2025 Year in Review: Books
I look forward to this week of the year every year: it’s a week of relaxation, stretchy pants, and – maybe best of all – everyone’s book list from the previous year.
Here’s my own top ten list of the titles I especially enjoyed in 2025:
A Certain Idea of America: Selected Writings (Peggy Noonan)
I’ve been on a Peggy Noonan bandwagon for the last year or so, having been introduced to her book on speaking by a friend. A Certain Idea directs our attention back to the America we know and love, where dignity and collaboration trumped partisan politics.
The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America (Erik Larson)
Larson is the consummate historian: he takes stories from our past, amps the “story” part to 11, and then rips off the knob. This one is disturbing and fascinating all at the same time.
Everyday Revolutionary: How to Transcend the Culture War and Transform the World (J.D. Greear)
I’ve joked before that I’m contractually obligated to read my pastor’s books. But this one takes the #2 spot of – in my opinion – the best book he’s ever written. (Gaining By Losing is always #1 in my heart.)
How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen (David Brooks)
I’ve now listened to the audiobook version of this one and read the Kindle version. It’s a book to savor and reflect on. (Read my Top Ten Quotes post.)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Rebecca Skloot)
This was my favorite book of this year. Skloot is a science writer who writes like a novelist. Mrs. Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the 50s, and this is the fascinating, tragic story of her cells and the research that came from them. You won’t be able to put it down.
A Non-Anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders (Mark Sayers)
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. It is a calming, reassuring stance on how we faithfully lead in an age of crazy. (See my Top Ten Quotes post.)
Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working (Dan Heath)
I always love Dan’s work. I especially love Dan’s work when one of his stories shines a well-deserved spotlight on the hard work of my oldest son and the team that he leads. (See my Top Ten Quotes post.)
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers (Maria Augusta Trapp)
Merriem and I took Haven on her first international trip to Germany this year, to spend time with one of our missionary families and see their work up close. So naturally we took advantage of the proximity to Austria to jump over the border and do the whole Sound of Music thing. Warning: this actual story by the actual Maria will lead you to sing How do we solve a problem like the dramatic license of the Broadway musical?
Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality (David Benner)
A friend and I went through this together, and while we were in agreement that the title was pretty terrible, the content was solid. (See my Top Ten Quotes post.)
We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance (David Howarth)
I just finished this book the day before writing this post. It is the very true, very fascinating story of a World War II soldier who was the lone survivor of a failed overthrow of Nazi-occupied Norway. The months it took him to escape to freedom – and the number of times he really should have died – is a story worth reading.
Here’s the entire list with Amazon links, if you want to see the covers:
Disclaimer: FTC watchdogs will probably want you to know that the authors represented did not ask for this endorsement, nor did they provide me with free swag in order to do so (unless specifically mentioned otherwise). I’m just a really satisfied customer who wants to let you know where you can get some great products. So there. Further, if you order a resource from a link above, I may receive a small affiliate commission from Amazon. If that bugs you, feel free to bypass my link and buy from a vendor of your choice. But still: buy it. I only promote books that have benefitted me and that I believe will benefit you.
