Ever since I got a Kindle, I’ve been reading daily. In the first couple of years, I gravitated toward books about psychology, creativity, memoirs, and business. Lately, I’ve been surprised by the range of books I read. On this list, you’ll find books about movies, technology, history, and even men’s fashion. I love the fact that I’m always following what I’m interested in rather than trends. I also love that I’m not scared of reading any genre.
The only downside to that (if you can call it that) is that most of the books I start, I never get to finish. Sometimes I go back to books I started a long time ago, and I finish them on a whim, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. Still, part of what makes reading fun is following my own curiosity and learning something that excites me. I know this list won’t appeal to everyone, but I also know you won’t find a similar list out there, and that’s kind of the point.
The Best Books I Read in 2025
That being said, here are the best books I read in 2025.
Esquire The Handbook of Men’s Style: A Guide to Looking Good by Michael B. Dougherty
I don’t know how I first came across this book, but I’m glad I did. I always thought learning about fashion was impossible due to the seemingly endless number of options we have. The Handbook of Men’s Style proved me wrong. In a little over 200 pages, this book goes over different clothing items and explains everything you should know about them in practical terms. It also helps that the book features more than 200 photographs to illustrate different ideas. If you’re a man and you’re clueless about dressing well, this book will fix that.
The Only Plane in the Sky: The Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
This is the book that made me fall in love with modern history. There are countless books and documentaries about 9/11, but few are as moving and intense as The Only Plane in the Sky. Since this is an oral history, the book tells the story of the day as it happened. The author compiled information from countless witnesses, transcripts, interviews, and declassified documents, which is an amazing feat in and of itself. What surprised me the most was the book’s articulate narrative, which is both detailed and well-structured. If you’re remotely interested in reading about 9/11, I don’t think there’s a better book out there on the subject than this one.
Ghosts of Hiroshima by Charles Pellegrino
This is another modern history book that I couldn’t put down. Some writers are gifted storytellers, even when they’re describing events that actually happened. Pellegrino is one such writer. His prose is captivating, even when he retells the tragic events involving the dropping of the atomic bombs. The segment that stood out the most involves a Japanese naval engineer who witnessed (and survived) both bombings. Apparently, James Cameron is turning this book into a film. Hopefully, the legendary filmmaker will do this book justice.
Wait But Why Year One by Tim Urban
Tim Urban’s Wait But Why was so popular that people demanded a book that compiled all of his blog posts. This is exactly what this book is. Before realizing this ebook existed, I was turning online articles into epub documents to read them offline. This is a much more convenient way of reading Wait But Why on the go, though, and it only costs four dollars. Although the book is almost one thousand pages long (probably the longest book I’ve ever read), I couldn’t put it down. I love Tim Urban’s writing. He has a knack for conveying complex ideas in simple ways, and this book has plenty of that.
Killing the Rising Sun by Bill O’Reilly
I’m sure history buffs who are really into WWII are familiar with everything this book discusses. To me, most of the information here was new, so I found it gripping. After reading Ghosts of Hiroshima, I still had some questions about Japan’s involvement in the Second World War. I wanted to lose myself in another well-researched book on the topic, so I’m glad I found Killing the Rising Sun. This was the first book in the “Killing” series I read, but I’m sure it won’t be my last.
Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins
If you’re into movies, you probably know that the Scream movies are some of the best horror films ever made. In this book, Cullins examines the impact of the Scream franchise in a very intimate way. I never know what to expect when I read books about movies. Some are fantastic, like this one. Others, not so much. For those unfamiliar, the original Scream changed the horror landscape because it blended dissimilar elements (gore, humor, metacommentary) masterfully. I know this is a very specific thing most people won’t be interested in, but if you want a thoroughly researched bible on the Scream franchise, this is your book.
Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Our Culture by Kyle Chayka
I started reading this book because I wanted to do some research for an article. Before I knew it, though, I was really into Filterworld. In the book, Chayka argues that algorithmic recommendations influence our choices. Nevertheless, this hyperconnected world of seamless consumption has some serious consequences. The worst part of living in this world is that our tastes, behaviors, and emotions are determined by computers. The solution, according to the author, is to go back to human collection and curation. It demands more effort on our part, but it gives us back the very thing that makes us human.
Empire of AI by Karen Hao
Ever since I started using ChatGPT, I’ve relied more and more on it to the point that I use it more than Google. So I wanted to know where this technology came from to hopefully determine where it’s going. Karen Hao’s Empire of AI focuses on OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT). Although the organization started with some altruistic principles behind it, it soon morphed into something more dangerous. AI in general is a disruptive technology, but will it truly revolutionize the modern world, or will it destroy it? The book doesn’t have all the answers, but it gives you an articulate explanation of OpenAI’s journey so far.
Fahrenheit-182 by Mark Hoppus
Every once in a while, I will read a memoir by a member of a band I really like, and I love every page of it. Fahrenheit-182 is mainly a memoir for blink-182 fans, but it goes to some unexpected territory. Both the band (and bass player Mark Hoppus) have struggled and were forced to reinvent themselves. When I read a memoir from a musician, I expect to be entertained. I also expect raw honesty. Luckily, this book offers both.
The Interstellar Age by Jim Bell
Last summer, I got really into space. Maybe looking at the stars for hours on end at the park really got to me. The Interstellar Age tells the story of the Voyager, a spacecraft that went on a tour beyond the solar system. If you’re remotely interested in the topic, you’ll find Jim Bell’s enthusiasm contagious. Whenever I think that there’s a spacecraft that’s exploring the vast corners of space with technology from the 1970s, I’m amazed. You also awe it to yourself to check the jaw-dropping images the Voyager took in its endless journey.
If there’s anything I take away from my reading experience this year is that nobody should be scared of any book in the library. When I look back on this list, I’m glad I took a risk and gave a chance to books that seemed too intimidating or different at first. Ignoring trends and following my own curiosity has been one of the most rewarding habits, and I invite you to do the same. I know you won’t like every book on this list, but that’s kind of the point. If even one of these books sparks your curiosity, then this list has done its job.
Thanks for reading!
