2025 is an Open Book: 16 Reviews to Inspire Your Year
Keep up to date on curated AI, security, tips, tricks and more with The Digital Life!
Here we are again, starting a new trip around the sun. 🌞 I hope the holiday season treated you well and left you ready to tackle 2025 with fresh energy. While I had every intention of sending out an end-of-year recap, your inbox was probably already flooded with plenty of those. 😂 So, I’ll save my honest assessment and goals for a future edition.
For now, let’s focus on one accomplishment I’m proud of: I finished 35 books last year! Between my usual deep dives into tech news, magazines, Substacks, and forums, this goal felt like a meaningful way to stay balanced and inspired. Below, I’m sharing my reviews of the final 16 books I read in 2024—maybe one will spark your curiosity as you kick off the new year.
We’ll be back soon with more updates, including highlights from CES, the “Super Bowl of tech”, happening right now in Las Vegas. It’s the week when technology gets its big debut for the year, and we’re already compiling the most exciting announcements and gadgets to share with you.
As always, remember: technology should work for you, not the other way around. If you’ve got tech challenges or goals to tackle in 2025, we’re here to help. Stay tuned, stay curious, and let’s make this year a great one!
Reads to Kickstart Your 2025 Journey
As the new year begins, do you have a reading resolution in mind? You’re in luck! I’ve just wrapped up my latest book review, featuring my final 16 reads from the last half of 2024—bringing my total to 35 books for the year!
Whether you’re looking to dive into history, explore gripping fiction, or expand your horizons with science and humanities, there’s something on this list for everyone. Maybe one of these will inspire you to pick up a book for the new year!
I’ve divided the reads into categories—History/Non-Fiction, Fiction, Science, and Humanities, with a top pick and runners-up for each category
If you’re ready to grab a copy, consider supporting your local bookshop through Bookshop.org, a fantastic platform that helps independent bookstores thrive. Whether you shop there, at your local library, or at another favorite spot, nothing beats the feel of a real, non-electronic book in your hands. 📖📙
For more inspiration, check out my previous book reports below, and happy reading!
History / Non-Fiction
Top Pick
Freezing Order by Bill Browder
Browder’s gripping memoir details his crusade against Russian corruption after the murder of his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. From his business dealings in Russia to his advocacy for the Magnitsky Act, Browder paints a chilling picture of power and greed. Essential reading for those interested in geopolitics and human rights.
Runner Up
The Devil We Know by Robert Baer
Former CIA operative Baer offers an inside look at Iran’s transformation into a regional superpower, delving into its proxies like Hezbollah and its long-term strategic goals. This detailed and eye-opening account is a must-read for those seeking to understand Iran’s place in the global landscape.
Fiction
Top Pick
The Ministry of Time: A Novel by Kaliane Bradley
In this inventive sci-fi tale, a civil servant is assigned to work with a time-displaced historical figure as part of a government experiment. The blend of time travel, romance, and existential stakes makes this novel an engaging exploration of history and humanity. A mind-bending piece for fans of both speculative fiction and historical drama.
Runners Up
Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes
A satirical “what if” novel that imagines Adolf Hitler waking up in modern-day Germany, completely unprepared for the 21st century. With sharp humor, the book explores today’s society through the lens of his outdated worldview. If you enjoy biting satire and a farcical twist on history, this is a must-read. Just make sure your sense of humor is intact. 😂
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
This dual narrative follows two women from different social classes as they navigate life in post-revolution Iran. Their stories intersect in ways that reflect the societal upheavals of the time. This insightful novel offers a compelling look into Iranian culture and history, possibly even drawing parallels with tales of royalty like the Shah’s family. A fascinating read.
James: A Novel by Percival Everett
Everett reimagines the story of Huck Finn through the eyes of Jim, the enslaved man central to Mark Twain’s classic. This award-winning novel offers a poignant and provocative perspective on race, identity, and narrative ownership, with a twist that will leave you reeling.
Moonbound: A Novel by Robin Sloan
Set in a distant future, this novel blends science fiction and adventure as a boy discovers a glacier-hidden spaceship and awakens an ancient AI. Sloan’s vivid imagination paints a picture of survival, memory, and the persistence of humanity. A fascinating take on what lies beyond our current reality.
BOX 88: A Novel by Charles Cumming
This gripping spy thriller introduces Lachlan Kite, a young recruit in a secret intelligence organization, as he uncovers plots tied to Iran and the Lockerbie bombing. A page-turner full of intrigue and action, this book is perfect for fans of espionage fiction.
Science
Top Pick
Time Loops by Eric Wargo
This groundbreaking study on precognition and retrocausation challenges traditional notions of time and causality. Wargo’s exploration of how future events can influence the present is both scientifically compelling and philosophically profound. A must-read for those intrigued by the mysteries of time and the unconscious.
Runner Up
Psyche and Singularity by Timothy Desmond
A fascinating intersection of Jungian psychology and string theory, this book explores consciousness, synchronicity, and archetypes through a scientific and mystical lens. It’s a thought-provoking read for anyone curious about the deeper connections between mind, matter, and the cosmos.
Humanities
Top Pick
Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters by Brian Klaas
Through intriguing anecdotes and historical events, Klaas illustrates how small, seemingly random choices can have monumental consequences. A thought-provoking book that reminds us how interconnected our actions are with the broader fabric of history and society.
Runners Up
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
This timeless classic delves into Frankl’s harrowing experiences in Nazi concentration camps and his profound reflections on finding purpose amid suffering. Frankl’s reminder that the ultimate freedom lies in how we choose to respond to life’s challenges is as relevant today as ever—a deeply moving and inspiring read.
In Search of Zarathustra by Paul Kriwaczek
Kriwaczek embarks on a historical journey to uncover the legacy of Zoroaster, whose teachings influenced Western religions and philosophical traditions. A captivating blend of travelogue and history, this book shines a light on the profound impact of Zoroastrianism on human thought.
The Bonus Round: What’s on Eric’s Couch?
A sneak peek at the next chapter of my reading journey!
