Ranked roundup
The best books of 2020
22 ranked · updated September 2026
The best books of 2020 reflect a collective search for stability, wisdom, and escapism during a period of profound global transition. From presidential reflections and historical resilience to transformative personal growth and immersive fantasy worlds, these selections defined the year's reading landscape by addressing the needs of the human spirit.
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
Barack Obama earns the top spot by providing a candid and deeply personal examination of the institutional challenges and democratic ideals defining his historic presidency.
Explores: Public service and leadership, Political legacy, Institutional challenges.
Holy Bible
Christian Art Publishers
This classic text secures its place as a foundational work, offering readers enduring spiritual guidance and a sense of timeless comfort through its sacred verses.
Explores: Faith, Redemption, Salvation.
A Court of Mist and Fury
Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas crafts a compelling narrative of trauma recovery and political intrigue, masterfully blending high-stakes fantasy with the emotional complexity of its protagonists.
Explores: enemies to lovers, trauma recovery, political intrigue.
Midnight Sun
Stephenie Meyer
Stephenie Meyer revitalizes a beloved franchise by shifting the perspective to internal monologue, providing a darker and more intimate exploration of forbidden love and immortality.
Explores: forbidden love, internal monologue, immortality.
Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
Ina Garten
Ina Garten earns her place by curating a collection of soul-satisfying recipes that prioritize the essential, grounding experience of home cooking and comfort food.
Explores: Comfort Food, Home Cooking, Entertaining.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Sarah J. Maas
This volume stands out for its sophisticated portrayal of military strategy and shifting power dynamics as the series reaches a critical, war-torn turning point.
Explores: war strategy, magical power dynamics, alliances and betrayal.
The Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel
Morgan Housel offers a vital perspective on personal finance by emphasizing that successful wealth management is driven more by behavioral discipline than technical knowledge.
Explores: Wealth Building, Long-Term Investing, Risk Management.
Greenlights
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey delivers an unconventional memoir that uses his own life lessons to inspire readers toward a philosophy of self-discovery and positive thinking.
Explores: Self-discovery, Life lessons, Positive thinking.
The Bible in 52 Weeks: A Yearlong Bible Study for Women
Dr. Kimberly D. Moore
Dr. Kimberly D. Moore provides a structured, yearlong devotional journey designed to foster spiritual growth and resilience for women navigating modern daily challenges.
Explores: Faith, Spirituality, Personal Growth.
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz
Erik Larson
Erik Larson provides a masterful historical account of the Blitz, highlighting the essential role of leadership and resilience during the darkest days of war.
Explores: World War II, Leadership, Resilience.
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts
Jennie Allen
Jennie Allen addresses the pervasive issue of mental health by offering practical strategies to overcome toxic thought patterns and regain a sense of hope.
Explores: Overthinking, Anxiety, Mental Health.
INNER EXCELLENCE: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible life
JIM MURPHY
Jim Murphy presents a rigorous mental training system that helps readers master their focus and achieve peak performance in both professional and personal pursuits.
Explores: Mental Training, Goal Setting, Resilience.
Rage
Bob Woodward
Bob Woodward utilizes his signature investigative rigor to provide an unprecedented and critical look at the administrative challenges of the Trump presidency.
Explores: Donald Trump presidency, White House, US foreign policy.
Burn After Writing
Sharon Jones
Sharon Jones creates a unique space for introspection, allowing readers to engage in deep self-reflection through a series of challenging and honest personal prompts.
Explores: Self-Reflection, Introspection, Personal Growth.
Untamed
Glennon Doyle
Glennon Doyle captures the zeitgeist of the year with a powerful memoir focused on personal liberation and the courageous act of living with authenticity.
Explores: personal liberation, breaking societal expectations, authenticity.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
A standout among the best books of 2020.
Explores: enemies to lovers, faerie folklore, forced proximity.
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.
Explores: White Privilege, Implicit Bias, Systemic Racism.
Daisy Jones & The Six: Reese's Book Club: A Novel
Taylor Jenkins Reid
A standout among the best books of 2020.
Explores: 1970s, Rock and Roll, Band Dynamics.
The Silent Patient
Alex Michaelides
A standout among the best books of 2020.
Explores: unreliable narrator, obsession, trauma and silence.
The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir
John Bolton
A standout among the best books of 2020.
Explores: Trump Administration, National Security, White House Operations.
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig
A standout among the best books of 2020.
Explores: existential crisis, regret, parallel lives.
A Court of Frost and Starlight
Sarah J. Maas
A standout among the best books of 2020.
Explores: post-war trauma, healing, court politics.
Common questions
What are the best books for personal growth from 2020?
Top titles for personal growth include Matthew McConaughey’s memoir 'Greenlights,' which focuses on life lessons, and Jennie Allen’s 'Get Out of Your Head,' which offers strategies for overcoming toxic thoughts and anxiety.
Are there any popular fantasy series featured in the 2020 book lists?
Yes, Sarah J. Maas is prominently featured with 'A Court of Mist and Fury' and 'A Court of Wings and Ruin,' which are highly regarded for their political intrigue and complex magical power dynamics.
Which 2020 books cover political history and leadership?
Barack Obama’s 'A Promised Land' offers a deep look at his presidency, while Erik Larson’s 'The Splendid and the Vile' examines Winston Churchill’s leadership during World War II, and Bob Woodward’s 'Rage' investigates recent American political history.