"To live wonder-smitten with reality is the gladdest way to live." - Maria Popova
As my friends and clients know, I have systems for tracking many of my activities. For books, I have two systems – an MS Access Database and posting on Goodreads. The database allows me to track different categories, quickly organize by title or author, and create the content for a page on my website.
To choose my “top books for 2025”, I narrowed my reading list to only those that I gave a 5-star rating on Goodreads. Many of the books I read were published years ago; sometimes many, many years ago. My tastes range from history to poetry to science to social commentary. And sometimes I read books that involve mail. (Note: I do read fiction, but rarely do any of those books rate 5 stars.)
In alphabetical order by author, here are the thirteen books I most enjoyed in 2025.
Evidence of Things Not Seen by James Baldwin
This is one of those books that makes you uncomfortable throughout. Of course, that's the author's intention.
Written 40 years ago, Baldwin's indictment of America unfortunately still holds true. The only change is the extension of the irrational fear of race to the irrational fear of immigrants.
The Postal Paths: Rediscovering Britain’s Forgotten Routes – and the People Who Walked Them by Alan Cleaver
Every now and then, you find a book that encompasses so many things that you love – nature, walks, handwritten letters, poetry and ……. mail.
This book by Alan Cleaver is a love letter to the rural postal carriers of the Royal Mail. Their shortcuts between farms and villages became postal paths, some of which are still walkable today. Others require intensive research and dogged determination.
Thankfully, Mr. Cleaver knew how to conduct the research and is blessed with a determined manner. The book not only describes the paths, but the men and woman who used them to deliver mail – and more – to the intended recipients. The stories of these extraordinary, yet also ordinary, people are testaments to the need for a human connection.
While we can’t go backwards, we should pause and consider what we have given up in the name of progress. We should consider enlisting the men and woman who deliver mail as we seek solutions to reinforce the social contract. There may be other ways for our postal services to bind our nations together.
This book was my favorite read of 2025.
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig
I love it when poets write prose. The dictionary covers much more than sorrows, but all the emotions that you never quite knew how to describe.
I ordered several copies as gifts for friends.
You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World by Ada Limon
Nature and poetry - always together.
A keeper to be re-read in the depths of winter.
LinkedIn for Personal Branding: The Ultimate Guide by Sandra Long
I thought I was doing well on LinkedIn. I was getting profile views, as well as impressions and comments on my posts. Perhaps I just needed to just post more?
Sandra Long makes it clear it’s doing the right things that matter. Her book provides clear explanations of how to build a complete LinkedIn profile. Sandra pointed out the different sections of my profile that I didn’t know existed.
Just as important is what you post. An area where I need to improve is promoting others. That’s advice I will take to heart.
Highly recommend reading the book and following Sandra on LinkedIn. She constantly shares ideas that will help us all improve.
The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne
The stories that made me want to be a reader. I still hear my mother's voice on every page.
We should all re-read books like these.
Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator by Gary Noesner
This book was recommended by a someone close. I was wondering "why this book?" Until the last sentence in the Preface - "Listening is the cheapest concession we can ever make."
I remember many of the incidents the author was part of, although I never heard his name in the press at the time. Of course, he wasn't leading the tactical response - which is what the public is most fascinated by. Instead, he was the calm person behind the scenes helping people stay alive.
I spent a significant part of my life in uniform. As an Infantry officer, the "warrior culture" was always first - and last. The way to win was to defeat the enemy, by killing if necessary.
Mr. Noesner makes it clear we have to redefine what "winning" actually means.
Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair by Pablo Neruda (Translation by W.S. Merwin)
Think Emily Dickinson meets Kahlil Gibran meets Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
The only thing I would have changed was that I should have been reading the book with a bottle of wine.
The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder through Science & Poetry by Maria Popova (Ofra Amit, Illustrator)
"To live wonder-smitten with reality is the gladdest way to live."
A book so beautiful, that I almost started to cry on a flight home. Popova's descriptions of scientific discoveries are paired with beautiful poems, and then enhanced with the fantastical illustrations by Ofra Amit.
Immediately joins the re-read list. Perfect size to carry in an overstuffed briefcase.
Ornithography: An Illustrated Guide to Bird Lore & Symbolism by Jessica Roux
No video screen will ever match the beauty of printed illustrations. And amazingly, the author is the illustrator too! I really enjoyed the short introductions to the birds and their places in lore and literature.
A keeper to browse on cloudy days.
Ghosts of Iron Mountain: The Hoax that Duped America and its Sinister Legacy by Phil Tinline
More Americans should read foreign authors - especially about events occurring in this country.
I hadn't heard of "The Report from Iron Mountain" before. I was intrigued by the original authors' intentions - and how their concerns mirrored what many are feeling today. As the saying goes, history doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme.
The adoption of liberal satire as evidence of a conspiracy by right-wing groups - and "left-wing" directors - was never an intent. But perhaps an inevitable consequence.
Future Shock by Alvin Toffler
While written 65 years ago, this book gives needed advice for the world we live in today - especially with the overwhelming impact of social media and AI. Toffler foresaw that technology would take over endlessly repetitive tasks and that the pace of change would only accelerate. As individuals, we need to seek out and establish "personal stability zones" - not to escape change, but to take a respite.
"We may choose one future over another. We cannot, however, maintain the past."
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present by David Treuer
"If you want to know America - if you want to see it for what it was and what it is - you need to look at Indian history and at the Indian present."
This quote from the end of the book explains why you should read it. I hadn't realized the complexity of the issues the author covers. So important, especially in the current atmosphere.
If you have a book you think I should read in 2026, let me know!
