With this year coming to a close in a couple of short months, it’s more important than ever to look back at the lessons it has taught us—yes, even the hard ones. Tensions flared and news channels became battlegrounds, but honest conversations were generated. Parents and children educated each other, and many educated themselves.

Books have been prominent tools of communication for years, and 2020 was no exception. Here is a list of must-reads dedicated to this year and everything that came along with it. Learn more about the world we’re living in and discover something about yourself while you’re at it.

These books are perfect for….

Bettering yourself one book at a time

• Joy at Work by Marie Kondo

  • The queen of decluttering released another book earlier this year detailing how to find empowerment in your work life. With in-depth examples and a step-by-step process for guidance, your desk will “spark joy” in no time!

• The Friendship Formula by Caroline Millington

  • One unintended side effect of a lockdown-prone year? Realizing which friends benefit you and which don’t. This book gives exactly what the title promises: a formula for redesigning your inner circle for maximum happiness.

• Be Calm: Proven Techniques to Stop Anxiety Now by Jill Weber

  • Anxious feelings are natural, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them control you. Though not a substitute for treatment, this book highlights common techniques to help combat everyday feelings of anxiety. 

Recognizing and fighting inequality

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (I Know This To Be True) by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

  • Hear the story of RBG from RBG herself. We may have lost her this year, but she left behind an essential read for all of us. Learn about the accomplishments that mattered the most and how to carry on her fight for justice.

• Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul In America by R. Eric Thomas

  • Like many, self-acceptance took time for Thomas. In this collection of essays, he reveals his struggle to understand his identity and sexuality while living in conflicting worlds and a post-2016-election America.

• Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

  • Here’s the bitter truth: the current push for women’s equality doesn’t fully include all women. Kendall eloquently explains why it’s hard for some women of color to support a feminist movement that glosses over issues specific to them.

Supporting Black Lives Matter- today and every day

• Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry

  • A mother to two boys, Perry walks the reader through what it means to raise Black children in America and how she’s managed to find bright spots in an increasingly dark society. Her writing is heartfelt, reflective, and guaranteed to strike a chord.

• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

  • Coates combines personal experiences with historical accounts to show how big picture issues influence living room conversations. This book relates the past to the present and shares a hopeful vision for the future.

• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

  • If you’re looking for a guide to having honest conversations on the topic of race, add this book to your cart ASAP. It asks the hard questions and gives you the tools to find the answers yourself.

Adding some drama to your day

• Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet

  • Estranged twins, potent secrets, and a TV adaptation on the way—what more can you ask for in a novel? Join the Vignes twins as their paths intertwine after decades of separation and they try to understand each other again. 

• A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

  • Up for a little sleuthing? It’s been five years since Fairview High School’s tragic murder-suicide, but Pip can’t shake the feeling there’s more to the story. Figure out what actually happened and why someone in town doesn’t want Pip to uncover the truth. 

• The Comeback by Ella Berman

  • Hollywood isn’t all glitz and glamour. Grace Turner spent most of her life in the spotlight until her sudden disappearance and late reappearance. Her return reveals the cycle of manipulation, abuse, and unbearable pressure most stars are stuck in—and what it takes to escape it. 

2020 has taught us a lot, but there’s always time to learn more. Drop a few of these books in your tote or stack them on your nightstand, and devote your free time to broadening your perspective. Their messages will ring true long after the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Day.