Books I enjoyed in 2025
2025 was a fascinating year for me in books. In a year where I worked more hours than ever before, I ended up reading way more too. The content mix changed too - over the past few years, I had been drifting further and further into non-fiction (over fiction) but this year fiction came back with a bang. To be fair, I consumed a ton of non-fiction content via podcasts and Youtube, nevertheless, 2025 was the year fiction made a triumphant return into my reading hours.
Before I delve into the books I enjoyed and would recommend, here is how Gemini summarized my reading this past year.
"2025 has been a year of sprawling empires, divine power struggles, and deep dives into the mechanics of our modern world. My reading list this year spanned 37 books, taking me from the dragon-filled skies of the Empyrean to the high-stakes boardrooms of Silicon Valley. Whether I was exploring the philosophy of time management or the intricate politics of faerie courts, each book offered a new lens through which to view the world. Below is a breakdown of my journey through fiction and non-fiction this year."
Non-Fiction
As I had mentioned in my post last year, I consume much of my non-fiction content on Audible, Spotify Premium or by borrowing audiobooks from Libby (public library). Of the dozen books I listened to, almost all of them had something interesting to say and for me to learn. But if I were to pick 3 that I would recommend, here they are.
Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff - This book more than any other, transformed how I viewed my own work and in figuring out the purpose of why I do what I do. It is a meditative book that allows for a lot of introspection. I listened to the audiobook and then purchased a Kindle copy to refer to. I also made my own iOS app as a companion to the book and the lessons learned. A very actionable book - highly recommended.
Meditations for Mortals/ Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman - These are really two books but I think they make for a good pair. Oliver Burkeman has an accessible style to capture some of the challenges many of us feel with our work. He acknowledges it, doesn't ask you to do things that you can't do, rather, helps you get a better grip on it. I found both books super fun to listen to and very relatable.
The Thinking Machine by Stephen Witt - I was tempted to pair this with “The Optimist” which talks about Sam Altman and OpenAI but ultimately settled on the Nvidia/Jensen deep dive by Stephen Witt. If you want to understand the man behind the most valuable company in the world, start here. It's an engaging listen. On my list for the new year is the companion piece “The Nvidia Way” By Tae Kim.
Fiction
Unsurprisingly, almost all the fiction books I read this year fell under the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre. There was a bunch of romantasy, some fantasy and a bunch of Sci-Fi. Even the pulpy ones were a decent timepass - nothing new, largely predictable but still fast paced and interesting enough to commit to.
Having heard so much about Sarah J.Maas, I started (and finished) the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series (more popularly known as ACOTAR). Some books were really good, others more romance and less action, either way, I stuck it out to finish it. The same goes for “The Blood and Ash” series from Jennifer L. Armentrout. Interesting enough to keep me going till I finished the series last month. Bonus, in a year of 5 and 6 book collections, having a simple duology was good. Dan Brown’s long awaited next book and one of this year’s biggest fiction releases, “The Secret of Secrets” was predictable and decent. The history lesson was good, the story could have been better. I am midway through “The Bridge Kingdom” series by Danielle L. Jensen and hope to finish it early in the year. Ultimately, while all of the aforementioned books were good enough, the books I will recommend are the following.
The Hierarchy Series by James Islington (The Will of the Many/ The Strength of the Few) - These books were really really good and I enjoyed them a lot. I read them towards the end of the year but recency bias aside, they were some of the best. The story is fresh - there is a bit of Harry Potter, some Hunger Games, a little bit of Red Rising series but ultimately, a really unique mix of science fiction and fantasy that kept me hooked throughout. The writing is solid, and just some of the most fun I had this year. Highly recommended. I cant wait for book 3 of the planned quartet.
The Crucible Series (The Games Gods Play/ The Things Gods Break) by Abigail Owen - Another surprising but refreshing read - this one takes the Greek Gods mythology, blends it with a lot of fantasy and a bit of science fiction making it a fun and unique read. Cant wait for the third book to drop in 2026.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo - This is my first book of Leigh Bardugo’s. Didn't know what to expect, didn't see where the plot was going for the first bit of the book but ultimately was a satisfying story that kept me hooked.
Honorable Mentions - I enjoyed the sequel to Danielle L. Jensen’s “A Fate Inked in Blood”, namely “A Curse Carved in Bone”. The much awaited Onyx Storm was good, could have been better but moved the plot along just enough to make me want to stick with the series for the next book. “Shield of Sparrows” by Devney Perry was another one of those that I didnt know what to expect but was a super fun read.
The Full Reading List from 2025
Non-fiction
World Eaters by Catherine Bracy - An urgent look at how venture capital impacts our economy and the potential for cannibalizing long-term growth for short-term gains. While the book raises some interesting questions, it drifts into a bunch of unrelated topics making it a less compelling overall book.
The Thinking Machine by Stephen Witt - A deep dive into Jensen Huang and the rise of Nvidia as it fuels the global AI revolution. This is a terrific book - recommended.
The Optimist by Keach Hagey - A timely profile of Sam Altman and OpenAI, documenting the high-stakes race to build the future of intelligence. A good book to get to know the face of OpenAI, Sam Altman.
Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff - A refreshing guide to productivity that favors small, manageable trials over the pressure of grand, rigid goals. This is a terrific actionable book - highly recommended.
The Courage to Be Happy by Ichiro Kishimi - Using Adlerian psychology, this book offers a profound conversation on finding happiness by letting go of past traumas. A follow-up to the brilliant “The Courage to be Disliked” - a great book if you want to learn more about Adlerian philosophy.
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman - A philosophical take on time management that encourages us to embrace our limitations. I loved it. Fast listen. Recommended.
Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman - A practical, four-week guide to finding peace and focus in a world that constantly demands more of our time. Really enjoyed it, easy listen.
Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell - Gladwell explores how social engineering and "superspreaders" shape our modern world. Fun book, great anecdotes. Recommended.
Range by David Epstein - A compelling argument for why a broad range of experiences leads to greater success than narrow specialization. Terrific concept, good examples.
Measure What Matters by John Doerr - The definitive guide to OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), used by giants like Google to scale effectively. Gets too much into the weeds - feels more like a practitioners book.
It’s Not How Good You Are... by Paul Arden - A punchy handbook for those looking to succeed through bold thinking and unconventional wisdom. Fun read, I always refer to the paper copy I own.
The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen - A classic business text explaining why great companies can fail even when they do everything "right." Classic, went back to it once more this year.
Fiction
The Blood and Ash Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
From Blood and Ash (#1) - A high-stakes fantasy romance following a "Maiden" who must choose between duty and her heart.
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (#2) - Tension ramps up as Poppy discovers the truth about her world and the man she’s grown to love.
The Crown of Gilded Bones (#3) - Poppy's journey takes her to the heart of Atlantia to claim her birthright.
The War of Two Queens (#4) - A sweeping battle for the crown where old enemies and new gods collide.
A Soul of Ash and Blood (#5) - A retrospective look at the series' events through Casteel's perspective.
The Primal of Blood and Bone (#6) - The saga continues with deeper explorations of the series' primal origins.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J.Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses (#1) - A retelling of Beauty and the Beast that spirals into a massive epic of faerie politics.
A Court of Mist and Fury (#2) - Feyre discovers her true power and a new home in the Night Court.
A Court of Wings and Ruin (#3) - The war for Prythian reaches a boiling point as the High Lords must unite.
A Court of Frost and Starlight (#3.5) - A bridge novella focusing on the characters healing during the Winter Solstice.
A Court of Silver Flames (#4) - A redemption arc for Nesta Archeron as she battles her inner demons.
The Bridge Kingdom Series by Danielle L. Jensen
The Bridge Kingdom (#1) - A spy-turned-queen must navigate a marriage to the king she was sent to destroy.
The Traitor Queen (#2) - Lara fights to redeem herself and save the kingdom she once betrayed.
The Inadequate Heir (#3) - The series expands to new perspectives, exploring the fallout of the war.
Standalones & Other Series
The Will of the Many (Hierarchy #1) by James Islington - A refreshing new series on magic
The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy #2) by James Islington - A complex sequel where the cost of rebellion and the weight of magic grow heavier.
The Games Gods Play (The Crucible #1) by Abigail Owen - A deadly competition where mortals are used as pawns in a divine game.
The Things Gods Break (The Crucible #2) by Abigail Owen - The trial continues as the line between gods and mortals blurs.
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry - A gritty, emotional romance featuring deep character development and a protector trope.
An Inside Job by Daniel Silva - A classic Daniel Silva thriller involving high-level espionage and Gabriel Allon.
The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown - A fast-paced mystery involving ancient symbols and hidden truths.
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh - A lush story that blends speculative fiction with deep emotional resonance.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo - A historical fantasy set during the Spanish Inquisition, focusing on a girl with hidden magic.
Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3) by Rebecca Yarros - The latest entry in the dragon-riding saga, where the war against the venin reaches a desperate stage.
A Fate Inked in Blood & A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen - A Norse-inspired fantasy about a woman with the power of the gods and the warrior guarding her.
If you are interested, here is my reading list from 2024 and from 2023.