The best books of 2025

This list is part of the best books of 2025.

Join 1,210 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2025

Book cover of I Respectfully Disagree

Marcey Rader ❤️ loved this book because...

I read this when it first came out, but neglected to include it in past lists. That’s changing this year. In a world where respectful disagreement feels like a lost art, this book is more essential than ever.

What struck me most was how often “agreeing to disagree” is really just a cop-out—a way to avoid discomfort or keep the peace instead of engaging meaningfully. Jones-Fosu pushes readers to lean into the hard conversations, to listen with curiosity rather than judgment.

I found myself pausing after each chapter to reflect on my own communication habits. His “Thank you, because…” technique instantly elevates conversations, creating a sense of appreciation and connection even in disagreement.

This isn’t just another “be kind” manifesto. It’s a toolkit for honest, productive dialogue. If we all practiced what Jones-Fosu teaches, social media would be quieter, meetings would be smarter, and families would argue less and understand more.

Read it if: you lead teams, work with humans, or are tired of shouting matches that never change anyone’s mind.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Outlook 🥈 Thoughts
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace

By Justin Jones-Fosu ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Respectfully Disagree as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Start building bridges instead of barriers! This essential guide offers a simple 5-part framework that will help you have honest and enlightening conversations despite deep and fundamental disagreements.

Divisions are on the rise around the world, and 2024 may well be a peak year. We're losing the ability to disagree without dehumanizing. There is a deep need for this practical and accessible guide to having challenging conversations in any situation, from the workplace to the classroom to the dinner table.

It's not about saying the right words at the right time but something vastly deeper. In this book, you'll discover…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2025

Book cover of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

Marcey Rader ❤️ loved this book because...

This book should be required reading for anyone who plans to die—or knows someone who will.

Gawande pulls no punches about how we’ve turned aging and dying into a medical problem instead of a human experience. We chase every possible treatment, be it for ourselves or (worse) for our loved ones, even when it strips away dignity, joy, and choice.

The book has reframed how I view end-of-life care and made me realize that longevity doesn’t necessarily equate to quality of life. If my parents are in their nineties and want to eat bacon and a milkshake, I’ll hand them the salt shaker and straw myself.

What I love most is how practical it is. Gawande blends research, personal stories, and brutal honesty to show how we can live—and die—on our own terms. It’s compassionate without being sentimental, medical without being sterile.

Read it if: you’re a leader, caregiver, or simply someone who wants to face mortality with courage instead of fear.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Outlook 🥈 Thoughts
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐕 Good, steady pace

By Atul Gawande ,

Why should I read it?

17 authors picked Being Mortal as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

'GAWANDE'S MOST POWERFUL, AND MOVING, BOOK' MALCOLM GLADWELL

'BEING MORTAL IS NOT ONLY WISE AND DEEPLY MOVING; IT IS AN ESSENTIAL AND INSIGHTFUL BOOK FOR OUR TIMES' OLIVER SACKS

For most of human history, death was a common, ever-present possibility. It didn't matter whether you were five or fifty - every day was a roll of the dice. But now, as medical advances push the boundaries of survival further each year, we have become increasingly detached from the reality of being mortal. So here is a book about the modern experience of mortality - about what it's…


My 3rd favorite read in 2025

Book cover of Verity

Marcey Rader ❤️ loved this book because...

If Being Mortal makes you think and I Respectfully Disagree makes you grow, Verity will make you lock the door and cancel your plans. I didn’t just read this book—I inhaled it.

This was my second Colleen Hoover book, and I’m glad it wasn’t my first, because Verity sets an impossible bar. It’s twisted, dark, and completely addictive. I didn’t want to put it down, talk to anyone, or do anything until I finished it.

The story drags you into a psychological tug-of-war between truth and manipulation. Hoover builds tension so thick you can’t tell what’s real and what’s not, which makes it even more irresistible.

I read a lot for work and learning, but Verity reminded me that reading can also be a full-body, fun, suspensful experience.

Read it if: you love thrillers, need an escape, or just want a book that reminds you what obsession feels like—in the best possible way.

  • Loved Most

    🥇 Story/Plot 🥈 Character(s)
  • Writing style

    ❤️ Loved it
  • Pace

    🐇 I couldn't put it down

By Colleen Hoover ,

Why should I read it?

10 authors picked Verity as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

OVER 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD - THE NO.1 BESTSELLER AND TIKTOK SENSATION, FROM THE AUTHOR OF IT ENDS WITH US
Are you ready to stay up all night? Rebecca meets Gone Girl in this shocking, unpredictable thriller with a twist that will leave you reeling . . .

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Reclaim Your Workday: Sustainable Productivity Strategies for the New World of Work

By Marcey Rader ,

Book cover of Reclaim Your Workday: Sustainable Productivity Strategies for the New World of Work

What is my book about?

Reclaim your time and energy!

Discover no-nonsense, sustainable, actionable strategies to boost productivity, ditch burnout, and reach your goals as an individual contributor, team, or leader.

In today’s fast-paced, “always on” business environment, many organizations struggle with disengaged employees, stressed-out managers, and talented executives who keep one eye on the door.

But you can flip that script! These issues can be transformed into opportunities for growth and organizational success. Written by multi-certified and multi-award-winning speaker, four-time author, and high-performance consultant, Marcey Rader, Reclaim Your Workday offers practical, actionable solutions developed and refined through years of experience.

In these pages, you’ll learn:

Proven techniques to enhance focus and attention that don’t require a Zen-like atmosphere or a digital detox.
Strategies for effective communication, even when your inbox and message app feel like a firehose.
Frameworks for managing tasks and time in a way that gives you energy even when you’re running on fumes.
Insights into leading remote teams, promoting work-life sanity for every level of your organization, and cultivating healthy habits.

Unlike other productivity books that leave you overwhelmed and confused about where to start, Reclaim Your Workday meets you where you are. With a unique “buffet” approach that puts you in control of your personal action plan, discover how to build a culture fueled by Health-Powered Productivity™.

If you enjoy books like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Four Thousand Weeks, Getting Things Done, or Work Well. Play More !, you’ll love Reclaim Your Workday.

Rader challenges the myth of multitasking, demonstrating that it actually leads to burnout, not increased efficiency. Her book is practical, actionable, and at times uncomfortable—REAL change always is. From better email habits to smarter meetings, this is THE game-changer you need to reclaim your time & energy. If you’re tired of being punched around by the demands of life & work, lean into Reclaim Your Workday to start throwing your own punches and knock out your most important goals & objectives—like a pro.

Book cover of I Respectfully Disagree
Book cover of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
Book cover of Verity

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