As I’ve done every year for the past 4 years, I’m committed to reading a minimum of 20 books annually.
This year may have been my best list yet – a perfect mix of genres and some newfound all-time favorites. I’m really leaning into audiobooks more, mixing those in at the gym or during walks in lieu of podcasts. I couldn’t finish in time to put on the 2024 list, but I’ve been devouring Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson on audiobook lately and it’s insanely well-done. No doubt I’ll be all over these in 2025.
Anyways, here’s my list in chronological order on when I finished – Amazon links to all, enjoy!
- Same as Ever by Morgan Housel
My first Housel book, this fascinating read explores the enduring human behaviors and societal trends that shape our world, despite constant change. Through insightful stories and witty observations, Housel reveals timeless truths about risk, opportunity, and the pursuit of happiness, offering valuable guidance for navigating the complexities of life.
2. Levels of the Game by John McPhee
As with any McPhee book, the perfect prose, subtle wisdom, and economy of words make the story of this duel both riveting and eye-opening. Whether you’re a tennis fan or not (I can’t say that I am), this short read will keep you entertained from cover to cover. A great beach read for your next vacation.
3. Deep Work by Cal Newport
This was the first of a Cal Newport kick early in the year for me. I guess I must’ve been seeking answers for a better way to engage with my work. Newport’s pragmatic yet seemingly Socrates-like approach to making meaningful contributions to society are simply fascinating. You can hear the passion coming through the page as he fervently urges us to cultivate the ability to focus without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks.
4. The Richest Man in Babylon Sam Clason
A timeless classic that teaches financial wisdom through ancient Mesopotamian parables. It emphasizes the importance of saving, investing, and controlling expenses to build wealth and achieve financial independence. A great read for anyone looking to prioritize their finances in 2025.
5. The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson
Everyone should read this best-seller to get a baseline understanding of the way our bodies work. Bryson’s ability to use wit and storytelling will keep you engaged from head to foot, as every chapter serves to deep dive on one system or organ in your body.
6. Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
Chest deep into my Cal Newport rabbit hole, his latest publication challenges the current age of hustle culture and encourages a more deliberate and sustainable approach to work. By prioritizing deep work, minimizing distractions, and cultivating a craftsman’s mindset, readers can achieve greater focus, creativity, and fulfillment in their professional and personal lives. I really enjoyed this and found myself implementing some of his core tenants, like finding ways to work at a natural pace; a tricky proposition in the world of technical SaaS sales, but nonetheless a worthwhile effort.
7. Surely, You Must be Joking, Mr. Feyman by Richard Feynman
My foray into Richard Feyman, after hearing his name one too many times. A truly singular character, Feynman was a brilliant and unconventional physicist known for his groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics and his playful, inquisitive spirit. He also worked with Opppenheimer on the Manhattan Project, wrestling with the morality of breeding such destruction while also grieving for his wife, who died while he was on the project. Feynman’s tragic love story is a poignant reminder of the human cost of scientific advancement and this book explores both his roots and his humanity.
8. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
By this time, I’m fully entrenched in Cal Newport wonderland. This book offers a practical guide to reclaiming your attention and improving your well-being in the digital age. By intentionally curating your digital life and prioritizing real-world experiences, readers can break free from the constant distractions of technology and cultivate a more meaningful and fulfilling existence.
This gave me the nudge I needed to get off social media for a ~2 month period, which was fantastic. While I admit to jumping back on the bandwagon through the holidays, I’m proud to admit I’m once again Instagram-free, and 10x happier for it.
9. Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain
A collection of essays exploring a vast range of culinary topics. In classic Bourdain fashion, he walks the fine line on his outspoken take on subtle human behavior, all in the context of food and eating behavior. He’s like a real world unhinged version of Seinfeld in many ways. I was really digging his edgy tone, which seemed to permeate my brain, and came out in my own writing a bit, most notably in a paid piece where I was feeling extra Bourdain-y.
10. Everyone Believes It, Most Will Be Wrong by Morgan Housel
Housel argues that popular beliefs in finance and investing are often misleading and ultimately detrimental to long-term success. He emphasizes the importance of independent thinking, embracing uncertainty, and focusing on what you can control, rather than chasing fleeting trends or trying to predict the future. A persuasive contention that the talking heads on CNBC are not always right – one cannot help but notice some undertones of stoicism in this very short read.
11. Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors by John Densmore
I’m a sucker for rock biographies, like Scar Tissue and Acid for the Children. I’ve also been a die-hard fan of The Doors since I was in middle school, which may partly explain how I ended up living in Los Angeles. I stumbled on this at the Wellfleet Flea Market in Cape Cod, and couldn’t resist the $5 price tag.
The band’s origin story, told through the lens of the band’s drummer, offers insight into how they reached success, why they stopped short, and just how doomed the famed front man Jim Morrison really was. It’s both sobering and sad to know how many people could see his early death coming, yet no one had the balls to get him help and put his spiral of alcoholism to an end.
12. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
I finally got all the way through this one by trudging through the audiobook version. It’s definitely a bit long, and some chapters feel a bit outdated, but the underlying wisdom of each law persists through the generations. This is sort of a must-read for those working in the world of business.
13. Hell Yeah Or No: What’s Worth Doing by Derek Sivers
If you don’t know who Derek Sivers is, check out this old Tim Ferriss podcast episode for an introduction.
Derek advocates for a minimalist approach to decision-making. Sivers encourages readers to only pursue activities that elicit an immediate and enthusiastic “Hell Yeah!” response, while firmly declining anything less. This simple yet powerful framework helps to eliminate distractions, reduce stress, and focus on what truly matters.
14. How to Live: 27 Conflicting Answers and One Weird Conclusion by Derek Sivers
Sivers explores 27 seemingly contradictory pieces of advice on how to live a good life, ranging from “Follow Your Passion” to “Embrace Constraints.” By examining these conflicting perspectives, he challenges readers to question their assumptions, embrace paradox, and ultimately discover their own unique path to fulfillment.
I found this book on Spotify funny enough, where Derek has made many of his novels available on audiobook for paid subscribers. The format, which includes some subtle musical undertones between chapters, makes this one easy to consume and digest quickly.
15. Mental Toughness for Young Athletes by Troy Horne
I have a rule that if I hear about a book three separate times, I’ll throw it in the Amazon cart for a rainy day. This was one of those books that I just kept hearing about and decided it was time to find out for myself. It was a cheap audiobook, so I figured what the heck? Don’t let the title fool you – there’s plenty of wisdom in here for old athletes too.
16. Leadership Strategy & Tactics by Jocko Willink
This book found me exactly when I needed it most. Recommended to me by a fellow leader, I desperately needed some tactics I could implement right away. For example, the concept of detachment, and recognizing exactly when you need to step back and look at the battlefield more clearly was a huge lesson for me, and one that had an immediate impact.
17. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
Holy s#!+ this one might be one of the best pieces of literature I’ve ever laid eyes on. Richard Poe narrates the audiobook (IYKYK), but I will 100% be going back to read the print.
The mix of masterful prose, beautiful imagery, and vividly quintessential characters combine into a perfectly twisted and violent story. Don’t pick this up if you’re looking for a happy ending – you won’t get that here. Though a highly debated subject on the interwebs, the thought of this being made into a movie both excites and disturbs me.
Favorite book of the year, hands down. Maybe ever.
18. Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln by James C. Humes
For anyone who wants to improve their public speaking, this is a must read (and so is Steal the Show). This book is incredibly tactical / practical, in that the author (a former speechwriter for President Nixon and several other well known politicians and business leaders) gives real world examples of where his methods were integrated.
19. Play Nice But Win by Michael Dell
This biography tells a story of a relentless technologist, with an uncanny ability to build and rebuild. As you can imagine, Dell is simply built with different software than the rest of us. It’s no wonder this guy has reached the summit multiple times in the high stakes world where business and technology intersect.
Dell can compartmentalize and strategize up against anyone, even in the wake of personal hardship or family crisis. His story is one of a highly driven human, with near unhuman-like sense for how to create products, put the customer at the center of everything, and build raving fans.
20. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgensen
Ironically, during my 20th and final book of the year, Naval stressed the importance of frequent reading, but contends the number of books read is just a vanity metric.
It got me thinking – maybe he is right. Maybe it should be quality over quantity, and that my annual quest to 20 is just for show. However, it’s hard to cram knowledge at such a rate, and with such range, without considering volume as a key variable.
That being said, the hard part isn’t the reading. The hard part is actually integrating the mental models of what you’ve read, then testing it in the real world. For example, I took Naval’s advice and hired someone on Freelancer to help redesign my blog. Not because I didn’t know how to do it, but because my time is too expensive to spend it on such a manual (and frankly frustrating) task. Why allocate 6-10 hours of my free time when I can offload to someone at less than half the price of what I’d consider my own hourly rate?
Thankfully, we live in an age where access to offshore services, books, and knowledge exists without a ton of barriers. But knowledge without reflection, practice, or direct experience ceases to be valuable.
All that to say, I’ll continue to shoot for 20 as my baseline, but maybe I’ll consider less rigidity in 2025, and sacrifice some style for substance.
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