Ranked roundup
The best books of 2020
22 ranked · updated June 2026
The best books of 2020 reflect a year defined by profound introspection, a search for historical perspective, and the comfort of escapist storytelling. From presidential memoirs and financial wisdom to immersive fantasy worlds, these selections provided readers with essential tools for navigating a challenging and transformative global landscape.
How this ranking works
Ranked by a Bayesian-weighted score combining each title's average rating and rating count (minimum 20 ratings to qualify, weighted toward titles with more votes), filtered to books released in 2020.
A Promised Land
Barack Obama
This memoir earns its place by offering an unprecedented, intimate look at the intersections of personal leadership and the complexities of American democracy.
Holy Bible
Christian Art Publishers
The King James Version remains an essential cornerstone of literature, providing timeless spiritual guidance and foundational comfort for readers across all generations.
A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas
This narrative excels through its raw exploration of trauma recovery, masterfully weaving emotional healing into a high-stakes fantasy romance framework.
Midnight Sun
Stephenie Meyer
By shifting the narrative perspective to Edward Cullen, this installment provides a definitive look at the internal conflict inherent in supernatural immortality.
Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
Ina Garten
Ina Garten secures her spot by curating a collection of soul-satisfying recipes that prioritize accessible comfort food during a time of increased home cooking.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Sarah J. Maas
This volume stands out for its high-tension depiction of sacrifice and the difficult strategic choices required when war threatens everything a protagonist values.
The Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel
Housel provides a vital perspective on financial success by arguing that behavioral psychology and mindset are far more important than technical investment knowledge.
Greenlights
Matthew McConaughey
McConaughey delivers a uniquely candid memoir that uses unconventional wisdom and personal anecdotes to offer a roadmap for authentic self-discovery.
The Bible in 52 Weeks: A Yearlong Bible Study for Women
Dr. Kimberly D. Moore
This structured devotional is highly effective because it provides a manageable, yearlong roadmap for women seeking to deepen their faith through consistent study.
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
Erik Larson
Erik Larson earns his position through meticulous research, capturing the resilience of the human spirit during the darkest days of the London Blitz.
How to Be an Antiracist
Ibram X. Kendi
Kendi’s work is essential reading because it reorients the conversation around racism, offering a transformative framework for building a more equitable society.
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts
Jennie Allen
This guide is a standout resource for its practical, faith-based strategies designed to help readers identify and stop the cycle of toxic overthinking.
INNER EXCELLENCE: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible life
JIM MURPHY
Murphy’s manual is a top pick for its actionable, step-by-step approach to mental training, which empowers readers to achieve peak performance in life.
Rage
Bob Woodward
Woodward provides a critical historical record by utilizing extensive investigative reporting to document the administration's response to the major crises of 2020.
Burn After Writing
Sharon Jones
This interactive journal earns its spot by using guided prompts to facilitate deep self-reflection, helping users navigate their own personal growth and introspection.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
A standout among the best books of 2020.
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Dr. Robin DiAngelo
A standout among the best books of 2020.
Daisy Jones & The Six: Reese's Book Club: A Novel
Taylor Jenkins Reid
A standout among the best books of 2020.
The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir
John Bolton
A standout among the best books of 2020.
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig
A standout among the best books of 2020.
A Court of Frost and Starlight
Sarah J. Maas
A standout among the best books of 2020.
Common questions
What are the best political memoirs from 2020?
The most notable political memoir of 2020 is Barack Obama's 'A Promised Land,' which offers a personal account of his presidency. Additionally, Bob Woodward's 'Rage' provides an investigative look at the Trump presidency during the major events of that year.
Which 2020 books are recommended for personal growth?
For personal growth, readers often turn to Matthew McConaughey's 'Greenlights' for life lessons, Jennie Allen's 'Get Out of Your Head' for managing anxiety, or Jim Murphy's 'Inner Excellence' for mental training and peak performance strategies.
What are some popular fantasy romance books released in 2020?
Sarah J. Maas's 'A Court of Mist and Fury' and 'A Court of Wings and Ruin' are highly regarded in the fantasy romance genre, along with Stephenie Meyer's 'Midnight Sun,' which explores the vampire romance narrative from a new perspective.