The 7 Best Books We Read in 2025 (And Ones To Read In 2026)
2025 has not been our best year for books.
We read plenty, but the good ones were limited.
In the end, seven books made it onto the list.
So here they are:
1. Apple In China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company by Patrick McGee
The success of Apple over the past twenty years has a lot to do with outsourcing its manufacturing to China. But this has come at significant cost. By investing hundreds of billions of dollars into its overseas operations, Apple has effectively modernised the Chinese electronics industry through its transfer of technology, engineering talent and operational know-how. Not only that, but it has left the US company vulnerable to the Chinese government’s actions.
The Financial Times investigative journalist Patrick McGee argues that Tim Cook pursued cost-cutting and efficiency above geopolitical risk. Whilst good for company performance and shareholder value, it’s tied Apple to China, making it almost impossible to move manufacturing to other countries without sacrificing the speed and quality that define its products.
He also shines a light on the fact that to maintain its favourable manufacturing conditions, Apple has had to comply with Chinese requests that conflict with its Western values regarding privacy and human rights.
Overall, it’s a great lesson about how corporate greed created a national security risk for the US that would be difficult to escape.
2. Hacking the Human Mind: The Behavioral Science Secrets Behind 17 of the World’s Best Brands by Michael Aaron Flicker & Richard Shotton
We’re big fans of all things behavioural science, so we were hotly anticipating Richard Shotton’s latest release. Co-authored with Michael Aaron Flicker, we’re happy to say it didn’t disappoint, and we made copious notes.
The authors unpack the psychological drivers behind the success of giants like Apple, Guinness, Red Bull, and Dyson. The central message is that great brands don’t just sell products; they hack the human mind.
Like Shotton’s previous bestsellers, The Choice Factory and The Illusion of Choice, this is highly practical. You can immediately apply the myriad tactics explained to boost your own brand’s success.
3. The Serendipity Mindset: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck by Dr Christian Busch
Luck and serendipity are two words that are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Luck is something that happens to you, good or bad. You take no active part. Serendipity, on the other hand, is when you take advantage of an opportunity. For example, if you’re looking for a new job, you can increase the chances of an offer by networking. By doing so, you’re creating more opportunities for serendipitous encounters, in which unexpected connections can turn into career-defining offers.
4. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage to the Antarctic by Alfred Lansing
An extraordinary tale of human survival that reads like a work of fiction. Attempting the crossing of the Antarctic today is a dangerous endeavour, but in 1914, with basic equipment, it was madness. Things only got worse when the ship the adventurers were travelling in, Endurance, was crushed by the ice. Stranded hundreds of miles from civilisation, they had to traverse shifting ice packs, rough seas, and climb mountains to find safety. Aside from being a gripping adventure, it is a masterclass in leadership under pressure. There are profound lessons from Ernest Shackleton throughout that are directly applicable to the modern workplace.
5. The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander
At its heart, this is a book about shifting your mindset. The stories we tell ourselves we mistake for reality when it’s just our interpretation of the world. Instead of comparing ourselves to others and fearing failure, we should open our minds to possibilities. Focus on the positive things that could happen. If you feel stuck in a rut, the authors share 12 "practices” to help you look at the world (and your career) more optimistically and creatively. Benjamin Zander also has a brilliant TED talk that’s one of our all-time favourites.
6. Shoemaker: The Untold Story of the British Family Firm that Became a Global Brand by Joe Foster
If you loved Shoedog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike, then you’ll enjoy this book. It’s an extraordinary tale of how a small shoemaker run by two brothers from Bolton, England, became a billion-dollar global brand. Reebok was born from the ashes of the brothers’ grandfather’s business, founded in 1895. Like Shoe Dog, this is a “warts-and-all” story of entrepreneurship, featuring family feuds, near-bankruptcies, and plenty of twists and turns.
7. The Most Interesting Book in the World by Edward Brooke-Hitching
It does exactly what it says on the tin. Full of weird and wonderful facts, it had us going down plenty of rabbit holes. For example, did you know that during the filming of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, the actor Peter Mayhew had to be accompanied by a security team in hi-vis jackets? The reason? The production team were concerned that his Chewbacca costume would make him look like Bigfoot against the backdrop of the Californian forests they were filming in. For those who enjoy golf, there’s a course in Coober Pedy Opal Fields, Australia, that has no greens and can only be played at night with glow-in-the-dark balls. Why? Because it’s too hot to play during the day, and the grass wouldn’t survive. The fairways are white sand, and the greens are black, made by pouring oil on top of the sand, which makes them smooth and prevents the sand from blowing away.
With the 2025 review out of the way, now it’s time to look at the 2026 non-fiction titles we’re most looking forward to reading. N.B. previews are adapted from Amazon
1. Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better by David Epstein
We enjoyed Epstein’s last book, Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, enormously, and this one sounds just as promising. Inside the Box argues that narrowing your options is the key to success. By embracing constraints (like hard deadlines and limited resources), you can unlock your best ideas and make meaningful breakthroughs. A great way to kick-start your creative muscles in the new year.
2. Intentional: The Science of Finishing What You Start by Chris Bailey
Why do you struggle to make progress on the things that matter to you? Author Chris Bailey argues that the missing link is connecting your goals to what matters most. Rather than relying on willpower, you need a system that does the work for you. Using research-backed principles, Intentional shows you how to structure your goals for higher completion rates, when to stop procrastinating on long-term projects, how to make tedious tasks more attractive to get them done, and more. Bailey’s other books, The Productivity Project: Proven Ways to Become More Awesome and Hyperfocus: How to Work Less and Achieve More, are also highly recommended.
3. Runnin’ Down a Dream: How To Thrive In A Career You Actually Love by Bill Gurley
We spend 80,000 hours of our lives at work, yet research shows that 60% of people regret their career choices. Ouch. In Runnin’ Down a Dream, legendary venture capitalist Bill Gurley offers a cure to the pressure of choosing "safe" jobs. Through six key principles, including chasing curiosity, honing your craft, and going where the action is, Gurley provides a roadmap to avoid the conventional path and build a career where work doesn’t feel like work. Now, doesn’t that sound like an attractive proposition?
