12 Nonfiction Books To Deep-Dive In 2025
Read them with our book clubs or read them on your own, just make sure you read them!
(Please note this post, with its abundance of book photos, is likely too long for email; you can read it in its entirety on the website or via the Substack app.)
Our 2025 book clubs are kicking off and we’ve got such a stellar reading list in store! Whether you’re joining us in the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club here on Substack, Your Best Self Book Club at Dog-Eared Books, or other outlets throughout the year, I am excited to talk books with you. And even if you don’t ‘join the club,’ so to speak, I still encourage you to read these twelve impactful books. I will also continue to post reflection prompts for each, which are available to the public, so you are always welcome to read alongside of us.
(But we’re really fun to chat with - and we laugh a lot more than you might expect in a nonfiction book club! - so I do hope you’ll join in!)
Before we jump into the books, and in case you’re new here (hello and welcome!), you can find more details on both book clubs at their respective links above. The Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club is a benefit for all paid subscribers, at any level, so you can simply upgrade your subscription and you’re in!
And if you’re already a paid subscriber (thank you and welcome back!), you’ve already received (or can access here) details for our entire first quarter - including dates, alternate titles for each theme, reading breakdowns, and more. You’ll get links and additional details closer to each of our discussion dates.
2025 Monthly Themes + Book Selections
Here are the twelve themes and books we’ll dive into throughout the year!
Month: January
Theme: Priorities
Book: The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi
I was sold when I first heard Adachi’s motto, ‘Be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t’ - a fantastic description of prioritizing! In our discussions we will address priorities in various ways, such as how to decide what matters most (and then, how to honor that), selecting which activities to pursue and which to let go, choosing where to place energy/focus for your highest fulfillment, and more. The reflection guide is already up for this one here.
Month: February
Theme: Personal Well-Being
Book: Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin
I went from cautiously skeptical to fully on board with this book within a matter of pages and have been singing its praises from the rooftops ever since. Dr. Lakshmin provides us with sound, accessible, and sustainable principles to care for ourselves - often in ways I had never even considered before. The reflection guide will come out within the next week; I also summarize a few thoughts in my Top 10 Nonfiction of the Year list.
Month: March
Theme: Confidence
Book: The Confidence Gap by Russ Harris
Somehow this book, published back in 2011, sat on my shelf for years before I picked it up - then once I did, I couldn’t put it down. Confidence underlies so much of our experience both personally and professionally, often in ways we don’t notice, and The Confidence Gap does a fantastic job bringing these ways to light. Harris spends a fair amount of time on one topic in particular that I haven’t often seen in the confidence literature and that I can’t wait to discuss with you all!
Month: April
Theme: Intentionality
Book: Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
I wrote quite a lengthy review of this one here, so I’ll leave it at that - other than to say I love Burkeman’s knack for taking topics that I’d think would bring me down and making them so enlightening that I feel instantly inspired to live even more fully!
Month: May
Theme: Human + Nature
Book: The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
I was already in love with Wall Kimmerer’s beautiful writing, stunning observations, and gentle wisdom, so I read The Serviceberry right when it came out in November and instantly fell in love again. This is a super slim (yet abundantly rich) book, so even if May is a hectic month for you, you can still probably fit it in! You’ll find a few more thoughts in my November Reading Wrap-Up.
Month: June
Theme: Purposeful Adulting
Book: The Secrets of Adulthood by Gretchen Rubin
I don’t actually know much about this one yet, other than I adored Rubin’s discussion of adulthood way back in her 2009 book, The Happiness Project. She’s written several insightful books since then and also hosts an engaging podcast, so I’m expecting great things with this April 2025 release that we’ll discuss in June!
Month: July
Theme: Delight In Motion
Book: The Joy of Movement by Kelly McGonigal
This may be the most exercise-inspiring book I’ve ever read, although it’s about so much more than exercise; McGonigal weaves in unique aspects around mindset, community, collective joy, even love. I listened to a good portion of this on audiobook while walking and I covered many more miles than anticipated over those few days just to continue reading! Super life-affirming and, as the title suggests, joyful.
Month: August
Theme: Connection
Book: How To Know a Person by David Brooks
Another Top 10 winner for me in 2024 that I have been longing to chat about with others since reading. I’ve liked some of Brooks’ other works, but this one blew me away with its poignancy and depth. I can’t wait to discuss unique and purposeful ways we can help others feel known and seen, and also help ourselves feel that way, too.
Month: September
Theme: Time
Book: Time Wise by Amantha Imber
If you’re looking for a book that you can easily put down and pick up again, gaining a tip or insight each time, you’re going to enjoy Time Wise. The chapters are short, focused, and each one shares a practical tip or tool to support our relationship with time. Don’t let the subtitle fool you - this is not a ‘wake up at 4am and hustle / crush / exhaust yourself’ kind of productivity book! Imber has curated tips from a wide variety of respected sources here.
Month: October
Theme: Boundaries
Book: Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
I led a mini-book club discussion on this one back in 2021, when we were still navigating through the pandemic in many ways, and wow was it impactful. Glover Tawwab is a licensed therapist and reading Set Boundaries, Find Peace feels akin to sitting in her office, chatting with her in the most supportive way, and absorbing her gentle-yet-firm insights. Even if you feel you don’t need help with boundaries, I suspect this book will offer you some gifts.
Month: November
Theme: Communication
Book: You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy
We all probably know the difference between hearing and listening - but just knowing what makes a good listener doesn’t automatically make us good listeners. Murphy provides so many examples in this engaging read that you can’t help but examine, and strive to improve, your own listening abilities! Her exploration of Swiffer focus groups will stick with me for a long time, as well as several other specific stories she shares. Again a Top 10 pick for me in 2024!
Month: December
Theme: Genuine Hospitality
Book: Infectious Generosity by Chris Anderson
If you’ve ever watched a TED Talk, you have benefited from Anderson’s work - he has led the organization since 2001. I love a good TED Talk and have actually discovered some of the other authors on this list through that program! This book, which I’ve now got my hands on and plan to start this week, focuses on how to spread generosity as a tool to bring people together rather than the current divisiveness we may often experience in the world.
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I was already excited for our 2025 book clubs - now after typing all this up and seeing all the books together, I am off-the-charts excited! And I hope you are, too. We will discuss fantastic books (and remember, you can fully join in the discussion even if you haven’t read the book - there’s no pressure!) as well as how to apply our favorite tips and takeaways into our own work and lives. Woohoo, can’t wait!
Have you read any of these? Are you joining me in book club this year? What other nonfiction books have you read that relate to our monthly themes? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Questions? Comments? Books or topics you’d like me to discuss here? Feel free to email me at readingandpurpose (at) gmail.com or comment on this post directly in the app/website. I love hearing from you and I appreciate your support!
This list so exceeded my expectations! I've been very self-help skeptical for quite a while now -- after expecting way too much of myself during a very difficult personal season and burning out -- but each one of these piqued my interest! I don't expect to read them month-by-month as you laid out but I am adding them to my TBR list for the year. Thanks for all of the recommendations!
I suggest “The Deficit Myth” by Stephanie Kelton to all my friends.