Life’s Too Short for Bad Books: 10 Must-Read Titles for 2025

No matter how hectic my career and life can get, I reward myself every morning and every night by reading. For 60 to 90 minutes each day, I get lost in the pages of a good book. Although I pick up about 50 books a year, that doesn’t mean I finish them all. I remember what Naval Ravikant recommended in his book, The Almanac of Naval Ravikant. He said it’s okay to move on to a new book when you lose interest in the current one.

No one says you have to finish a book if you don’t like it or you’re not connecting with the author or the overall premise. Ravikant’s advice helped me find the books I truly love. It’s how I narrowed the playing field, and I can now recommend my favorite book picks for you to consider on your reading list in 2025.

As a matter of fact, several of the books on my list are go-to sources that I reread or use as reference guides. And when you find a diamond in the rough, be sure to grab your colored sticky notes, pens, and/or highlighters to mark the parts you want to revisit and enjoy again.

Here are 10 books that sit next to my favorite nightly reading chair and underneath my living room coffee table for morning enlightenment.

1. The Trillion Dollar Coach

By Eric Schmidt , Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle

Some people set out to be coaches, and others are natural born. Bill Campbell was both. A legendary mentor to Silicon Valley giants like Steve Jobs and Larry Page, Bill built deep, trust-based connections with his mentees, driven by a belief in human connection and empowerment. Rather than offering advice, he asked powerful questions that helped others discover their own solutions. The Trillion Dollar Coach isn’t just a business book; it’s a life playbook for becoming a better leader, mentor, and person.

2. The Trusted Advisor

By David H. Maister, Charles H. Green and Rob Galford

If you aspire to be a trusted partner or advisor, this book is for you. The authors break down the art and science of trust in professional relationships, introducing The Trust Equation: Trust = Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy / Self-Orientation. This simple yet powerful formula helps you identify where to build trust and address weaknesses. By applying these principles, you can foster stronger, more productive relationships that are the foundation of success.

3. Supercommunicators

By Charles Duhigg

As a fan of Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit, I knew Supercommunicators would offer powerful insights. The biggest takeaway: understanding the types of conversations people engage in—decision-making, emotional, and social identity conversations—and how mismatching expectations can stall meaningful dialogue. Duhigg shows how recognizing and navigating these conversations effectively allows you to connect and communicate productively. 

4. The Last Lecture

By Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow

I wasn’t sure what to expect with The Last Lecture. Can you imagine having to sum up your entire life—your love, passions, career, and most memorable experiences—into one final presentation? That’s exactly what Randy Pausch did, with grit, grace, and gravitas. A professor, husband, father, Disney Imagineer, and Virtual Reality pioneer, Pausch shared his life lessons in a way that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. At times, the book is a tear-jerker, while in other moments, it delivers subtle insights and “aha” moments you can apply to your own life.

Although short, it’s clear that Randy lived life to the fullest, and his reflections remind us to appreciate the big milestones as well as the smaller, quieter moments. While reading, I felt the weight of his loss—his passing was a devastating blow to his family, friends, and colleagues. Yet his legacy lives on in this little book, neatly and powerfully contained in every page you turn. The Last Lecture is a book I recommend to anyone. It’s a profound reminder to live more presently and gratefully while you still have the chance.

5. Agility

By Leo M. Tilman and General Chuck Jacoby (Ret.)

I didn’t expect to pick up Agility on December 5th and finished it in less than two weeks. I was drawn to the book after hearing Leo Tilman speak at the Star Mountain Capital Shareholders Meeting. His War Games talk intrigued me, especially how agility plays a critical role in organizations.

In this book, Tilman and General Jacoby provide a playbook for transitioning from risk management to risk intelligence, helping organizations exercise both strategic and tactical agility. They define agility as the ability to “detect, assess, and respond to a changing environment in ways that are purposeful, decisive, and grounded in the will to win.”

What stood out to me is how the authors weave military principles into business strategy, showing why you need to understand the kind of “war” your organization is facing. The book combines theory with relevant, real-world examples, such as IMAX, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and Netflix, to show how agility can help organizations adapt to uncertainty. Particularly helpful are frameworks like the risk equation and strategic calculus, which can be applied to any shifting environment.

Agility is a smart, practical guide for leaders looking to prepare their organizations for the risks and uncertainties that lie ahead. Keep this book close—you’ll want to reference it often.

6. Tiny Habits

By BJ Fogg, PhD

Take out your colored tabs and highlighters—this book is worth marking up. A friend and colleague recommended Tiny Habits, and I’ve been incorporating its lessons into my work and training ever since.

Fogg, a renowned behavior scientist, offers a simple and actionable framework for building better habits. What impressed me most was his focus on “tiny” actions—small, achievable steps that make habit formation less overwhelming. The book emphasizes the importance of both motivation and ability in building habits, supported by clear charts, graphs, and research-based insights that make it easy to understand and apply.

If you’ve struggled with forming new habits, this book breaks it down in a way that feels doable, offering strategies that lead to lasting change.

7. The Daily Stoic

By Ryan Holiday

I’ll admit—I didn’t follow the daily format. Instead, I binge-read The Daily Stoic in a week early in 2024. Ryan Holiday brilliantly translates Stoic philosophy into practical, actionable advice for modern life, helping readers navigate challenges and make better decisions.

The wisdom from Stoics like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca resonated deeply with me. I particularly appreciated their teachings on mental resilience, emotional control, and accepting what’s outside your control—valuable lessons for professionals dealing with high-pressure situations.

Beyond resilience, the book offers insights on focus and productivity, with daily meditations that encourage mindfulness and present-moment awareness. For anyone looking to improve clarity, discipline, and perspective, The Daily Stoic is an excellent guide.

8. The Way Forward

By Yung Pueblo

I didn’t plan to read The Way Forward in 2024. It’s one of those little books you stumble upon, tucked away on a shelf—maybe leftover required college reading for one of the kids. But once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down.

Yung Pueblo’s writing is both poetic and insightful, offering reflections on life, self-discovery, and healing. Each page carries a subtle life reminder or lesson that encourages deep reflection. His powerful messages have the potential to help you navigate personal challenges and find inner peace.

Overall, The Way Forward is filled with uplifting affirmations and wisdom that resonated with me, offering new perspectives on my life and career. It’s a small book with a big impact, and I’m grateful I found it.

9. The Great Mental Models

By Shane Parrish

Having loved Shane Parrish’s Clear Thinking, I knew The Great Mental Models would be worth reading. As Book 1 in a 4-part series, this one focuses on fundamental mental models that help you make better decisions and solve complex problems.

Parrish covers concepts ranging from basic ideas like cause and effect to more advanced topics like game theory and systems thinking. One of my biggest takeaways was the reminder that “the map is not the territory”—a principle I also emphasize in my NLP training.

The book encourages readers to refine their mental models continually, promoting lifelong learning and growth. Parrish’s clear, concise explanations make complex ideas easy to understand, offering practical tools you can apply in real-world situations. For anyone looking to sharpen their thinking, this book is a quick, insightful read.

10. Man's Search for Meaning

By Viktor Frankl

If you haven’t read Man’s Search for Meaning, make it a priority for 2025. Viktor Frankl’s profound reflections on his time in Nazi concentration camps reveal the power of the human spirit and our ability to find meaning even in the direst circumstances.

At the heart of the book is logotherapy, Frankl’s belief that the search for meaning is a primary human drive. Yet he also explains that meaning often finds us—it’s about how we navigate the experiences life presents.

While deeply moving and thought-provoking, the book can also be challenging to read due to its raw, graphic descriptions of the Holocaust. Yet it is ultimately a testament to resilience, purpose, and hope. Frankl’s wisdom offers readers the tools to transcend suffering, find meaning, and live with greater intention.

What books are you reading that you can recommend for 2025? Please share your favorites too!

BONUS: In case you missed it on the DM Show, co-hosts, Deirdre Breakenridge and Martin Waxman, MCM, APR had their final livestream of 2024 for an up-close AMA on the current and future state of marketing and comms.