Reading list

100+ Must-Read Books In 2020.

Each year we ask you what books have inspired you, or that you have given to others. Then we take your answers, plus add a few of our own and turn them into our annual list. We hope it proves useful.

Wellbeing

by David Brooks

The Second Mountain

An exploration of what it takes to lead a meaningful life in a self-centered world. A true understanding of how to live for you and for others.

by Wim Hof

The Wim Hof Method

This book will change your life. It will show you how to tap into your body and mind’s amazing potential.

by Isabel Hardman

Natural Health Service

A fascinating study into the benefits that the great outdoors can bring to our mental health.

by Katherine May

Wintering

A gentle exploration of the dark season of life, and how we can learn to accept it, learn from it, and welcome the new season in.

by Jenny Odell

How To Do Nothing

Everything is out to steal our attention. Information is everywhere. Behold: an action plan for resistance.

by Robert Bright

Vagus Nerve

The key to overcoming depression and reducing chronic pain may well lie in our understanding of how our nervous system works.

by Anthony de Mello

The Way To Love

31 beautiful meditations that grapple with the ultimate question of love and how to break through the great obstacle to love.

by Kapil Gupta

Direct Truth

A deep dive in to the non-prescriptive Truths to the enduring questions of life. A no nonsense look at how you can get to the heart of the matter.

by Chalmers Brothers

Language and the Pursuit of Happiness

How understanding language and conversation can lead to improved relationships at home and at work and, ultimately, make us happier.

by David Foster Wallace

This is Water

A quick read but one that will stay with you for days, weeks and months after you have put it done. Profound advice on how to live in the 21st century.

Money

by Morgan Housel

The Psychology of Money

Truly insightful and bursting with interesting ideas and practical takeaways. Essential reading for anyone interested in being better with money.

by Jason A. Williams

Bitcoin: Hard Money You Can’t F*ck With

Bitcoin. No-one controls it. No governments, no companies, no central banks, no money printing. It’s a revolution as big as the internet. This book explains how it works simple, readable terms.

by Satoshi Nakamoto

The White Paper

Published in 2008 and described what would later be known as Bitcoin is now known as the Rosetta Stone of the Blockchain world. Revolutionary.

by Naval Ravikant

How To Get Rich Without Getting Lucky

The tweetstorm that went viral from a modern thinker on the complete wealth-creating process and how to make that work for you.

by Julie Ann Cairns

The Abundance Code

How to re-write your subconscious programming to make sure that you are consciously attracting your goals for financial freedom.

by Darren Hardy

The Compound Effect

Small consistent actions will bring long-term rewards. That is the key thinking made in this pithy look at how to kickstart your life and success.

by James Suzman

Affluence Without Abundance

Filled with important insights that range from hunting to how we think about time, money, or success. A unique look at how we have gotten to where we are.

by Dr Seuss

Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

A combination of mastery, mystery, and possibility, Dr. Seuss’s zany learnings and heart-felt messages have only grown in popularity since it was published.

by Tony Robbins

Money Master Game

A giant in the industry, Tony’s timeless words of wisdom that action is stronger than knowledge have a place more now than ever.

by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Skin In The Game

Do beats Explain every time. To make a difference to things, you need to have skin in the game, once you have that, everything else changes.

Creativity

BY Simon Porte Jacquemus

Images

Shot entirely on iPhone, Wanderlust, or at least the whimsy of a spirited holiday is the first effect the book might have.

BY Tom Kundig

Working Title

Be transported into the woods of the Pacific Northwest with the Kundig’s fourth monolith as he shows his daunting design instincts are reaching new heights.

BY Rha Goddess

The Calling

Everyone has one. A calling. But how do you make sure you follow it, stay true and still get paid. This definitive 6 step method will show you how.

BY Eric Jorgenson

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

Getting rich is not just about luck; happiness is not just a trait we are born with. Building wealth and being happy are skills we can learn.

BY Seth Godin

The Practice

Back with his incredible perspective on the power of creativity, in his latest book Seth Godin shares the pattern to successful creative work.

BY Brené Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection

How to live with authenticity and value. How to leave behind guilt. A must-read for knowing how to address the ‘where do I start?’ question.

BY Glennon Doyle

Untamed

A rare thing that manages to shake you awake by the shoulders and fill your heart with warmth and certainty at the same time.

BY Richard Cohen

How To Write Like Tolstoy

A journey into the mind of the greatest writers of our time. This will not only show you how to improve your practice but give you a few good laughs to boot.

BY Eugene M. Schwartz

Breakthrough Advertising

This book is the definition of a game-changer. Worth every penny it will transform the way you do business through and through.

BY Rupi Kaur

Home Body

A collection of reflective and intimate poems that take the reader on a journey visiting the past, the present, and the potential of the self.

Environment

BY David Attenborough

A Life on Our Planet

The man who has been there and seen it all shares his thought-provoking piece on the future of our planet and what we need to do before it is too late.

BY John Armstrong

The Future of Energy

An accessible look at the challenges the energy industry faces today from an engineer who has seen both sides of the coin.

BY Ryan M. Katz-Rosene & Sarah J. Martin

Green Meat?

A great look at the debate around food consumption and production on a global scale. Not an easy read but an insightful one.

BY Matt Ridley

How Innovation Works

Innovation is not just something for the mavericks. It is useful in all aspects of life, especially how we live our lives in the most sustainable way for the planet.

BY Tim Lang

Feeding Britain

Politics and Pizza. They might not seem like a likely combination but how and what we eat in Britain is changing. How do we set the course for the future?

BY Chris Smaje

A Small Farm Future

A modern classic in the making. A rich, witty read that gets to the heart of the issue of localism and sustainable food production.

BY James Rebanks

English Pastoral

One of the most important books of 2020. If we want the land to look after us, we need to learn to look after the land in this nostalgic look at the passing of time.

BY Paul Jepson & Cain Blythe

Rewilding

Hope and purpose. Rewilding is breathing new life into the conservation movement and allowing people to have incredible new experiences.

BY Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine Wilkinson

All We Can Save

Provocative and illuminating essays from women at the forefront of the climate movement, this book intermixing essays with poetry and art.

BY Christiana Figueres & Tom Rivett-Carnac

The Future We Choose

Practical, optimistic and empowering, this is a book for every generation and shows us the exciting world we can all be part of creating.

Future You

BY Benjamin Hardy

Personality Isn’t Permanent

Change your environment. Change your life. By crushing an outdated paradigm it gives you the processes to create a bigger, bolder future.

BY Danny Penman, J. Mark, G. Williams & Mark Williams

Mindfulness

An 8-week program designed to help those who are struggling with their off-switch settle into their best mindful practice.

BY Joe Dispenza

You Are the Placebo

The power of the mind coupled with the power of placebo can change your life. Joe Dispenza shows you how to perfect mastery over both of these things.

BY Russ Harris

The Happiness Trap

An easy to follow practical guide to living a fulfilling life and avoid reaching the gates of overwhelm.

BY Rob Hopkins

From What Is to What If

There are times when the state of the future can look dire, Rob Hopkins shows that with the right application, we can create the future we truly want.

BY Tara Brach

Radical Compassion

World-renowned meditation teacher Tara Brach shares a four-step practice to awaken compassion and release the grip of painful emotions.

BY Katherine Schwarzenegger

The Gift of Forgiveness

An uplifting look at what forgiveness can do for the giver and the receiver, how it can improve your life and relationships.

BY Laura Huang

Edge

Be authentic and distinct. Provide value to others. Packed with fascinating stories, Edge is a must-read for anyone seeking to stand out from the crowd.

BY BJ Fogg

Tiny Habits

This book is one that can’t just read once. It will be a well-thumbed copy you return to again and again. The learnings inside will change your life.

BY Anese Cavanaugh

Contagious You

A critical toolkit that helps you create and maintain an authentic and sustainable culture of engagement in your organisation.

Soulful CEO.

BY Maurice Sendak

Where The Wild Things Are

More than a beautifully written children’s tale, there is a clear message here: You have to believe in yourself. You have adventure within you, just believe.

BY Yancey Strickler

This Could Be Our Future

Focusing on the betterment of social and environmental goals. Kickstarter founder Yauncey Strickler’s manifesto for a better world is inspiring.

BY Jerry Colonna

Reboot

Using a mixture of Jungian therapy, Buddhist techniques and straight talking learn to achieve your potential and your goals.

BY Keith J. Cunningham

The Road Less Stupid

Smart people do dumb things. Happens to the best of us. These strategies in this book will make sure you never make a dumb business decision again.

BY Dan Sullivan

Who Not How

A simple mindset shift can change it all. You are not an island. Teams win and this will teach you how to use the power of others to achieve your goals.

BY Yvon Chouinard

Let My People Go Surfing

In this iconic read, Patagonia’s founder shares the persistence that has gone into being one of the most respected companies on earth.

BY Amy Edmondson

The Fearless Organization

Innovation. Creativity. Workplace Cornerstones. What about the ability to freely share your ideas? How can you create a space for that to happen?

BY Rebecca M. Henderson

Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire

Capitalism has become a dirty word, tainted by the big powers of the world. But what if we could claim it back and make it work for everyone?

BY Bretton Putter

Own Your Culture

Culture is vital to a company’s success and happiness. The problem is where to start. These techniques mean anyone can kickstart their company’s culture.

BY Catherine Bishop

The Long Win

In a culture that can be obsessed with winning, this is a welcome re-define of what success can look like in the longer term.

Food

BY Steven Gundry

The Longevity Paradox

Our gut bugs play a much larger role in our life than we might think, how long we live, what illnesses we may get. Here are some simple life hacks to help them.

BY André Balazs

Chiltern Firehouse

Reimagined classics and bold new flavours ready to be tackled by novices and professionals alike. Nuno Mendes has captured the essence of the Firehouse.

BY Magnus Nilsson

Fäviken

A vital commentary on food culture, the hospitality industry and the highs and lows that can be found within the heat of the kitchen.

BY Pippa Middlehurst

Dumplings and Noodles

Perfect for beginners or intermediates looking to cook up an authentic Asian food storm in their kitchen. From comfort food to a feast this book covers it all.

BY Letitia Clark

Bitter Honey

The ethos behind each of these Sardinian recipes is as strong as the flavours they hold. Prepare to be transported to this beautiful Mediterranean Island.

BY Diana Henry

From the Oven to the Table

Perfect for the colder months, the one-pot wonders offered up in this book will warm your soul as well as fill your stomach.

BY Ixta Belfrage, Tara Wigley, and Yotam Ottolenghi

Ottolenghi Flavor

The book is broken down into three parts, which reveal how to tap into the potential of ordinary vegetables to create extraordinary food.

BY Ravinder Bhogal

Jikoni

Lawless concoctions that draw their influences from both Indian and British traditions, this is an example of fusion cuisine at its finest.

BY Lara Lee

Coconut & Sambal

More than 80 recipes from an Indonesian kitchen interwoven with tales from the Islands be prepared to turn your kitchen into a mouth-watering oasis.

BY Chad Robertson

Tartine Bread

Not all bread is created equal. A bread bible from one of the most regarded bread makers in the world, learn to perfect the centerpiece of every meal.

BY Limi Robinson

The Girl from Tel Aviv

More than a cookbook, this book is a true love song to a city. Childhood memories cross paths with recipes to open up Tel Aviv to the reader.

Sport and Adventure

BY Ruqsana Begum

Born Fighter

A true tale of empowerment that will inspire anyone who has ever had to battle against the odds and against all the opposition to achieve their goal.

BY Robert Macfarlane

The Old Ways

Discover a lost world of the British Isles, you will want to wander at every opportunity and it will be impossible to take an unremarkable walk again.

BY Kobe Bryant

The Mamba Mentality

The personal perspective of the life and career of one of the world’s most incredible players both on and off the basketball court.

BY Roger Deakin

Wildwood

An unmatched exploration of our relationship with trees that takes the reader around the world and into the heart of the woods where we grow and change.

BY Mami Wata

Afrosurf

Funded on Kickstarter, this is the first book to comprehensively document and celebrate surfing and related street culture in Africa.

BY Daniel Coyle

The Culture Code

Mastered by some of the greatest companies in the world, these three skills will change the way you work, lead, and the impact you have on the world.

BY Hugh Delehanty and Phil Jackson

Eleven Rings

Head coach of the L.A Lakers, Phil Jackson is one of the most innovative leaders of our time and here he shares his story and the secrets to his success.

BY Kamal Ravikant

Rebirth

An inspiring novel about what happens when you learn to listen to your heart and follow your truth told through the eyes of a reluctant pilgrim.

BY Vince Lombardi

The Lombardi Rules

This concise yet comprehensive book is packed with proven insights and techniques that are especially valuable in today’s hard-fought business arena.

BY Rob Kearney

No Hiding

One of the most unflinching Rugby players of all time, the most decorated Irish player of all time shares his high and lows of the game that has defined his life.

Black Lives Matter

BY Reni Eddo-Lodge

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race

The book that sparked a national conversation. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand race relations in Britain today.

BY Ibram X. Kendi

How to Be an Antiracist

It is not enough to not be a racist. That neutrality can be just as dangerous. We have to pro-active in our stance against anti-racism.

BY Bernardine Evaristo

Girl, Woman, Other

This booker prize winner novel, that follows the stories of 12 women is a much needed love song to black women in modern Britain.

BY Maya Schenwar

Who Do You Serve, Who Do You Protect?

A harsh look at the inequalities raced by black and indigenous communities by the police force across the UK and how to tackle these issues.

BY Ijeoma Oluo

So You Want to Talk About Race

Answering the questions that readers don’t dare to ask, Ijeoma Oluo messages are passionate but finely tuned about the race issues across modern American.

BY James Baldwin

The Fire Next Time

Written in 1963, James Baldwin’s plea to unify the races across America is still as hardhitting today. He writes with a fire in his heart and a poet’s soul.

BY Angela Y. Davis

Women, Race & Class

A hard read but an important one. Filled with moments that the history of the women’s rights movement has pushed to the side, a truly eye-opening read.

BY Afua Hirsch

Brit(ish)

A personal and provocative exploration of how Britain as a nation came to be so in denial about it’s imperial past and the racism that attacks its present.

BY Yomi Adegoke

Slay In Your Lane

An honest, provocative book recognises and celebrates the strides black women have already made, while providing practical advice to forge a better future.

BY Dr Jennifer Eberhardt

Biased

Every day, unconscious biases affect our visual perception, memory and behaviour in subtle and difficult to see ways. How do we overcome these?

Education

BY Nancy Kline

More Time to Think

The quality of what we do, depends on the quality of how we think. Here are effective ways to help people think with imagination and courage.

BY Wendell Berry

What Are People For?

A collection of 22 groundbreaking essays offering both sound advice and deep concern for the future and how we can pull together to make a difference.

BY Howard Gardner

The Unschooled Mind

The current educational system works for the few not the many. What would happen if we re-designed it so that it was for the benefit of the children using it?

BY Ken Robinson & Lou Aronica

You, Your Child, and School

What is the best way to support your child through the years in education? This guide dispels myths and controversies and gets right to the heart of it.

BY John Cleese

Creativity

Creativity is not limited to a few great minds. Anyone can be creative, John Cleese through a mixture of practical advice and humour shows just how.

BY Warren Berger

The Book of Beautiful Questions

No question is a stupid question but there are those that will help you get to the matter in hand, to help you progress and find the answers you need.

BY Sönke Ahrens

How to Take Smart Note

Note taking is an art. Take the right notes and your ideas flow, the wrong ones and you are setting yourself up to fail. Here is how to make the right ones.

BY Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman

Lives of the Stoics

A look at the lives of those who chose to live by the stoic values of courage, justice, temperance and wisdom and how those teachings can be applied today.

BY Kam Knight

Mind Mapping

A thorough look at one of the most effective ways to organise thoughts. There is a method to the madness here and strategies to make the most of your tools.

BY Philippa Perry

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read

In this absorbing, clever and funny book, renowned psychotherapist Philippa Perry tells us what really matters and what behaviour it is important to avoid.

Change Makers

BY Greta Thunberg

No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference

A collection of powerful speeches from one of the most important influences of our time. Proving all you need is passion and a voice to make a difference.

BY Kate Raworth

Doughnut Economics

Moving beyond the myths of ‘rational economic man’ and unlimited growth and looking at a system that meets all our needs without exhausting the planet.

BY JIM MCKELVEY

The Innovation Stack

An irreverent first-person look inside the world of entrepreneurship, and a call to action for all of us to find the entrepreneur within ourselves.

BY Lane Moore

How to Be Alone

A beautiful and raw read, a book that will make you feel seen and understood if you have ever struggled with the idea of being alone.

BY Rhiannon Beaubien & Shane Parrish

The Great Mental Models

The secret to better decision-making is learning things that won’t change. Master a number of concepts that help you understand how the world works.

BY Linda Scott

The Double X Economy

A groundbreaking examination of women’s economic empowerment and how the removal of the barrier’s to women’s success is a win for everyone.

BY Jane Davidson

#futuregen

The world’s first piece of legislation to place sustainable practice at the heart of government, where did it come from? Well, just a little country called Wales.

BY Michael Braungart & William McDonough

Cradle to Cradle

How to re-design products so that they can be of value to us as humans and also give value to Earth when the item has come to the end of its life.

BY Janine Benyus

Biomimicry

Must reading for anyone interested in the shape of our future by taking a look at nature’s most successful ideas and how we can apply those to humankind.

BY Claudia Rankine

Just Us

An invitation to discover what it takes to stay in the room together, and to breach the silence, guilt and violence that surround whiteness.

BY Ijeoma Oluo

Mediocre

As provocative as it is essential, a look at how to imagine a new white male identity, one free from racism and sexism.

BY Susan Fowler

Whistleblower

A story of determination and resilience about what it means to speak up for what is right.

2-20 DO Book Co Releases

BY Andrew Paynter

DO Photo

If you only read one book on photography, let it be this one. This considered approach is perfect for the novice, the professional and everyone in between.

BY James Otter

DO Make

We are all makers. From brewing our morning coffee to folding a paper aeroplane, we find it satisfying to create something that didn’t exist before.

BY Tim Drake

DO Agile

Today’s world requires a new type of toolkit. One that helps build mental resilience, a growth mindset, and a positive outlook.

BY David Hieatt

The Path of a DOer

A re-realease of this pocket guide to helping you to achieve more. To help you understand the ebb and flow of making something happen.

BY Mark Shayler

DO Present

If you’re starting a new business or you’re the rebel inside, this is for you. This is about being innovative. Making a difference.

Phew

Thank you for making it all the way to the bottom of the list. Our aim was to share useful and inspiring books.

100+ Mu.css-tb4lzl{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;min-width:0;font-family:DO;}st-Read Books In 2020.

Wellbeing

The Second Mountain

The Wim Hof Method

Natural Health Service

Wintering

How To Do Nothing

Vagus Nerve

The Way To Love

Direct Truth

Language and the Pursuit of Happiness

This is Water

Money

The Psychology of Money

Bitcoin: Hard Money You Can’t F*ck With

The White Paper

How To Get Rich Without Getting Lucky

The Abundance Code

The Compound Effect

Affluence Without Abundance

Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Money Master Game

Skin In The Game

Creativity

Images

Working Title

The Calling

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

The Practice

The Gifts of Imperfection

Untamed

How To Write Like Tolstoy

Breakthrough Advertising

Home Body

Environment

A Life on Our Planet

The Future of Energy

Green Meat?

How Innovation Works

Feeding Britain

A Small Farm Future

English Pastoral

Rewilding

All We Can Save

The Future We Choose

Future You

Personality Isn’t Permanent

Mindfulness

You Are the Placebo

The Happiness Trap

From What Is to What If

Radical Compassion

The Gift of Forgiveness

Edge

Tiny Habits

Contagious You

Soulful CEO.

Where The Wild Things Are

This Could Be Our Future

Reboot

The Road Less Stupid

Who Not How

Let My People Go Surfing

The Fearless Organization

Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire

Own Your Culture

The Long Win

Food

The Longevity Paradox

Chiltern Firehouse

Fäviken

Dumplings and Noodles

Bitter Honey

From the Oven to the Table

Ottolenghi Flavor

Jikoni

Coconut & Sambal

Tartine Bread

The Girl from Tel Aviv

Sport and Adventure

100+ Must-Read Books In 2020.