Among the 50 books I read in 2025, I recommend the following 11 non-fiction and 7 fiction works (complete list on Goodreads here. These were the 18 books that I rated a four or five out of five stars.

Non-fiction

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

This is the third or fourth time I’ve read this book and it has stood the test of time. It’s been a few years since I last read it so it was a good reminder that a lot of the things I believe and tell people about writing actually just came from this book. The last 25% is a bit of a slog but nonetheless it remains one of the single books I think every professional should read. 5/5

I. Asimov by Isaac Asimov

I really like reading about how writers make their living. I’ve also been a modest fan of Asimov’s works (I’ve loved what I’ve read I just haven’t read that much). I also love to hear stories of first-generation immigrants to the US and also he lived in New York his whole life so it was quite enjoyable. 4/5

Hollywood by Jeanine Basinger and Sam Wasson

This was 100 years of the evolution of the film industry told basically entirely in disparate interviews edited together. 5/5

The Chief by David Nasaw

I love the history and business of newspapers and media. Moreover it’s the guy that Citizen Kane was based on. 4/5

Brazil by Lilia Moritz Schwarcz and Heloisa Murgel Starling

I have never learned about the history of Brazil and I found this introduction enjoyable. 4/5

The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan

I loved the retelling of human history focused on Persia (and later Iran). 4/5

Louis D. Brandeis by Melvin I. Urofsky

I have never read about a supreme court justice before. This was a well-written biography and introduction to the history of law and law education. 4/5

Personal History by Katharine Graham

Once again I love reading about newspapers and media and the business and history. This was told by the publisher of The Washington Post. 5/5

The Snowball by Alice Schroeder

I’ve had this book about Warren Buffett on my shelf for nearly 10 years and finally went through it this year. A delightful and easy read despite the bulk. I only am unhappy that it focused more on family drama than on business decisions. Par for the course with biographies unfortunately. 4/5

The Cartiers by Francesca Cartier Brickell

This story spanned three or four major wars and a couple of continents. I didn’t think I’d be interested in the history of luxury businesses but it has a lot in common with certain modern industries in tech too. You put premiums on relationships and building good faith and so on. 4/5

Secret Formula by Frederick Allen

A history of Coca-Cola over the last 100 years or so. Lessons on how they dealt with competition (Pepsi and Keurig Dr. Pepper) and product revitalization (New Coke, Diet Coke, etc.). Quite an interesting read. 5/5

Fiction

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

I got into horror fiction last year (not so much slashers but more just one of the better written categories of genre fiction). This book was one of my two favorite novels of the year.

It’s a fictional retelling of American history where a Native American becomes a vampire and takes revenge on American colonizers in the American West. 5/5

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

This was my other favorite novel of the year. I am embarrassed not to have read it before. It’s a dystopian story about the USA if all women were required to give birth to deal with a fertility crisis. 5/5

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab

A French woman gets to live forever but everyone she meets forgets her after leaving her presence. An easy and enjoyable read. 4/5

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

I love a good vampire story, and I love fictional retellings using fantastical horror elements to emphasize atrocities. Vampires employed by the US military help the US in the 1840s take Texas from Mexico. 4/5

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

This was a cute cozy mystery about British witches forced to hide from society, learning how to accept themselves and develop trust in their community. 4/5

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I am likewise embarrassed I have not read this before, nor anything else by Austen. I’m told I haven’t rated it highly enough. I will undoubtedly reread it. I loved the wit. It required closer reading than I expected. 4/5

James by Percival Everett

This was a retelling of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as told by the slave, Jim. If you saw the movie American Fiction a few years ago, it’s the same author (of the original book). Everett has very interesting ideas and I look forward to reading more by him. 4/5