My greatest achievement of 2025 had nothing to do with work.
It’s that I read 69 books with a goal of 40. Do you know how many were business books?
None.
Today is the last day of the 2-week wasteland of the end-of-year holidays, so I thought I’d throw out a post few will see in the hopes of finding a few like-minded reades and get a few more books on my TBR.
2025 was for me, like for many, a challenging year. A heavy year. And it was a year I leaned into an activity that brings me joy and escape: reading.
If you’ve ever talked books with me, you know I don’t read business books. I buy business books and recommend business books, but I rarely read them.
I don’t read them because for me, reading is an escape, a chance to get out of my ever-chirping brain. More than yoga or hiking or anything else, it’s the one activity that turns my brain off. The one activity I do for pure joy.
This year, thanks to the podcast Currently Reading, I read books I wouldn’t have before, and read more.
So in no particular order, here are my favorites of 2025. All but 1 is fiction, and they’re all over the place genre-wise:
- Dissolution by Nicholas Binge – Sci-fi-esque. I have terrible book amnesia so I don’t remember much but I know I loved it.
- The Last Ranger by Peter Heller – This was my first book by Heller. I also read The Dog Stars—mixed feelings there.
- Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch – Speculative fiction with a mystery-solving pony.
- The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (1-3) by Beth Brower – I’ve been reading these on audiobook and they are delightful. And yes, they’re fiction.
- Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler – I enjoy a fun rom-com and this was my favorite this year.
- The Wedding People by Alison Espach – I almost DNF’d because it started so dark, but turned into a delightful character study and a validation of the value of curiosity.
- This is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch by Tabitha Carvan – Really, this non-fiction memoir is not about him. Unexpectedly, it spurred me to look up and ask myself the question “What DOES bring me joy?” I realized I didn’t know the answer, so I’ve been on that journey, and it’s been life-changing.
Out of 69, those were the ones that bubbled to the top (I also DNF’d 16, no small feat for me).
Honestly, I can’t say it didn’t help my business: I am much more engaged with and energetic about my work when I give myself time for what brings me joy.
If you’re a reader, I’d love to hear your top reads of the year. I’ll take all of the fiction and any non-fiction recs as long as they aren’t on history, politics, or–you guessed it–business.
And if you read business books? I’m grateful for people like you so you can tell me about them. 😁
Want to connect on books? You can find me on StoryGraph as cmfarrell.
Happy reading!
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