google for the juicy bits).

How to Argue With a Racist by Adam Rutherford. I love Rutherford and this is a good book. It pales in comparison to his A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived, though.

Twilight of Democracy by Anne Applebaum. Another highlight of my reading year, I highly recommend this to anyone currently living.

Humankind by Rutger Bergman. Bergman argues that people are, in fact, fundamentally rather nice. The book is nice enough, but not necessary.

Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall. If you are a white, middle class feminist like I am, read this. It’s US-centric and occasionally not entirely consistent, but makes important, valid points.

Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner. The memoir by the long-time companion of Princess Margaret is worth reading even if you’re not obsessed with The Crown. Trigger warning for extreme privilege.

One Life by Megan Rapinoe. I love Rapinoe and I love football and I loved this book, too. It’s broader than sports, so do not discount it if your knowledge of women’s football is sketchy. Another one that I recommend listening to.

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad. This was the one book about racism I read last year that didn’t work for me at all. I understand it may be helpful for many, but tackling racism in the style of an Instagram challenge just isn’t for me (and it’s not a criticism of the form, it’s a criticism of the content and depth).

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. Instead of reading Saad, you could for example read DiAngelo’s book. It’s not without its own controversies, but it’s useful and also referred to so often that it’s good to be aware what it actually says.

The End of Everything by Katie Mack. This is the astrophysics book I alluded to earlier. Absolutely adored it.

The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova. Who knew I needed to read a memoir that’s a cross between self-help, a sophisticated examination of human psyche and a poker manual (well, Kassandrakomplex did)? Really enjoyable and smart.

Pandora’s Jar by Nathalie Haynes. An intelligent and readable look at women in Greek myths and the related misogyny. A decent entry, but there are better books on this list.

The Shapeless Unease by Samantha Harvey. A brief book about the author’s insomnia: I liked it, but Maria Benjamin’s Insomnia (published a year earlier?) was more to my taste.