David Epstein

In tough times—and there’s no doubt that 2020 qualifies as tough times—those of us who love to read turn to all kinds of different books. This year, sometimes I chose to go deeper on a difficult subject, like the injustices that underlie this year’s Black Lives Matter protests. Other times I needed a change of pace, something lighter at the end of the day. As a result, I read a wide range of books, and a lot of excellent ones. Here are five books on a variety of subjects that I’d recommend as we wrap up 2020. I hope you find something that helps you—or the book lover in your life—finish the year on a good note.

A powerful argument for how to succeed in any field: develop broad interests and skills while everyone around you is rushing to specialize.

This album consists of music I have written while living in Reno, NV. While in Reno, I’ve been fortunate enough to perform, study, travel and hang with countless amazing musicians and people, and I’ve had many life-changing experiences for which I'm grateful. These compositions are my attempt to reflect the best and worst moments of my development as an artist and human being. Working on this music has taught me how each moment of happiness, sorrow, stress, and love has been essential to my life’s process; being able to play and share my music helps me make sense of the world and my place in it.