The Best Books I Read In 2025 đź“š
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Hey Reader! This is one of my favorite emails to write each year because I get to share the books that made a difference in how I think and live. Before we start, a quick note: these aren’t all books released in 2025. These are books I discovered and read for the first time this year. Some came out recently, others have been around for a while. What matters is they all landed at the right time for me (and maybe you)! I’ve linked to all these books below, and where possible, I’m pointing you toward independent bookstores like Painted Porch (Ryan Holiday’s bookstore in Bastrop, Texas) and BookPeople in Austin. These places supported me and let me film while I was putting this list together, so I want to return the favor. You can buy books anywhere you like, but consider buying from the “little guys” when you can. One last thing... this is a long email for me—so if you'd rather read in your browser just click here. The Will of the Many by James IslingtonLet’s start here: My favorite book of the year. Technically, it came out in 2023, but I read it twice in 2025—the only book I’ve ever read twice in one year. James Islington also wrote the Licanius Trilogy, which I loved a few years back. This book kicks off a new series (The Hierarchy Trilogy), and it’s incredible. Think Hogwarts-style school drama mixed with Roman political intrigue and a coming-of-age orphan story. It has everything. The second book, The Strength of the Few, came out in November, and I read it immediately. But start with The Will of the Many. It’s one of the best novels I’ve read in the past 5 years. Buy at BookPeople​ The Five Types of Wealth by Sahil BloomWhen you hear “wealth,” you think money. But Sahil breaks it down into five types: time, social, mental, physical, and financial. Most of us only focus on the last one and wonder why we still feel broke. This book helped me think differently about how I invest my time and energy, not just my money. There’s a section on designing your dream day that’s incredibly practical—just a few questions that help you clarify what actually matters. The part that hit me hardest was about time with your parents. You spend most of the time you’ll ever spend with them before you turn 18. After that, you’re off to college, maybe moving away, seeing them a few times a year if you’re lucky. My wife and I moved back to Florida after 16 years away partly because I wanted more time with my parents. They’re in their late sixties—still active, still sharp—but I don’t know how many years we have left together. Now I see them two or three times a week instead of two or three times a year. That decision has made our relationship stronger, and it’s one I’m grateful for every single week. If you’ve been thinking about time differently—not just how to save it, but how to spend it—this book will help. Buy at BookPeople​ Rules for a Knight by Ethan HawkeThis little book surprised me. I didn’t plan on including it, but I read it in about two hours and couldn’t stop thinking about it. The premise: Ethan Hawke found an old manuscript at his great-grandmother’s family farm after she passed away. With some academic help, he pieced it together. It’s a letter from his great-great-great-great-great-grandfather—a knight in the late 1400s—written to his children on the eve of a battle he wouldn’t survive. Inside are 20 rules for living well, each paired with a short story. It’s bittersweet knowing the context, but the wisdom is timeless. I’m buying copies of this to give away. It’s that good. Buy at Painted Porch or BookPeople.​ Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan HolidayBeing at Ryan’s bookstore, I’d be remiss not to start here. His new book is part of the Stoic Virtue series, and it’s excellent. Courage and discipline are easier to grasp—they’re right in front of your face. You either show up or you don’t. Wisdom is different. It takes a lifetime to cultivate, and you can lose sight of it in a heartbeat if you’re not careful. This book reminded me that wisdom isn’t something you achieve once and keep forever. It’s work. Daily work. And that’s exactly the kind of reminder I needed this year. Buy at Painted Porch or BookPeople. While we’re talking Ryan Holiday, let me mention two others: Conspiracy by Ryan HolidayThis might be my favorite book Ryan’s ever written. It’s the real story behind the Peter Thiel, Gawker, and Hulk Hogan lawsuit. It reads like a thriller—fast-paced, gripping, full of twists. If you want something that feels like investigative journalism meets a page-turner novel, grab this one. Buy at Painted Porch or BookPeople​ Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan HolidayOf the early Ryan Holiday trilogy (The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, Stillness Is the Key), this is my favorite. Ego is sneaky. It wants to protect us, sure. But it also wants to win at all costs. This book helps you spot when your ego is running the show and gently reminds you to step back. I come back to it every year. Buy at Painted Porch or BookPeople​ The Art of Spending Money by Morgan HouselMorgan Housel writes brilliantly about money, investing, and human psychology. The Psychology of Money was a huge hit, and this follow-up digs into something we don’t talk about enough: how to actually spend money well. Growing up, I didn’t think we had much money, so spending felt wrong. Even now, I sometimes catch myself hesitating to spend on things that would genuinely improve my life or my family’s life. This book helped me think more intentionally about spending—not just saving and investing, but using money to buy time with my kids, to make work easier, to live better. I almost skipped this one because I thought, “Eh, I don’t need a book about spending money.” But it made me rethink how I approach money in ways I hadn’t considered before. And that’s exactly what a good book should do. Buy at BookPeople​ A Land Remembered by Patrick D. SmithMy cousins Jimmy and Toby recommended this one, knowing I love historical fiction. It’s a multi-generational epic set in Florida, following a family from the Civil War era through post-World War II as they build a cattle empire, then a citrus empire, then a real estate empire. I’m a Florida native who lived most of my life there, so reading about places I know—lakes, rivers, towns—made this even more fun. It’s a long book (500-600 pages), but it keeps a good pace. A well-told story about survival, ambition, and family. Quick note: There is a young adult version and the regular edition. Make sure you grab the right one. We’re reading the YA version with our kids and it’s good too, just a little shorter and without the language. Buy at BookPeople​ Inner Excellence by Jim MurphyThis was one of the first books I read this year, and it set the tone for everything that followed. It went viral because AJ Brown, an All-Pro receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, was seen reading it on the sidelines during a playoff game. It’s a mindset book through and through. What do you believe about yourself? What are you willing to focus on? Are you clear about what you want, and are you willing to pursue it with intention? I’ll revisit this book at the start of every year. It’s full of reminders about how to think, how to stay aligned with the person I want to be, and how to pursue goals that actually matter. If you’re looking for something to help you get your head right, start here. Buy at BookPeople​ Poems and Prayers by Matthew McConaugheyI really liked Greenlights, but this one hit differently. These aren’t Wendell Berry-level poems, but there’s something similar here. McConaughey could coast on his name, but he didn’t. He did the work and I respect that. The poems are short, easy to read, and perfect for when you need a mental reset without scrolling your phone. Here’s one I loved: “See everyone as someone’s child, sibling, and parent. Respect them as such, and love thy neighbor as thyself.” Keep this by your desk or your bed. Flip through it when you need a boost. It’s good for the soul. Buy at Painted Porch or BookPeople​ Project Hail Mary by Andy WeirAndy Weir wrote The Martian, and this book has the same energy: a smart, underachieving guy who has to “science the sh*t out of things” to save the day. Most of the story takes place on a spaceship, but it never feels slow. The pacing is perfect, weaving between past and present, and there’s a cool alien subplot that I won’t spoil. It’s funny, engaging, and exactly what you want when you need an escape. The movie adaptation is coming out soon, and I think it’s going to be great. But read the book first. Buy at BookPeople​ The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson BennettMy brother Mark recommended this one (check out his Substack for more book recommendations—link below). It’s a murder mystery with a fantastical twist. Not quite magical, but not grounded in reality either. It’s just over 400 pages, which is a breeze compared to some of the other books on this list. The twists keep coming, and the ending delivers. If you want something that keeps you guessing without demanding a massive time commitment, this is it. Buy at BookPeople​ Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienOk, I didn’t read LOTR this year, but I’m going to next year! And if you want to have a buddy read-along to read each of the three books in three months, you should join my brother Mark’s readin group on his Substack. Here’s why he believes LOTR is so important: The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest stories ever told. Not only because it’s an epic tale with lovable characters, but because it offers hope and encouragement to those who read it. It’s a story about courage, hope, and friendship. Winter is a perfect time to read these books, especially following the holidays. I have a hard time with the cold and gloomy days that winter provides, and reading this story will offer a light in the darkness that is winter. Not only that, but life in our society can feel a little dark if we let it, and I believe that reading these books will point us to the beauty, wonder, and lightness that life offers us. Buy at BookPeople or Painted Porch​ Final ThoughtsI read 21 books this year—way more fiction than non-fiction the last few years. These are the ones that stuck with me. The ones I’ll remember. The ones I’ll recommend. If you want the full list with links to all the books, they’re all below. I’ve linked to Painted Porch and BookPeople wherever possible. Support independent bookstores (including your local ones) when you can. What were your favorite books this year? Reply to this email and let me know! I’d love to hear what your favorites were. Thanks for reading. See you next week with my annual year in review! Matt Book ListFantasy & Sci-Fi
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Thanks for checking out the WRAP reading list this year! You can read the prior reading lists from 2024, 2023, and 2022. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, I'll talk to you next week with my annual review! Matt |