The Best Book I've Read in 2025
I read about 40 books a year. This one has been the highlight of the year thus far.
This is not a photo of me showing off my recent weight loss. This is Arthur C. , author of From Strength to Strength.
Dear Friends,
I read every chance I get. Early mornings, weekends, while walking or driving (don’t worry—I listen to books when I am mobile), while waiting or traveling. I’ve always got books with me. This has led me to apply increasingly exacting standards when I choose books to read. I have no patience for non-fiction that does not enlighten or inspire, or is not well-written. Thank the heavens for the Amazon “read sample” function.
All of which is to say, those 40 books that make the cut are usually excellent, and as of July 2025, the clear #1 on my list of completed books is From Strength to Strength, by Arthur C. Brooks. Ever since I read it a few months ago, I’ve been recommending it to friends. Why, specifically?
Because it helped me answer a number of questions I’ve been pondering lately about life and career. Examples:
What are my cognitive strengths at this time in my life? My brain works a bit differently than it did when I was 35 or 40. This book helped me understand why and how I can leverage the increase in “crystallized intelligence” we benefit from as we age.
How should I think about the way I define success at this stage of my career? What used to matter a lot doesn’t matter so much anymore, but how should I define success now? This book helped me figure out the answer for me.
What should I get rid of, and what should I keep, in terms of activities, habits, beliefs, relationships, and possessions? This book helped me say goodbye to things in my life that should be retired or given away.
How do I think about the gradual decline of my youth and changes in appearance and physicality? The book taught me to embrace these changes, to appreciate them, and use them to my benefit. (FYI—I will not ever be traveling to Turkey for a hair transplant).
Other important questions related to relationships, spirituality, vulnerability, and how to think about life transitions—like our soon-to-be empty nest.
If any of that appeals to you, get the book. The prose is engaging and tight, and everything Dr. Brooks writes in this book is well researched. If you end up reading it, let me know what you think, and if you feel so inclined, please share your own #1 book of 2025.
Yours in learning,
True
