From all of us at the Los Angeles Public Library, at Central Library, and the 72 branches, we are pleased to present the best books of 2020 as selected by our staff, who volunteered their recommendations. Since 2011 LAPL Reads has offered these. This year has been exceptional for everyone, including all of us, who have met the challenge of working under unusual circumstances. Despite working under different and changing work conditions, everyone has outdone themselves in order to maintain service for all of you, our patrons. There were challenges that the Los Angeles Public Library had to face in the early months of this crisis. Distributors and publishers had to rethink and evaluate the handling and sending out books—even brand new ones. Books are available through Library To Go and through e-media and digital content. Each of us continues to read books published in 2020. I have a stack of books waiting to be read, and there are many books on reserve, with a possible best book among them. We hope there is at least one book, or more, that will make you want to read on and on. This year, in particular, we hope that among the recommended books, you will find several that will enlighten, inspire, bring humor, joy, and possibly distract you, for a while.
For a last-minute holiday gift, there is nothing like a book, and one of our selections might be perfect.
Best Books of 2020
Check the featured book reviews and book lists on LAPL Reads for more suggestions.