Reading like it's my job #18 - Most anticipated books (and movies) of 2020
New year, new decade, new lists! I love making lists and goals. My plans rarely pan out, but I keep making them and hoping.
Quick 2019 recap: I wanted to read 36 books in 2019 and I ended up reading 34. I also set a personal record of pages read with 10,826. I'm proud of those numbers. The table below details what I was planning on reading in 2019 and what I actually read.
Pretty lousy job at sticking to the plan. Goal for 2020: Do better at sticking to reading plan.
Below is the beginning of the 2020 reading plan. I expect it to evolve as the year progresses. I want to read books that will help me with my 2020 goals of being a better leader, being more intentional with personal finance and parenting, and increasing my spirituality. I also want to read plenty for fun!
Leadership Books
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin – Written by a former Navy Seal so it must be good.
Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris – Book 2 in a trilogy. Book 1 was amazing.
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin – Abe Lincoln being a boss and surrounding himself with people who disagreed with him.
Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday – I’ve heard great things and I could use more stillness.
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek – I like his Ted talks so I’m curious about his books. This one came recommended.
Call Sign Chaos by Jim Mattis – General Mattis is former Secretary of Defense. This one also came highly recommended.
Crucial Conversations by Al Switzler, Joseph Grenny, and Ron McMillan – I don’t want to read this but I’m going to force myself so I can get better at having tough conversations that I don’t want to have.
Personal Finance Books (please send more ideas!)
The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko – I googled “Best personal finance books” and this came up again and again. If you have recommendations for personal finance books with actionable insight, please send them to me!
Books to boost spirituality (please send more ideas!)
The Book of Mormon – This is the Sunday School course of study this year and I’m excited to re-read it.
Parenting Books (please send more ideas!)
I have two sons ages four and two. Any recommendations are most welcome!
Fun Stuff
Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry – The next book in the Lonesome Dove series. Yee haw!
Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky – A classic that Jordan Peterson spoke highly of in 12 Rules for Life.
Educated by Tara Westover – I’ve heard nothing but good things so it’s time I read it. My wife loved it.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch – Crouch lives in Colorado which makes him instantly cool.
Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin – I’ll go at a slower pace this year with this series but I still want to make progress.
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman – Reading this for book club at work and loving it so far. I’ll likely read the entire trilogy if things continue to go well.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – I’ve heard great things and I want to see the movie after reading.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Must read before seeing the new movie.
Clearly, I have enough ideas to get started, but I need to beef up the finance and spirituality sections and find some good parenting books. Please send recommendations if you have any!
Most Anticipated Moves of 2020
Since I love movies so much, I can't help but document the ones I'm most excited about this year:
1. Top Gun 2 - I’m seeing this in IMAX the weekend it comes out because I love Tom Cruise and Top Gun is one of my favorite movies ever.
2. Mulan - My son loves the animated version and who doesn’t? We’ll make a theater trip for this one.
3. Tenet - I can’t miss a Christopher Nolan movie in the theater, that would just be wrong.
4. Call of the Wild - Harrison Ford in a beloved Jack London novel adaptation? Yep, I’m there.
5. Wonder Woman 1984 - I hope this is a worthy follow up to the 2017 hit. I <3 Gal Gadot.
6. Dune – I don’t think I’d be considered a fan of science fiction if I didn’t see this. I trust the director Denis Villenueve 100% and hope his creative vision comes to full fruition.
7. No Time to Die – Gotta see Bond in the theater, especially since it’s the sendoff for Daniel Craig!
8. Soul (Pixar) – Directed by Pete Doctor, who is amazing, with a talented voice cast.
9. Fast and Furious 9 – The next logical place for this franchise to go is outer space. If that happens in this movie, I’m in.
10. Eternals – I know nothing about this comic book but the cast is so impressive that if this scores an 80% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes, I’ll go see it.
That will do it for me this week. Let's have a great year! Let me know what you're excited about in 2020.
Kyle