> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Best Books of 2020 - URL: https://www.ivarhagendoorn.com/blog/2020/12/26/the-best-books-of-2020/ - Published: 2020-12-26T11:23:10.000Z - Updated: 2025-02-23T17:36:27.000Z - Description: A selection of the best books I read this year, including best art and architecture, best book by Ali Smith and most disappointing. - Author: Ivar Hagendoorn - Tags: Blog, Literature, Non-Fiction The pile of books that I bought but still have to read is growing at about the same pace as I read. This year I read some of the books that I'd been looking forward to at the end of last year, when I browsed the end of year lists of various newspapers and magazines. Next year I'll be reading some of the books that I'm currently bookmarking. Judea Pearl: The Book of Why Armin Nassehi: Muster. Theorie der digitalen Gesellschaft Jacques Rancière: Aisthesis I've read various books and academic papers about causality and *The Book of Wh*y by Judea Pearl was a real eye-opener. Yes, there is progress in philosophy. This book should be compulsory reading for all university students in all disciplines. *Muster* by Armin Nassehi is a highly insightful analysis of digital society and deserves to be translated into many languages. Jacques Rancière is one of the few philosophers who takes dance as an art form seriously. *Aisthesis* is yet another intriguing book. ### Best Art and Architecture BIG: Formgiving Pepe Karmel: Abstract Art. A Global History Sjeng Scheijen: The Avant-Gardists. The Russian Revolution in Art 1917-1935 Nathalie Heinich: Le paradigme de l'art contemporain I wish I had travelled to Copenhagen to visit *Formgiving* the exhibition, now even more so than at the end of last year. I'd been hoping that the exhibition would travel to another city, Paris, London or Rotterdam. But at least there's now a wonderful book. *Abstract Art. A Global History* is a fascinating new take on the history of abstract art (but with some glaring omissions). *The Avant-Gardists* is an interesting history of the Russian avant-garde, Malevich, Tatlin, El Lissitzky and others. Nathalie Heinich argues that contemporary art constitutes a paradigm different from modern art. It leans a bit too heavily on *Seven Days in the Art World* by Sarah Thornton, an interesting book as well by the way, but I agree with most of her argument. ### Best Fiction Ted Chiang: Exhalation Ted Chiang: Stories of Your Life and Other Stories I greatly enjoyed *Exhalation* so I instantly read *Stories of Your Life and Other Stories* as well. I don't quite understand why these novels are classified as science fiction. Some stories are on par with the best Borges and Calvino. I also enjoyed the trilogy by Rachel Cusk and *Herkunft* by Sasa Stanisic. ### Best Non Fiction Robert MacFarlane: Underland Paul J. Steinhardt: The Second Kind of Impossible ### Best Book by Ali Smith This year I read three books by Ali Smith, *Artful*, *Spring* and *Hotel World*. I loved them all but if I have to pick a favourite I'd pick *Hotel World*. Next year I plan to read three more books by Ali Smith. ### Most Disappointing Sander Kollaard: Uit het leven van een hond Lydia Davis: Collected Stories *Uit het leven van een hond* won a major Dutch literary award so I decided to also read it. Boring and stupid would still be too much praise. It just shows the group think of Dutch critics. I was unimpressed when I read the collected stories of Lydia Davis earlier this year. As a matter of fact I'd completely forgotten I'd read it and noticed it while browsing the list of books I'd read this year. Utterly forgettable.