Books I Read In 2025
The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq
Author: Steve Coll
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: What an amazing book. This is the sequel to Coll's 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning book Ghost Wars.
One Perfect Couple
Author: Ruth Ware
Genre: Fiction
Verdict: This book was sitting on the bookshelf at our post-Christmas Airbnb. I had heard of the author referenced as being the next Agatha Christie. Very happy to have serendipitiously found the book, read it in like 24 hours.
The Last Policeman
Author: Ben H. Winters
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: This book fits nicely into one of my favorite genres which is science fiction meets noir detective meets apocalypse. Loved it, but lost interest reading the sequels.
The Hemingway Stories
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Genre: Fiction
Verdict: Love Hemingway and The Sun Also Rises is unquestionably my favorite book of all time. I've even read it in multiple languages (Italian title is Fiesta). But this particular compendium was boring.
Countdown City
Author: Ben H. Winters
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: The sequel to the Last Policeman (above). Good but not as good as the first.
The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West
Author: Alexander C. Karp
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: Great, great book.
Start Something That Matters
Author: Blake Mycoskie
Genre: Business
Verdict: Great book written by somebody who seems to have figured out life.
The Age of AI and Our Human Future
Author: Henry Kissinger
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: Good book but a few chapters too long.
Sleeping Giants
Author: Sylvain Neuvel
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: Really loved this book, wildly creative.
Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World
Author: Anupreeta Das
Genre: Biography
Verdict: This is a repetitive hit piece. Is Bill Gates an opportunistic genius? Yes. Did Bill Gates change the world? Yes. Is he human and did he sometimes do human things? Also yes. I'm really not sure why people grind axes to the extent this author does, because at this point it adds very little if anything to the conversation.
Kill Chain: The Rise of the High Tech Assassins
Author: Andrew Cockburn
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: Interesting book about the future of warfare.
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
Author: Ronan Farrow
Genre: Crime / Non-fiction
Verdict: Had heard of Ronan Farrow before, so picked up this book on a whim at local bookstore. He's one hell of a writer and journalist.
Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War
Author: Raj Shah
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: Akin to Kill Chain, a great book if you want to understand where the whole war thing is going.
Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post Cold War Stalemate
Author: Mary Elise Sarotte
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: If I wasn't so into software I'd probably have been a history professor. One related question I've often wondered about lately is why is Russia so obsessed with Ukraine? This book answers that question.
The Spy Coast
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Genre: Thriller
Verdict: A fun book along the lines of the aforementioned One Perfect Couple.
Agency
Author: William Gibson
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: Neuromancer will forever be my favorite science fiction book of all time. It also happens to be, by far, his pinnacle of achievement because everything else he's written since has been practically incoherent. Not sure I can add anything more to this summary.
Zoo Station
Author: David Downing
Genre: Fiction
Verdict: Amazing historical fiction book! Loved it.
Down and Out in Paris and London
Author: George Orwell
Genre: Fiction
Verdict: The only reason this book is on this list is because I finally finished it after reading it for several years. A terrible slog and I'm sorry I ever started it. That said I love everything else Orwell has written.
The Future Was Now: Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci Fi Summer of 1982
Author: Chris Nashawaty
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: If you grew up in the 80's you will love this book! Chronicles the making of Tron, E.T., Poltergeist, The Thing, Road Warrior, Blade Runner, Star Trek II, and Conan the Barbarian, all classic movies which came in within a few months of each other in 1982.
Wheelmen: Lance Armstrong, the Tour de France, and the Greatest Sports Conspiracy Ever
Author: Reed Albergotti
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: I've always followed the Tour, particularly when guys like Armstrong were competing. This book explains just how deep the rabbithole went with regards to doping. Wow.
Swim, Bike, Bonk: Confessions of a Reluctant Triathlete
Author: Will McGough
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: As my 10,000 pushups post explains, in 2025 I got really interested in becoming physically fit and as part of the process read this book. Very funny and informative.
The Mercy of Gods
Author: James S.A. Corey
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: Wonderful science fiction book.
The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto: A Fifteen Year Quest to Unmask the Secret Genius Behind Crypto
Author: Benjamin Wallace
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: I feel like I've read everything that can be read about attempts to figure out who created Bitcoin and after reading this book have concluded barring the creator(s) stepping forward and announcing their existence there is probably little more that can be said about the subject.
How to Sell Anything to Anybody
Author: Joe Girard
Genre: Business
Verdict: Picked up this book at some used book store and it is now my favorite business book. I love it because despite what the title says it has very little to do with sales and everything to do with organizing a professional network. The author died a few years ago and for that reason I regret not having read this book earlier because I would have loved to have met him.
Roadside Picnic
Author: Arkady Strugatsky
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: This is a famous science fiction book which is little known to Westerners. Written by a citizen of the Soviet Union. I loved it!
Nexus (The Nexus Trilogy Book 1)
Author: Ramez Naam
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: Good book, enjoyed it.
Run
Author: Blake Crouch
Genre: Science Fiction / Apocalyptic
Verdict: WOW! One of my favorite books of the year. Terrifying. Read it over Thanksgiving in maybe 48 hours.
The Fear Index
Author: Robert Harris
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: Great book, I'm surprised this wasn't turned into a TV show.
Pines
Author: Blake Crouch
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: Another terrifying book by Blake Crouch, who also wrote Run (mentioned above). Loved it! Reminded me of Stephen King's 11/22/63.
The Checklist Manifesto
Author: Atul Gawande
Genre: Non-fiction
Verdict: Interesting book, I've applied some of what I learned from it to my own life in the weeks since. Let's see if it sticks.
Deep Storm
Author: Lincoln Child
Genre: Science Fiction
Verdict: Fun book about a deep sea discovery gone wrong. I will have to check out what else the author has written.