2025 non-fiction books of the year
My roundup for end of year
I read a lot of non-fiction and specifically business books. I’ve even this year started an in-person London meetup for likeminded people. Turns out there are others who like me enjoy nothing more than a business book or memoir.
There’s lots in my 2023 list, and my 2024 list which I still think is worth digging into.
Not everything in this list of recommendations is business focused, and this isn’t capped to books released this year. Just what I’ve dug into and my views on it.
The list is much shorter than my last two years. . A few reasons for this. I tried dipping my toe back into fiction this year. The result was a very long period reading Tom Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities, which took up a usual 3-4 book cycle. I ended up reading a lot more magazines this year – perhaps due to starting my own – but found myself filling a couple of holidays with no full titles and only periodicals. I want to get back up to ~ 20 or so titles for the end of 2026.
What have you been reading?
Recommended books from 2025
Not in order
The Richer Way – Julian Richer
Great and short book from Richer Sounds. I love the niche of memoirs from British entrepreneurs because it feels like such different reading comapred to US counterparts. I made dozens of notes from this book and we implemented at least a dozen new things into Ballpoint as a result.
Traction – Gino Wickman
Most practicable book on running a business like ours I’ve read. Within 15 days of reading, I had our SLT read it and we set direction for 5 years, 3 years, 1 year.
Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz
Reread for Book Club. Great book as ever which remains a strong recommend – even if it feels very rationalist and ignores some human nature stuff.
Click Here – Alex Schultz
For anyone deep into their marketing careers, this won’t be revolutionary but we’ll likely add this to our Grad reading list from 2026 on as a great starting point.
The Tesla Files – Sonke Iwersen
A lot has happened over the last few years to adjust my opinion on Elon but this was actually a big contributor. I used to see driverless cars as inevitable and near-future. My hunch reading this is we’re still a long way off outside of a few cities.
When The Going Was Good – Graydon Carter
Starting Noix Mag this year, I wanted to read a bit more about the industry. This was an excellent read that did just that. In a different life and different time, I think I’d have loved to be an editor of a 90s magazine. What a time!
I Regret Almost Everything – Keith McNally
Similar vain to Carter, this was about Keith McNally’s rise as a restaurateur. Absolutely captivating read from start to finish. Feels like the McNally empire was at the forefront of every cultural moment from the mid-90s to mid-00s.
Books I wouldn’t recommend
The Happy Index – James Timpson
Didn’t finish. At the half way mark felt like I’d taken everything I needed to. Be good to your team, and great work will follow. Very similar to and less good than Richer WayEmpire of AI – Karen Hao
What started off great, soon got drudged down in detail and meant that I got 40% of the way through before just giving up as it felt too much of a chore to finish.Accelerating Innovation – Phil Budden
Barely got out of the opening chapters.
What have you read this year?
What’s been on your reading list this year? Favourite books or podcasts? Have you tried anything from our list? Let us know below.
1929 is a great read.