My 10 Favourite Biographies of 2020

One year ago, I set myself the challenge of reading 35 books. From running ultra-marathons in Death Valley, beating extreme-antibiotic resistant superbugs, surviving off raw fish while stranded in the middle of the Pacific, fighting cancer, and more — these biographies and memoirs have profoundly inspired, and helped me reflect, on the way I look at the world.

Adopting reading into my daily routine has been the single most powerful habit I could've ever asked for this year — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been such an incredible avenue for personal exploration/escapism. Resilience, courage, philanthropy, and a hunger to make a positive difference in the community or world are embodied in each and every one of these 10 incredible memoirs/biographies I read this year: 

1) "When Breath Becomes Air" (Paul Kalanithi)

After being diagnosed with lung cancer, Paul Kalanithi, neurosurgeon and neuroscientist, struggles to redefine, in the face of death, a life worth living — for his patients, for family, and for himself. Poetically powerful, this is, hands down, the best memoir I have ever read, with the perfectly blend of balancing external impact with internal reflection.

2) "Shoe Dog" (Phil Knight)

Phil Knight carries his insatiable passion for running into the foothills of Japan and also into leading him to found one of the world's most reputed brands, Nike. This exemplifies that, if we're passionate about shaping the world in some small or big way — just do it, you won't regret it.

3) "Can't Hurt Me" (David Goggins)

Surrounded by poverty, domestic violence, and with all the odds stacked up against him, Goggins recounts the powerful narrative of how he became an ultra-marathoner and Navy SEAL. Perhaps the most pivotal lesson in this book is that, through personal accountability and persistence, we can shatter both physical and mental barriers.

4) "The Perfect Predator" (Steffanie A. Strathdee)

Acinetobacter baumannii is a type of bacteria that, after decades of healthcare systems prescribing β-lactam antibiotics, has evolved resistance to nearly every single antibiotic we have in our arsenal. When her husband was infected with extreme-drug resistant (XDR) A. baumannii, Steffanie A. Strathdee refused to give up — but rather, resuscitated an age-old treatment using bacteria-killing viruses known as "bacteriophages".

5) "I Am Malala" (Malala Yousafzai)

Many have heard of the story of Malala being shot in her face for her courageous work advocating for girls' and women's right to education. However, for me, unexpectedly, this book also unveiled the powerful connection that Malala has with her family, especially her father, who runs a girls' school in her hometown — and how familial relationships have helped her become the incredibly force that she is.

6) "438 Days" (Jonathan Franklin)

After a powerful sea storm swept his small sailing boat off shore and engine meltdown, Alvarenga's worst dreams were realized as he became stranded at sea for 438 days, and surviving off nothing but raw birds, turtles, and fish. During this time of quarantine, this biography exudes escapism and is an unbelievably captivating tale of survival.

7) "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" (Rebecca Skloot)

Henrietta Lacks (or "HeLa"), a black women living in the early 20th century, was diagnosed with cervical cancer — however, her cells, which over-expressed the enzyme "telomerase", became the first-ever cells to replicate and grow indefinitely (normal cells die after 50 or so replications). Her cells helped with some of the most important scientific advancements such as the development of the polio vaccine, however, her family today cannot afford healthcare and received no cut of profits ever made by "HeLa" cells. This biography was a fascinating and revolutionary snapshot of the interplay between race, science, ethics, and poverty.

8) "Mountains Beyond Mountains" (Tracy Kidder)

Paul Farmer, physician and founder of "Partners in Health", tackles the AIDS epidemics in Haiti — however, for me, the most powerful lesson here is Paul's vision of "transformation over education", and the incredible lengths he goes to make real impact, often hiking miles on end in the Haitian off-trail to see patients. A lesson in philanthropy that can inspire us all.

9) "Man's Search For Meaning" (Viktor Frankl)

Viktor Frankl, psychologist and survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp, reflects on what it means to find hope, meaning, and the courage to keep fighting even in the most dire of circumstances. While the story itself is captivating and heart-wrenching at times, for me, the lesson of "choosing who we struggle for" is universal and everlasting.

10) "The Virgin Way" (Richard Branson)

Richard Branson, business magnate and founder of the "Virgin" collection of companies, teaches us important lessons on how to build a company culture that emphasizes not only teamwork, but more importantly, how to have fun while you're at it. Especially in the face of today's "hustle culture", Branson reminds us that high achievement and having a blast are not mutually exclusive.

Honourable Mentions

• "Principles" (Ray Dalio)
• "Flow" (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)
• "The Third Door" (Alex Banayan)
• "Steve Jobs" (Walter Isaacson)
• "The Ride of a Lifetime" (Bob Iger)
• "Essentialism" (Greg McKeown)
• "The Checklist Manifesto" (Atul Gawande)
• "The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck" (Mark Manson)
• "Becoming" (Michelle Obama)
• "Deep Work" (Cal Newport)
• "Outliers" (Malcolm Gladwell)
• "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (Dale Carnegie)