Maybe that’s why some of our favorite books of 2020 are books that gave us reason for hope. Evolutionary biologists, historians, and psychologists all shared their perspectives on human goodness this year, showing how we are surprisingly kind, moral, and friendly toward each other. We learned how altruism can be deliberately cultivated, and how the power of the collective can be harnessed to make positive change in society. That’s all good news.
But alongside hope we also need to take action. To that end, our favorite books focus on how to increase self-understanding and moral courage. If we want to strive for a better future together, free of racism, climate change, and harsh political divides, we need to increase our wisdom, understand our biases, and take better care of ourselves, so we have the energy to be the change agents we want to be.
So, if you’re looking for ways to enhance your well-being, stand up for what you believe in, embrace our common humanity, and find reason to hope for a better future, look no further than this collection of books:
Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit, by Mary-Frances Winters
Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life’s Fundamental Bond, by Lydia Denworth
Humankind: A Hopeful History, by Rutger Bregman
Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness, by Rick Hanson
Perception: How Our Bodies Shape Our Minds, by Dennis Proffitt and Drake Baer
Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives, by Daniel Levitin
The Kindness of Strangers: How a Selfish Ape Invented a New Moral Code, by Michael McCullough
The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again, by Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett
Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a Happier Life, by Ashley Whillans
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, by Vivek Murthy
Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization, by Scott Barry Kaufman
Why We Act: Turning Bystanders into Moral Rebels, by Catherine Sanderson
COOLna 
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