The HIP Team’s Favorite Books of 2020
Love to read? You are in good company. We, Sean, Kate and McKenna, are writers, readers, educators, habitual self-helpers and book collectors. For every one book we’ve read, we have two on the shelf waiting. Reading is a place of safety, solace and truth and many of our friends are authors, storytellers and poets.
We, collectively, have several half-written books, dreamt-up screenplays, semi-rehearsed comedy routines ready at a moment's notice, as well as multiple journals, each with a specific purpose.
We are researchers, lovers of the written word and are passionate about health (obviously). Many of our selections are non-fiction, but we also have eclectic interests and tastes, so a few may surprise you.
Kate’s Picks
IN CONCLUSION: DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT
I gift this book for every graduation and then listen to it myself on Audible. If you are a Gilmore Girls fan, Lauren Graham’s wit and wisdom go far beyond the lines written by Amy Sherman-Palladino graced with Lorelai Gilmore’s infallible delivery. It is an incredible reminder of what is important in life and how the little moments are often more gratifying than the big wins. She uses her own triumphs and “senior slumps” to teach some valuable lessons. How does one tiny book make you laugh out loud and cry? It’s hard to say, but it is not just for graduates. I learn something new each time I listen.
THE GIFTS OF IMPERFECTION
I read this (and a few other books penned by Brené Brown) every year. It is a fantastic reminder of what is important to you and true about yourself. We often get caught up in who we should be or could be or want to seem and lose sight of who we truly are...deep down. It takes practice to be okay with that person - to love and honor that person. Brené Brown is a master of conducting research, analyzing it and laying it out in a way that makes us feel less alone. In this book she explains how to practice wholehearted living and explains why we are enough no matter what or how much we accomplish in a day. I repeat...you are enough no matter what or how much you accomplished today. It is packed with practical wisdom, which we love, and she offers clear steps for altering your thoughts and path and view of yourself. If it couldn’t get better, the last chapter illustrates how laughter, dance and music feed the soul. AND she created a workbook for self-reflection and growth. Enough said.
ONE LAST TALK
This book was recommended to us by one of our podcast guests, Dr. Nick Sheeran. It is essentially a collection of life-altering moments that have changed the life of the storyteller with the purpose of changing that of the reader. Author/speaker/coach, Philip McKernan is gifted at getting others to share raw, shame-filled and deeply personal moments so that they might let go of that shame and help others in the process.
Through her research, Brene Brown shows us how shame can separate and isolate while empathy can connect us.
This book is an emotionally difficult read at times, but an important one that has the ability to change practices and perspective.
McKenna’s Picks
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told: An Oral History
This is a must-read and a must-listen! The hard copy is filled with delightful and albeit embarrassing pictures of authors Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, while the audiobook is easy on the ears with effortless conversation and much-expected humor. It is a heart-warming and honest portrayal of their relationship with a vulnerability (and charming vulgarity) that makes you laugh and laugh.
Save me the plums
A culinary and artistic treasure, Ruth Reichl unveils her time at Gourmet Magazine, where she was appointed Editor-in-Chief in 1999, a time she reflects on with great humor and humility. As mere readers, we are gifted a glimpse of a large crossroads in her career, and aside from the obvious culinary indulgences, Ruth’s storytelling helps us remember what it’s like to face an unexpected and exciting new challenge, all while wondering if we’re actually up to the task. Regardless of your familiarity with the food community in New York, you’ll get a crash course in publishing as well as a clever and honest discussion that will have you considering your own forks in the road.
A Crack in creation
This was a reread for me this year, prompted by the author’s 2020 Nobel Prize achievement. If you’ve been with us from the beginning, you’ve likely pieced together the interests of our science-obsessed clan, from quiet exchanges and geeky gabfests. (You can only imagine what has been edited out.) This book is a must-read for any explorer of new scientific pursuits. It follows Jennifer Doudna’s journey developing CRISPR/Cas9, the “unthinkable” reality of genome editing and the inner workings of the minds that brought forth one of the most important advances of our era. It’s meticulous, inspired and surprisingly human.
Sean’s Picks
A VAST, UNTETHERED OCEAN
A Vast, Untethered Ocean was written by my friend RD Pires, so I am a little biased, but I’m also unashamed to say that it has stuck with me after reading. It covers important topics such as love, loss, suicide, moving on, getting stuck in the past, trying and perhaps failing to live in the moment. There are crucial lessons to be learned, and by the end of the journey, I truly felt I knew the various characters intimately - as if I had gone on this journey with them. It’s a great book to laugh and cry with - just like the best songs, it can make you happy and sad, perhaps all at the same time. A brilliant, emotional ride of a book!
HOPSCOTCH: A NOVEL
This book is incredibly fascinating! My friend sent it to me as a birthday present this year, as it is a meaningful connection for us - it was originally in Spanish, and now that I somewhat understand the structure of the story, I can only imagine what an immense undertaking it must have been to translate this to English and stay true to the original vision.
There are several ways to read it - you are more than welcome to read it in the order the chapters are laid out, but that is not necessarily the whole story. No, it is set up to be a series of different chapters all mixed up. There is a suggested order inside the book, but I’ve also heard you can essentially choose your own order. Each way of reading offers a different experience, which when you think about the title, it actually makes sense. It was a refreshing way to read a book compared to most, and though it was written in the 1960s, it’s still a great read today!
MOrgan’s Picks
In Five Years
This book was recommended to me by a friend and quickly became a book I couldn’t put down. The novel carries you through a period of five years. Five years full of unpredicted moments, events and tragedies. Through the story, we see a glimpse of the future and a flash of the past. The book, while fictional, got me thinking of how unpredictable life can be and what my own life might look like in 5 years.
THe Panic Button Book: Relieve Stress and Anxiety Whenever They Strike
Author Tammi Kirkness spoke on the podcast during the Coping Mini-Series with so much insight and knowledge. The way I discovered The Panic Button is actually quite a funny story. I found the book in the aisle of Target the day before Tammi’s publicist reached out to the podcast. Talk about meant to be! This book was one of my favorite reads of 2020 and I absolutely loved listening to her episode. This check-in style book was perfect when I was feeling stressed (which, who wasn’t this year?!). Each page allows you to check in on your emotions and steady yourself.
What did you read this year? Tag us on Instagram @theHIPpodcast.