What a rewarding and fulfilling reading year this has been. I hit my goal of reading at least 50 pages a day, and along the way, I also permitted myself to stop reading books that didn’t hold my attention. The result is a 2025 reading list I’m proud of—one that spans history, business, philosophy, sports, and culture. For my previous yearly reading lists, check out 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
Over the course of the year, I found myself gravitating more and more toward books about entrepreneurship. Those stories, in particular, had a way of bleeding into other areas of my life, especially parenting, decision-making, and how I think about my life’s work. What follows is a look at the books that shaped my thinking this year—what I read, what stuck, and why each one mattered in my 2025 reading list.
Leadership: In Turbulent Times
Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin is the story of how Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson “all collided with dramatic reversals that disrupted their lives and threatened to shatter their ambitions forever.” The primary reason I read this book was to learn about Lincoln. The book did not disappoint in sharing lessons about Lincoln being one of the best leaders ever. Additional books about Lincoln to read are Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times and Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever.
Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes
Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes by Morgan Housel may be the best book I read in 2025. I hate to call it this early, but damn was this a wildly surprising and pleasant read. It was my first Housel book to read. However, I have been reading his Collaborative Fund blog for quite some time. Same as Ever is a short read, “inviting us to identify the many things that never, ever change.” The book teaches you how to think about “optimizing risk, seizing opportunity, and living your best life” concisely, which I appreciate. Same as Ever is chock-full of stories and examples about how to look backward at history and ask yourself what is not going to change. I learned we can better see what is coming down the pike while realizing the most important thing is to live a good life. Other self-help books to check out include Four Thousand Weeks, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results, Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout, and Leadership Strategy and Tactics: Field Manual.
Right Thing, Right Now: Good Values. Good Character. Good Deeds.
Right Thing, Right Now: Good Values. Good Character. Good Deeds. draws on lessons from historical figures like Marcus Aurelius, Jimmy Carter, Charles de Gaulle, and George Marshall. Each of these figures provides us with examples of “kindness, honesty, integrity, and loyalty we can emulate as pillars of upright living.” The book provided me with a cautionary tale of how life goes sideways when you do not have a moral compass by providing examples of unjust leaders. Other Holiday books worth reading include Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control, The Daily Dad: 366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids, The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, Ego Is the Enemy, Stillness Is the Key, Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave, and The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living.
Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever
Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever by Jack McCallum tells the story of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. McCallum, then working for Sports Illustrated, had a front-row seat to this unique time in Olympic basketball history. He covered the team’s inception through its gold medal win in Barcelona. The book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s selection process led by Michael Jordan, the late-night card games, and the relationship between Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson. One of my favorite parts of the book was the legendary intrasquad scrimmage where Jordan and Magic went at it. Spoiler alert: Jordan got the best of Magic. The 1992 Dream Team changed Olympic basketball forever, in the most positive way. Michael Jordan: The Life, Driven from Within, Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made, and Drive: The Story of My Life are additional Jordan and Bird books worth checking out.
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt is one of those hit-you-in-the-face books if you are a parent. Haidt’s overarching question in the book is why rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide of adolescents in the early 2010s. The book then lays out the facts about the epidemic that is teen mental illness. An illness that hit many countries nearly at the same time. Haidt explains why children need free play to become thriving adults. Play-based childhood started its descent in the 1980s. It was wiped out with the arrival of what Haidt calls a phone-based childhood in the early 2010s. The book argues that a phone-based childhood interferes with children’s social and neurological development. Impacts from this inference show up in sleep, attention spans, addiction, loneliness, and social comparison. Haidt walks you through why social media impacts girls more than boys. The books also show that boys are withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world and the consequences of this withdrawal for themselves and society. I loved how the book provides four clear calls to action to set every free: no smartphones until high school, no social media until 16, phone-free schools, and more free play for children.
Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts
Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts by Ryan Holiday explores how books, movies, songs, video games, and art thrive over time or disappear shortly after they are created. Holiday goes further into how to create and market creative projects that stand the test of time. The book explores Holiday’s work with businesses like Google and authors like Robert Greene on how companies and artists create enduring products. Examples of timeless creations include how musical artists like Adele ground their work in long-term thinking, writers like Tim Ferriss test every element of a new book project with their audience to see what generates the strongest responses, and comedians like Jerry Seinfeld create modern classic shows like Seinfeld. Holiday uncovers that the secret of the success of perennial sellers is that creators do not distinguish between the creation and the marketing of the product. Instead, the creator has the audience or customer in mind at the start of the project. Holiday argues that by thinking holistically about the relationship between the work of art and the audience, the creator can improve their chances of success.
Poor Richard’s Almanack
Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin is a thought-provoking book covering Franklin’s insights from more than 200 years ago. The book is stocked with insightful quotes offering life advice on topics like money, relationships, ethics, psychology, and human nature. I would love to have been a close friend of Franklin back in his day. It is hard not to see the similarities between this book and two of my other favorite books, The Tao of Warren Buffett and The Tao of Charlie Munger.
The Tao of Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett’s Words of Wisdom: Quotations and Interpretations to Help Guide You to Billionaire Wealth and Enlightened Business Management
The Tao of Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett’s Words of Wisdom: Quotations and Interpretations to Help Guide You to Billionaire Wealth and Enlightened Business Management by Mary Buffett and David Clark is a short read offering a collection of Buffett’s words and wisdom throughout his life. Buffett’s wisdom is inanely simple, making it powerful. The book highlights Buffett’s intelligence, the levity he brings to serious topics, and some of his most memorable quotes. Buffett and Clark created a book that masks itself as a philosophy book. Warren Buffett owes his success to hard work, high integrity, and using his common sense. I found countless practical strategies that I have already implemented. Quotes in the book were taken from Buffett’s conversations, Berkshire Hathaway reports, business profiles, and interviews. The book does a great job explaining what each Buffett quote means and how to interpret it for your life. Pair this book with All I Want To Know Is Where I’m Going To Die So I’ll Never Go There: Buffett & Munger – A Study in Simplicity and Uncommon, Common Sense, Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor, and Tao of Charlie Munger: A Compilation of Quotes from Berkshire Hathaway’s Vice Chairman on Life, Business, and the Pursuit of Wealth.
For the Love of the Game – My Story
For the Love of the Game – My Story by Michael Jordan is a short read with beautiful photographs from Jordan’s playing career and life, combined with personal stories. The book covers Jordan’s college and professional career, his father James’ murder, and the business side of basketball. For the Love of the Game dives into the 13 years Jordan played professionally in the US and abroad in the Olympics. It is safe to say Jordan transcended the game to become a global icon. Jordan’s ability to create a shoe market for Nike will likely never be eclipsed. The book shows that greatness comes from within. Jordan had a unique desire to improve every day. He looked for critics to fuel his drive to succeed. For example, when critics doubted his all-around basketball ability, he focused on becoming the best defender in the league. Jordan accomplished what neither Larry Bird nor Magic Johnson could accomplish: three straight championships twice. I loved how this book took me through Jordan’s career both on and off the court. His game-winning shot against Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA finals to his game-winning shot against the Utah Jazz in the 1998 finals are extraordinary. Other Jordan books to check out include Michael Jordan: The Life, Driven from Within, and Playing For Keeps.
Buffett and Munger Unscripted: Three Decades of Investment and Business Insights from the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Meetings
Buffett and Munger Unscripted: Three Decades of Investment and Business Insights from the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Meetings by Alex W. Morris is a book where Morris edited hundreds of hours of video and more than 1,700 questions asked over the past 31 years at Berkshire Hathaway annual meetings. The book is a comprehensive and highly accessible form of the most interesting material Morris gathered from the Berkshire archives. Buffett and Munger Unscripted cover topics like capital allocation, how to judge and compensate management, the nature of financial markets, and the power of long-term time horizons. The book contains endless quotes and insights from everything from investing to business. I learned countless lessons on how to avoid difficult decisions, the first question to ask yourself before a new investment, how to recover from unsuccessful investments, finding the right people to partner with, and Buffett and Munger’s book recommendations (there are a ton). Other Berkshire, Buffett, and Munger books to check out include The Tao of Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett’s Words of Wisdom: Quotations and Interpretations to Help Guide You to Billionaire Wealth and Enlightened Business Management, All I Want To Know Is Where I’m Going To Die So I’ll Never Go There: Buffett & Munger – A Study in Simplicity and Uncommon, Common Sense, Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, Tap Dancing to Work: Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2012, Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor, and Tao of Charlie Munger: A Compilation of Quotes from Berkshire Hathaway’s Vice Chairman on Life, Business, and the Pursuit of Wealth.
A Confederacy of Dunces
Describing this book myself would do an injustice to the book description that matches the debauchery of this hilarious book. “A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair, and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black mustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs. So enters one of the most memorable characters in recent American fiction. The hero of John Kennedy Toole’s incomparable, Pulitzer Prize-winning comic classic A Confederacy of Dunces is one Ignatius J. Reilly, an obese, self-absorbed, hapless Don Quixote of the French Quarter, whose half-hearted attempts at employment lead to a series of wacky adventures among the lower denizens of New Orleans.” If you need fiction and laughter in your life, read A Confederacy of Dunces. Other New Orleans books to check out include Napoleon: A Concise Biography, Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Accidental City: Improvising New Orleans, The Last Madam: A Life In The New Orleans Underworld, The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square, Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle That Shaped America’s Destiny, and Pontchartrain Beach: A Family Affair.
Meditations
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, translated by Gregory Hays, provides Aurelius’ writing concisely and clearly from the original Greek text. The book highlights how direct and powerful Aurelius’ words still are. Hays does a fantastic job making ancient writing approachable. He also helps readers describe the thoughts of one of the world’s most powerful leaders. Throughout the book, you will find actionable advice on everything from how to live to dealing with adversity and interacting with other people. I love the straightforward style of Hays’ translation. I equally appreciated how Meditations offers you an intimate look at someone as powerful as Aurelius. This was my third time reading Meditations. It is a book I can see myself reading on an annual basis. Other books on philosophy worth reading include How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, Meditations: The Annotated Edition, How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life, Right Thing, Right Now: Good Values. Good Character. Good Deeds, Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave, A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, The Practicing Stoic: A Philosophical User’s Manual, Letters from a Stoic, and The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living.
Tao of Charlie Munger: A Compilation of Quotes from Berkshire Hathaway’s Vice Chairman on Life, Business, and the Pursuit of Wealth
Charlie Munger studied math at the University of Michigan, trained as a meteorologist at Caltech Pasadena while in the Army, and graduated from Harvard Law School without earning an undergraduate degree. How is this even possible? Munger was one of America’s most successful investors, was Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, and was Warren Buffett’s business partner and confidant for nearly forty years. Munger was and is one of the best people I know to learn business lessons from. He teaches you how to be successful in life and finance. Tao of Charlie Munger: A Compilation of Quotes from Berkshire Hathaway’s Vice Chairman on Life, Business, and the Pursuit of Wealth is a compilation of quotes from Munger’s long life. The quotes were pulled from interviews, speeches, and answers Munger provided at the Berkshire and Wesco annual meetings. Munger provides invaluable insights on how to achieve financial success and the philosophies of life. Munger’s investment tips, business philosophy, and ways of life are as unique as they come. Pair this book with All I Want To Know Is Where I’m Going To Die So I’ll Never Go There: Buffett & Munger – A Study in Simplicity and Uncommon, Common Sense, Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor, and The Tao of Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett’s Words of Wisdom: Quotations and Interpretations to Help Guide You to Billionaire Wealth and Enlightened Business Management.
Insull: The Rise and Fall of a Billionaire Utility Tycoon
Insull: The Rise and Fall of a Billionaire Utility Tycoon by Forrest McDonald is one of the most important and notorious characters in the utility business. Insull was the billionaire utility magnate from Chicago whose electric and gas businesses operated in more than half of the U.S. states. Eventually, his businesses caused investors to lose nearly three billion dollars. Insull’s career started as Thomas Edison’s private secretary in the 1880s. He was responsible for creating centralized power plants for Edison. Insull worked out a model for the nationwide distribution and ruralization of electricity. One of his many accomplishments included government regulation of public utilities. The story ends with Insull being extradited from Greece to the U.S. to stand trial for the multiple indictments thrown at him by the Department of Justice. For further reading, check out The Vagabonds: The Story of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison’s Ten-Year Road Trip, The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World, Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and the Race to Electrify the World, The Merchant of Power: Sam Insull, Thomas Edison, and the Creation of the Modern Metropolis.
All I Want To Know Is Where I’m Going To Die So I’ll Never Go There: Buffett & Munger – A Study in Simplicity and Uncommon, Common Sense
All I Want To Know Is Where I’m Going To Die So I’ll Never Go There: Buffett & Munger – A Study in Simplicity and Uncommon, Common Sense by Peter Bevelin is about a fictitious Seeker who visits the “Library of Wisdom” where he meets the fictitious “Librarian” along with Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. The Seeker wants to learn how to make better decisions to help his kids avoid the dumb decisions he’s made. The book is hilarious, providing countless lessons on how to make fewer dumb mistakes. Bevelin also covers how to fix mistakes faster after you make them. One of the major themes in the book is about avoiding terrible decision-making. I love how this book hammers home the concepts of efficiency, simplicity, common sense, and good judgment. Buffett and Munger’s ability to eliminate stupidity and get to the heart of an issue is unmatched. Supplementary Buffett and Munger books worth checking out include Tao of Charlie Munger: A Compilation of Quotes from Berkshire Hathaway’s Vice Chairman on Life, Business, and the Pursuit of Wealth With Commentary by David Clark, Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, Charlie Munger: The Complete Investor, and The Tao of Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett’s Words of Wisdom: Quotations and Interpretations to Help Guide You to Billionaire Wealth and Enlightened Business Management.
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have, and the Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates is his take on what must be done to stop the planet’s slide into environmental chaos. The book explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions while going into detail about how we can achieve this goal. I appreciated the clear picture painted by Gates of the challenges we face. The book describes how current technology is addressing the climate issues we face. Gates also dives into how we can make current technology more effective and where we need technology breakthroughs. I loved how the book gave us a plan to achieve the goal of zero emissions. Government policies are one piece of the puzzle. The other piece of the net-zero emissions puzzle is what technology we need, along with what we all can do to achieve this goal. Net-zero emissions will not be easy, but they can be achieved if we collectively focus on achieving this goal. Other energy and climate-related books worth checking out include Superpower: One Man’s Quest to Transform American Energy, The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future, The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World, Clean Disruption of Energy and Transportation: How Silicon Valley Will Make Oil, Nuclear, Natural Gas, Coal, Electric Utilities and Conventional Cars Obsolete by 2030, Energy at the Crossroads: Global Perspectives and Uncertainties, and Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy.
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams by Deepak Chopra compresses Chopra’s teachings into powerful principles that can be used in all areas of your life. The book blows apart the myth that success is the result of hard work and executing your plan. Instead, Chopra argues that once we live in harmony with nature, we can achieve “well-being, good health, fulfilling relationships, energy and enthusiasm for life, and material abundance will spring forth easily and effortlessly.” The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams is filled with timely wisdom similar to philosophy and stoicism. Chopra offers readers practical steps they can implement right away. The book could not have come at a better time for me. My stress levels were at an all-time high. I was able to reset my mental state as a result of this book. Another book in this category I enjoyed is The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom.
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Zero to One topped my May reading list. Peter Thiel’s insights reenergized how I think about building a business. His focus on doing what’s never been done, rather than simply improving what already exists, was a helpful mental reset.
His core idea: great companies don’t go from 1 to n—they go from 0 to 1. Unique ideas win.
If you enjoy reading about entrepreneurship and innovation, I recommend: Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos, Disney’s Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World, The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers, Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration, and Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman.
Meditations: The Annotated Edition
Robin Waterfield’s translation offers fresh insight into Marcus Aurelius’ private journal. While Gregory Hays’ version remains my favorite, this annotated edition helped me see new layers in his thinking.
It’s a reminder that even familiar books can continue to teach you.
Interested in Stoicism? Add these to your list: Meditations, How to Think Like A Roman Emperor, Right Thing, Right Now, Courage Is Calling, Stoicism and the Art of Happiness, A Guide to the Good Life, The Practicing Stoic, How to Be a Stoic, Letters from a Stoic, and The Daily Stoic.
The Marching Season
Silva blends political tension and fast-paced storytelling in this thriller set during the Northern Ireland peace process.
Former CIA officer Michael Osbourne returns to protect his father-in-law, who’s been targeted for assassination. The plot unfolds with global consequences, secret societies, and one of fiction’s great assassins—Jean-Paul Delaroche.
If you liked this one, Silva’s Gabriel Allon series begins with The Kill Artist.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Clear’s book is a practical guide to building better habits and breaking bad ones. His central message: the problem isn’t you—it’s your system.
The book’s advice on identity, consistency, and small wins helped me rethink how I approach long-term growth.
Other personal development books worth reading: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results, Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout, and Leadership Strategy and Tactics: Field Manual.
Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf
This timeless golf classic helped me fine-tune my swing this month. Hogan breaks down the fundamentals—grip, stance, posture, swing—with clean illustrations and clear instructions.
It felt like getting a private lesson from one of the greatest ball strikers of all time.
If you enjoy sports biographies, also check out: Driven from Within, Drive: The Story of My Life, Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich, and Michael Jordan: The Life.
Poor Richard’s Almanack
Poor Richard’s Almanack is over 200 years old, yet its insights feel surprisingly fresh. Franklin shares short, witty proverbs about money, friendship, marriage, ethics, and human nature–principles that still hold up today. The book is quick, quotable, and packed with wisdom.
Other American Revolution books to check out include: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, In the Hurricane’s Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown, and Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution.
American Assassin
Mitch Rapp was a gifted college athlete with a bright future–until tragedy struck. After a terrorist attack claimed the life of his girlfriend, along with 270 others, Rapp doesn’t want comfort. He wants retribution.
As the CIA scrambles to counter a rising wave of Islamic terrorism, veteran spymaster Thomas Stansfield taps his protégée Irene Kennedy and Cold War operator Stan Hurley to build an off-the-books team of clandestine operatives. Rapp is their first recruit.
What follows is six months of grueling training and a series of deadly missions across Europe. From Istanbul to Hamburg to Beirut, Rapp eliminates key players behind the attack—but the enemy is watching. The hunter is about to become the hunted.
American Assassin is fast, ruthless, and addictive (or at least I think so)—what I’m learning to be classic Vince Flynn. Mitch Rapp, like Gabriel Allon in Daniel Silva’s series, is quickly becoming one of my favorite fictional characters.
The Tao of Warren Buffett
The Tao of Warren Buffett distills Buffett’s best quotes—he’s got no shortage of quotable wisdom—into quick, insightful lessons. It’s sharp, practical, and full of “why didn’t I think of that” style wisdom. What I loved most is how it makes investing (and life) feel less intimidating.
More Buffett/Munger books I enjoyed reading include: Buffett and Munger Unscripted: Three Decades of Investment and Business Insights from the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Meetings, All I Want To Know Is Where I’m Going To Die So I’ll Never Go There: Buffett & Munger – A Study in Simplicity and Uncommon, Common Sense, and Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger.
Kingfish U: Huey Long and LSU
No one shaped LSU, Louisiana, or national politics quite like Huey P. Long. In just four short years, the larger-than-life governor (and later senator) turned LSU from a sleepy state school into his pet project–rewriting the fight song, funding buildings, and firing football coaches who didn’t win enough. Long was obsessed, and maybe a little over-the-top. Kingfish U is a fascinating case study on how ego, ambition, and politics collided on LSU’s campus–and how Long tried to turn a university into a monument to himself. Read Kingfish: The Reign of Huey P. Long for a deeper dive into Huey Long.
Excellent Advice for Living
One of my all-time favorite books from one of my favorite humans—he’s the best. On his 68th birthday, Kevin Kelly began jotting down life rules for his kids—simple, profound truths he wished he’d known sooner. That list grew into this little gem: timeless advice on everything from relationships and careers to creativity, kindness, and travel—it has it all. It’s packed with wisdom, easy to revisit, and always gives you something to think about—a must-read for anyone trying to live with more intention, curiosity, and empathy.
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
A close friend recommended this book when my work stress was at an all-time high, and I’m beyond grateful they did. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success helped me quiet the inner storm I couldn’t tame and reset my perspective.
Chopra flips the script on success. Instead of pushing harder (which I was guilty of), he invites you to align with natural laws and live with ease, clarity, and intention. The result? Peace of mind, deeper relationships, more energy, and a healthier sense of purpose—with peace of mind being my biggest takeaway when I reread it.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or out of sync, like I was (and still am) with work, I highly recommend giving this one a read.
Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… and Maybe the World
This short, powerful audiobook made a bigger impact on me than reading the book ever did. Hearing Admiral McRaven narrate his own stories gives weight and authenticity you don’t get from the page.
Based on his viral 2014 commencement address at the University of Texas, Make Your Bed distills ten lessons learned from Navy SEAL training under Vietnam-era frogmen. Each chapter delivers a practical takeaway about discipline, resilience, courage, and character. The message is clear: start small, do the hard things, help others, never quit.
It’s humble, motivating, and packed with timeless wisdom. If you’re looking for perspective and a jolt of clarity, this one’s well worth your time. Grab the book—or better yet, the audiobook—to see for yourself.
Hell Yeah or No: What’s Worth Doing
I recently listened to this book, and it might’ve been even better than when I first read it. Derek Sivers is one of the best at sharing simple yet powerful mental models. This book is packed with wisdom, delivered in that signature Sivers way: short, clear, and unforgettable.
One of my favorite ideas—and a decision-making filter I use all the time—is this:
If you’re feeling anything less than “Hell yeah!” about a decision—then it’s a no.
Simple as that—but I forget it all the time. We say yes to too many things, spread ourselves thin, and end up overwhelmed. Sivers makes the case that saying “no” more often gives us the freedom to say “yes” to what matters.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness
Naval Ravikant—entrepreneur, investor, and philosopher—is one of my favorite humans. I first learned about Naval from the Tim Ferriss podcast years ago. Since then, I’ve tried to devour everything Naval shares—articles, book recommendations, podcasts, and everything in between.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is chock-full of timeless principles, like the idea that building wealth and being happy are skills anyone can learn.
Naval makes it simple: getting rich is knowing what to do, who to do it with, and when to do it. Simple as that.
True happiness is a choice only you can make—no one else determines it. I can get behind both of these.
Drawing on decades of Naval’s knowledge and experience building businesses, the book distills his most memorable, impactful ideas, which I appreciate.
I first read the book a few years ago, but this time I listened to the audiobook—and it holds up just as well. It’s on Spotify—highly recommend.
Tao Te Ching: A New English Version
Tao Te Ching: A New English Version, translated by Stephen Mitchell, is a short, powerful book attributed to Lao Tzu. This ancient text, written around 400 BC, focuses on balance, perspective, and intention.
It’s about knowing when to act and when to let go — nudging you to zoom out and see life more clearly.
What shines out is its simplicity. It cuts through the noise and reminds you what matters most: where to focus your time, how to live, and how short life is.
I love short, punchy books like this — ones that deliver lasting impact with just a few pages.
It’s one I keep coming back to. You can check it out here: Tao Te Ching: A New English Version.
The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World’s Fastest-Growing Sport
The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 into the World’s Fastest-Growing Sport is a book I wouldn’t have picked up before I got into F1 a few years ago.
Written by two Wall Street Journal reporters, it covers F1’s breakthrough in America, the eclectic cast of characters in its history, the personalities it attracts, the engineering prodigies behind the modern F1 car, and the bitter rivalries that keep me glued to live races.
F1 had an early presence in the US, but trailed NASCAR and IndyCAR in popularity. Fast forward to today—it leads the pack in American fan interest.
One of the most fascinating lessons was how F1 saved itself from collapse before conquering America. The sport kept evolving and experimenting until it found its niche in the U.S.
Bernie Ecclestone, Adrian Newey, and Dietrich Mateschitz are just a few of the figures the book highlights — each leaving a unique mark on F1’s rise.
Whether you’re an F1 fanatic or a casual fan like me, The Formula is worth a read.
The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant
The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant draws on more than 100 interviews, including Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang, and reveals how Nvidia, under Jensen, stayed committed to the long game.
Jensen repeatedly created new markets with Nvidia’s chips, outmaneuvering giants like Intel.
NVIDIA traces its founding back to the early 1990s. Like many early ventures, Nvidia survived costly missteps that sank others. One reason it survived was Jensen’s flat, decentralized structure.
Jensen is obsessed with solving the Innovator’s Dilemma — the fate of entrenched companies falling to nimble competitors. This obsession drove Jensen to refine his corporate strategy to fend off external threats.
NVIDIA also spotted the AI wave earlier than most—thanks to Jensen’s foresight. And when he saw it, he pounced, making bold bets that seemed risky at the time but ultimately reshaped the industry.
The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism
The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism tells how charismatic founder John Mackey sparked a retail revolution with Whole Foods.
John recounts his early adventures building Whole Foods Market—originally called Safer Way—in Austin.
Whole Foods’ story is full of colorful characters, conflicts, and near-disasters—a reminder that even iconic brands were built through struggle.
If you know John’s story, it’s no secret that he taps into his spiritual side — and even psychedelics — to get through challenging times.
I love John’s philosophy of Conscious Capitalism: the idea that businesses have a higher purpose than profit alone, and should care for all stakeholders—customers, employees, suppliers, and beyond.
John wrestled with animal welfare—resisting meat and seafood sales in his stores for years.
I also enjoyed reading about John’s escapes from stress—especially his long hikes on the Appalachian Trail.
If you’re an entrepreneur—or hope to be one—this book is worth your time.
Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs In His Own Words
Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs In His Own Words collects Steve Jobs’ speeches, interviews, and emails revealing who he was, how he thought, and why he remains one of the most creative people of all time.
Available as a free PDF, the book covers his childhood, being ousted from Apple, leading Pixar and NeXT, and his eventual return to Apple.
It’s an inspiring start, showing how vision and perseverance intersect—a thread that ties together every entrepreneurial story I read this month.
The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King
The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King by Rich Cohen is outstanding.
Cohen tells the incredible tale of Samuel Zemurray—the self-made banana tycoon who went from penniless Russian immigrant to rainmaker.
Zemurray arrived in the U.S. in the late 1800s. He was tall, awkward-looking, and had no money.
When Zemurray died nearly 70 years later, he was among the richest men in the world.
He worked his way up from fruit peddler to head of United Fruit Company—becoming a symbol of everything people loved and hated about America: opportunity and ambition on one hand, ruthlessness on the other.
Zemurray’s story is one of the most captivating I’ve ever read.
He started with a cart full of nearly rotten bananas in Mobile. He went on to build a sprawling banana empire—populated by cowboys, mercenaries, Honduran peasants, CIA agents, and American statesmen.
The book captures the essence of Sam Zemurray’s hustle—turning waste into wealth, an idea that echoes through every entrepreneurial story I read this month.
Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points that Challenge Every Company
Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points that Challenge Every Company by Andy Grove shares his strategy for success.
The book takes you deep inside Grove’s company, Intel.
Under his leadership, Intel became the world’s largest chip maker—and one of its most admired companies.
Grove shares the nightmare moment every leader dreads—when massive change occurs.
He argues that companies must adapt—often overnight—or risk dying. And when they do adapt, it has to be in a completely new way.
Strategic inflection points can be set off by nearly anything—competition, regulations, technology.
When one of these points hits, the rules of business engagement go out the window.
However, if one of these points is managed correctly, it can be an opportunity to win in the market.
Grove’s mindset fits right alongside the Sam Zemurray hustle: adapt fast, act decisively, and see opportunity before others do.
Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire
Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire by Brad Stone offers an in-depth look at one of the most influential businesses of all time.
The book covers how a retail upstart in the 1990s became a powerful and feared company across the globe.
Stone explores Bezos’s evolution—from geeky technologist obsessed with building Amazon to billionaire with global ambitions (and an enviable physique).
Bezos ruled Amazon with an iron fist, driven by relentless discipline and global ambitions.
What’s incredible is how he compartmentalized everything when his marriage unraveled, and his personal life spilled into the press.
Amazon Unbound closes out the September reading list with a reminder that ambition and focus—like Sam Zemurray’s hustle—can scale from a fruit cart to a trillion-dollar company when paired with discipline and vision.
Each central character—Jobs, Zemurray, Grove, and Bezos—reminds me that success always starts the same way: with curiosity, courage, and relentless hustle.
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
In Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike, Phil Knight tells how, fresh out of business school, he borrowed $50 from his dad to import affordable, high-quality running shoes from Japan.
Shoe Dog is the inside story of how a group of ragtag misfits turned a $50 loan into one of the world’s most iconic brands.
Knight begins the Nike story on a trip around the world, where he wrestles with life’s big questions.
On this trip, he decides the conventional path isn’t for him.
Rather than follow the traditional corporate path, Knight decides to build something on his own—something that reflects him.
He shares it all—the ups, the downs, the highs, and the lows.
It’s the story of how a group of how an unlikely team built Nike into an enduring global brand.
Takeaway: Grit beats glamour—Knight’s honesty about failure makes Shoe Dog one of the human business memoirs ever written.
For more on the story of Nike, check out the book below:
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
In Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose, Tony Hsieh shows how personal growth and company culture can fuel one another.
Hsieh believed you could build a business that prioritizes culture, makes money, and changes the world—all at once.
Delivering Happiness shares the lessons he learned in business and life—from starting a worm farm to running a pizza shop to building Zappos.
The book is fast-paced. It’s down to earth.
Hsieh shows how a unique kind of corporate culture can be a powerful model for success.
His message: focus on the happiness of others, and your success will follow.
Takeaway: Prioritize people over profit, and profit often follows.
For more on Zappos, its sale to Amazon, and building a business, check out the book below:
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX
Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger tells the story of a company that refused to die.
Before SpaceX became a powerhouse, it was a fragile startup on the brink. Liftoff captures the desperation, ingenuity, and near-misses that defined its first four rocket launches.
Liftoff takes you inside the wild early days of SpaceX—it focuses on the first four launches of the Falcon 1 rocket.
The story travels from SpaceX’s headquarters in El Segundo to desolate Texas ranchland where engines were tested, and finally to the remote atoll of Kwajalein in the Pacific, where the Falcon 1 took flight.
It’s impossible to finish the book without deep respect for the SpaceX team—and for Musk’s willingness to bet everything on their success.
Takeaway: Persistence under pressure creates breakthroughs.
For more on the early days of SpaceX, check out the book below:
Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX
Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul
Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz and Joanne Gordon is the story of Schultz’s return as CEO during the financial crisis.
Starbucks, like most businesses during the crisis, was getting crushed—and Schultz had to find a way back to profitability.
One of the keys to the turnaround was how Schutlz reinvented the brand—not just to win, but to win the right way.
The book is a narrative showing the maturation of Starbucks and Schultz. No matter how dark it got, Schultz saw light at the end of the tunnel.
Takeaway: Growth means nothing if you lose your soul along the way.
For more on Schultz and the dark days of Starbucks, check out:
Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul
Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s
Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s by Ray Kroc profiles a man who reshaped how the world eats.
He revolutionized fast food through systems, franchising, and marketing.
What’s fascinating is that Kroc began franchising McDonald’s at 52—proof that ambition doesn’t expire.
That’s right—he was an “overnight success” more than 30 years in the making, as he recounts in Grinding It Out.
Takeaway: It’s never too late to start—or to think big.
For more on Kroc’s story, his impact on fast food, and his approach to business building, check out the book below:
Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s
Sam Walton: Made In America
In Sam Walton: Made In America, Walton tells the story of Walmart in his own words. The book is raw in the best way.
Walton comes across as modest yet quietly confident—relentlessly ambitious and never one to take “no” for an answer.
The book closes with practical life and business advice from Walton himself:
- Competition: Walton loved competing—it’s the heart of business.
- Partnership: Teamwork played a role in Walmart’s success. Teams, not individuals, create outsized returns.
- Money: Walton sacrificed everything to make Wal-Mart what it is. He questions that sacrifice.
- Celebrity: Being famous never mattered to Walton. He drove a truck because of its utility—he needed to haul around his quail hunting dogs.
- Family: He and his wife Helen instilled values he hoped would last multiple generations—hard work, honesty, neighborliness, and frugality.
For more on Sam Walton, the building of Walmart, and the lessons behind it all, check out the book below:
The Red Bull Story: The Unbelievable Success of Dietrich Mateschitz and His Energy Drink Empire
The Red Bull Story: The Unbelievable Success of Dietrich Mateschitz and His Energy Drink Empire tells the story of the Austrian marketing mastermind behind Red Bull.
Wolfgang Fürweger builds a profile of one of the greatest brand builders of the modern era.
He covers how Mateschitz came up with the product in Hong Kong, how marketing was the fuel that propelled Red Bull, why sports are invaluable to the brand, and the business principles of its success.
For a deeper look at Red Bull, Mateschitz, and how to build a brand through marketing, read the book below:
The Red Bull Story: The Unbelievable Success of Dietrich Mateschitz and His Energy Drink Empire
It’s How We Play the Game: Build a Business. Take a Stand. Make a Difference
It’s How We Play the Game: Build a Business. Take a Stand. Make a Difference. is the story of Dick’s Sporting Goods told by founder Dick Stack’s son, Ed Stack.
Dick’s started as a small bait-and-tackle shop in Binghamton, New York, in the late 1940s. Today, it’s a multi-billion-dollar operation with more than 750 stores.
Ed bought the business from his dad. The handoff was tumultuous at best as Dick didn’t want to relinquish the reins of what he started.
The business faced near-death more than once under Ed’s leadership, but his steadiness ultimately righted the ship.
For more on the story of Dick’s Sporting Goods, the Stack family, and the perseverance required to build something that lasts, read the book below:
It’s How We Play the Game: Build a Business. Take a Stand. Make a Difference
Bloomberg by Bloomberg
Bloomberg by Bloomberg is Michael Bloomberg’s story in his own words.
Bloomberg started at Salomon Brothers after graduating from Harvard Business School. He was forced out of the firm in the early 1980s after working his way up to partner.
That firing set the stage for an extraordinary career building a financial-technology empire.
The book is that story in intimate detail—from the grind of working 7 to 7, six days a week, to the early scrappiness of Bloomberg LP.
For more on Michael Bloomberg and his story, read the book below:
Land’s Polaroid: A Company and the Man Who Invented It
Land’s Polaroid: A Company and the Man Who Invented It is the story of Polaroid and its founder, Edwin Land.
Land became fascinated with polarized light early in life, and that curiosity eventually grew into a career and a company.
Polaroid is best known for its instant camera, released in the late 1940s, revolutionary at the time because it produced a developed photo in under a minute.
For more on Edwin Land, Polaroid, and the revolutionary products he created, read:
Land’s Polaroid: A Company and the Man Who Invented It
Know What Matters: Lessons from a Lifetime of Transformations
Know What Matters: Lessons from a Lifetime of Transformations is by Ron Shaich, builder of three notable restaurant brands: Au Bon Pain, Panera Bread, and Cava.
Shaich is considered the founder of the “fast casual” category. His book is a straightforward, unvarnished look at what he learned building these brands, and what they taught him about entrepreneurship and life.
Tell the truth. Know what matters. Get it done. That’s the heart of the book, and Shaich’s formula for success.
For more on Ron Shaich, the restaurant brands he built, and life lessons, read:
Know What Matters: Lessons from a Lifetime of Transformations
Hetty: The Fascinating Story of America’s Richest Woman, the Witch of Wall Street, and the Trailblazer of Female Entrepreneurship in the Gilded Age
Hetty by Charles Slack is a story of America’s richest woman and a trailblazer of entrepreneurship in the Gilded Age.
Hetty’s story begins with her inheritance. She was able to turn that windfall into more than a billion-dollar fortune.
How? Frugality. She lived on her own terms—buying and selling real estate and railroads, and lending cash to cities like New York.
For more on Hetty Green, frugality, and her story, read the book below:
Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy
Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy by Isadore Sharp explores the principles behind his success in this candid memoir.
Sharp began as a general contractor in Toronto, the son of a builder from Poland. He eventually turned that small operation into one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands.
His story is one of trial and error. Sharp’s singular goal was to build the world’s best hotel, and quality guided every decision he ever made.
For more on Sharp, Four Seasons, and the power of uncompromising quality, read:
Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy
2025 Reading List: Key Takeaways
One of the best lessons I learned this year is that reading doens’t need to be a race. It’s far better to establish a reading habit—showing up daily—than to chase an arbitrary number of books finished. That shift alone changed the way I think about reading and the books that made up my 2025 reading list.
I also learned to stop forcing myself to read books that don’t resonate. Life is too short to read something out of obligation. If a book doesn’t immediately pull me in, I move on without guilt. On the flip side, when a book clicks, I dive in with both feet.
Looking back, I’m reminded how much reading adds value to my life. My goal moving forward is simple: read every day, follow my curiosity, and only say yes to books that are a “hell yes” from the start.
