2025 was in many ways a busy year. You can read about that in my recap post. That also meant that I didn’t read as much as in previous years. That happens. However, the books on this year’s list have all left an impression. Some were very serendipitous finds, others I got to enjoy together with my daughter Emma.
Just like last year, I’ve tried to link to bookshop.org wherever I could because I’d love for you all to support your local, independent book stores whenever and wherever you can. They’re magical places and we need them now more than ever.
Most of these books I read in their physical form, a couple I listened to as audio books.
Thank you for reading my (very irregular) newsletters in 2025. I had promised more frequent writing here last year but that didn’t happen. A bit more frequent writing/posting actually happened over on Linkedin. Like this FFW2026 series with reflections and provocation for leaders based on season 1 of my podcast Poets & Thinkers.
Lastly, in the summer I placed a big order of books that are now banned in several states in the U.S. for our place in Canada. Mainly because growing up in Germany, they taught us that things get dangerous when governments start banning books – especially those that celebrate our diverse and colorful world. If you want to place your own orders, here’s a good list made by Penguin. And in the podcast episode linked below (at the bottom), Margaret Atwood discusses why it’s important to read banned books. Since you’re reading this, I thought you might be into banned books, too!
Please let me know which of these thoughts and ideas resonate with you, what you’d like to read more of, or send any ideas, questions, and feedback my way via email or the comments.
Happy New Year!
Sociopath (Book of the Year): I bought this book at the airport traveling back from a consulting job in San Francisco. Sounds about right! Anyway… moving on. From the first pages this book gripped me. It’s like watching an absolutely thrilling movie in your head for hours. But then you realize that this is a true story. A memoir. And because Patric Gagne also holds a PhD in clinical psychology, this is more than just a recount of her story so far but gives detailed, nuanced insights into the brain, emotions and life of a sociopath. Her own life. What a read!
The Good-Enough Life: This book found me on a walk downtown Princeton. The beautifully simple cover with the kintsugi bowl caught my eye, I flipped open the first page and was immediately hooked. Right time, right place, right book. Avi Alpert captured a lot of my own inner workings I’ve been reflecting on when it comes to wanting to be “the best”, and how a lot of the cultural narratives we all grew up with don’t necessarily hold true. I felt both honored and so inspired to have him be the first guest on my podcast early in the year. Here’s his episode.
On Tyranny (Graphic Edition): Years ago, when Timothy Snyder’s little book with the same title came out, I bought a copy. And have since gifted and recommended it to many. Then, when I discovered the graphic edition which is both expanded and also beautifully illustrated by German illustrator Nora Krug I had to get it. I read some parts of the book with Emma and highly recommend doing so if you want to have thoughtful conversations about authoritarianism and democracy with your children. And if there’s only one lesson to take from this book, then it’s: Don’t obey in advance.
Anne Frank’s Diary (Graphic Adaptation): Another book I read with Emma. I actually found out about the graphic adaption a few years ago when I first saw it in a bookstore. It’s so incredibly illustrated by David Polonsky and Ari Folman’s adaptation makes it a bit easier to work through for children between age of 8–11 than the actual diary. We read it sitting cuddled up on the couch so we could each read a page – and for me to be present when certain questions came up.
Dopamine Nation: I first came across one of Dr. Anna Lembke’s talks on the same topic and then finally ordered the book. Understanding how our bodies (and specifically our brain) responds to both pleasure and pain, how we’re living in dopamine overload and how to take back (some) control over regulating our own dopamine levels is literally life changing (maybe even life-saving in some cases). I would go as far as to say this book should be required reading for high school and college students as well as adults given the times we live in. It also goes hand in hand with the next book on the list.
Careless People: This book has thankfully already gotten some well-deserved airtime but I’m unsure how much it’s made its way into the mass market yet. The book describes the inside of Facebook/Meta and the many irresponsible choices its top leadership made and keeps on making; putting people’s wellbeing and lives at risk. And while this book talks a lot about past situations, it appears that in essence the company is still operating the same way. In times where billions of people are constantly exposed to the consequences of these decisions, it’s important we talk about the responsibility people in tech have and how there needs to be better systems of accountability. That starts with knowledge and awareness of what’s happening.
The Art Thief: I was gifted this book by my friend and former colleague Nando Costa. One day, a little package arrived with a wonderfully thoughtful note that said (among other things): I thought of you and feel like you might like this book. I don’t want to give away too much and you can read the synopsis following the link. But it’s such a fascinating true-crime stories of our times. Michael Finkel does an amazing job writing a story about art, crime and love. And as the synopsis says “about an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost”… If that’s not a deeply human story. Go get the book!
Empire of AI: Karen Hao was the first journalist to profile OpenAI (and Sam Altman) for the Atlantic. This book is required reading not just for folks in tech but even more so for everyone who isn’t in the current AI tech bubble. It’s both a “history book” about the latest installment of AI companies, the drama behind its current key players as well as an examination of the exploitation of both people’s data, physical labor and the planet – all to serve a few men (and their companies) that have questionable personal motives and a desire to build their empires. There’s a lot of positive potential in this amazing new technology we call AI but only when we acknowledge the dark sides as well, can we actually ensure we deploy it for good.
Determined: Several of my friends who are either professors in biology or neuroscience recommended this book after several discussions we had about free will or the lack thereof. The book is dense and long but worth a listen (yes, for this I got the audio book), sometimes it feels a bit forced in its contrarian stance but that’s not a bad thing for a book that wants to get you thinking.
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui: I’ve been reading (and rereading) some of Bert Brecht’s work. I’ve been drawn to him since I was in high school. However, I had never read this one. It felt fitting for this year, and is both a fun and thought-provoking read as most of his work. What made this especially fun was that Emma and I read it together. And since it’s written as play, we got to take turns on who read which character.
Notes on Being a Man: Scott Galloway has been quite outspoken about the crisis boys and young men are facing across the world. A big reason for that is the lack of good, healthy role models of what it means to be a man. His new book offers both an analysis and suggestions on how we can rewrite the narrative and support our boys as they grow up to be men to live more fulfilled and healthier lives (physically, emotionally and socially). The thought that stuck with me: A man adds more to the world and he takes. Given the very destructive actions of many men in power, this seems to be a good guideline.
Crooked Cross: At this point you sense a theme on this year’s reading list. Unsurprising perhaps. I read about this book first in an article by The Guardian. I knew I had to get a copy. But that wasn’t as easy as it sounds given that it appears the book isn’t sold in the U.S. (surprise?!). So, I got a copy when I was in Ireland. The story of how the book was rediscovered is a great one in and of itself. The book itself, while telling a fictional story, is a historic retelling of how events unfolded in the early 1930s (the story plays in 1932, written in 1933 and published in 1934) in Germany as the Nazis got into power. It’s fascinating and eerie and it’s a good reminder of how history rhymes. Sally Carson was only 33 when she wrote the book, it was forgotten for decades and republished earlier this year.
Quantum Supremacy: This book was recommended to me by a Princeton colleague after we discussed my interest in quantum. It was a much more in-depth and specific read (on quantum computing) than the Carlo Rovelli books from the list in previous years.
A Gentle Reminder: I got this book as a gift from my dear friend Jess Brown. It’s a great (no pun intended) reminder of the healing power of poetry and art. And, in this case, also friendship and kinship. Thanks, Jess!
Sam Harris speaks with Kara Swisher about Silicon Valley’s slide into techno-authoritarianism.
On the Reboot podcast Jerry Colonna speaks with Dr. Judson Brewer about what AI therapy misses.
Margaret Atwood speaks on Adam Grant’s podcast about what AI can’t replace.
Kudos to you for making it all the way to the end. Please share your feedback, questions or any topics you’d like me to touch on.
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