It’s the time of year when “best of” lists proliferate, when critics look back on the previous 12 months and select their favorite stuff. The Times’s critics’ 2020 lists are splendid; I’ve already tracked down most of Manohla Dargis’s film picks and a bunch of the best podcasts and have them all ready to go in my various queues. For many of us, if we’ve been lucky, this year has been defined by time spent at home, taking in culture and taking stock. We’ve found movies, books, recipes, shows, routines, sounds, smells and creature comforts that help us feel sane and connected. Anticipating an expanse of unscheduled hours over the holidays, I asked them to give me their personal “best of” lists, the things that helped them lead full and cultured lives in 2020.

Source: New York Times December 23, 2020 21:00 UTC