Year-ender: Top 10 highest-rated books in 2020

Editor's note: "All that mankind has done, thought, gained or been; it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books," said British historian Thomas Carlyle in the 19th century.

The significance of written words has never waned – and is perhaps even more indispensable in the present age with an overflow of information.

Whenever you are in self-quarantine or simply want a break from binge-watching TV shows, a book at hand can always promise quality leisure.

Here we list 10 books in 2020 with the highest ratings on the review site Douban. Most of them are translated masterpieces, involving far-reaching topics such as World War II, feminism, species preservation and art design.

1. The Art of Mondo

Douban rating: 9.6

Based in Austin, Texas, Mondo is an art gallery and online store devoted to the love of film, art, music and collectibles. Over the years, the company has received global recognition for its incredible art posters that bring to life classic films, television shows, and comics from Star Wars to Robocop, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, Game of Thrones and much more.

The Art of Mondo brings together this highly sought-after art in one volume that showcases the incredible ingenuity of the studio's diverse stable of artists whose vastly different styles are united by one guiding principle: limitless passion for their subject matter.