Books Read for 2025

Books make me think, not only by the content, but also the effort required to focus.  For the most part the following books were thought provoking.  The two books (really a set) that impressed me the most were the children's books written by Yuval Noah Hariri shown below in the non fiction section.  The key thing was that people are controlled by stories, many of which have been beneficial, but some have been harmful for all of us.  Keep reading to discover your own truth.

A summary of Canada Reads for 2025:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/03/canada-reads.html

Fiction

"One Hundred Years of Solitude" (1967) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is considered a masterpiece and a key book to the author's Nobel Prize.  It is described as "magical realism" and I found it to be exaggerated  fantasies.  I originally started as I had started to watch the Netflix series and had trouble following it.  Towards the end of the book it seems to acknowledges that time was distorted with events occurring in a random sequence.   See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/one-hundred-years-of-solitude.html

 

 

"Watch Out for Her" by Samantha M. Bailey.  Chapters alternate between two women and also between different times.  Loads of twists.  Canada Reads nomination.

 

 

 

 

"Etta and Otto and Russell and James" (2015) by Emma Hooper is about a trio of friends joined by a coyote James.  Etta and Otto  get married and Otto fights in one of the wars.  A Canada Reads nomination.

  

 

 

 

"Dandelion" (2022) by Jamie Chai Yun Liew.  Chinese (from Brunei) immigrant's daughter seeks to find her mother who abandoned the family a decade or so before.  She married a Ukrainian.  Like the main character in the book she is a lawyer living in Ottawa.  A Canada Reads nomination.

 

 

'"Paddle to the Sea" (1941) by Holling Clancy Holling is a children't book I remember from my early days of reading.  I lived in Oshawa (on Lake Ontario) at the time and was fascinated by a carved boat that made it through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.  Opened my mind to bigger connections.   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/02/paddle-to-sea-in-print-and-film.html  

 

 

 

"Beach Blues" (2024) by John Lawrence Reynolds is a mystery story.  Well written, bu also of personal interest to me .  It takes place at the Beach Strip of Hamilton.  One location reminds of two restaurants that I have visited and there are other references to Hamilton and even one event I remember.  The psychology was subtle and the plot really drew me in.  John is someone I have met and talked with.  I keep one of his quotes in my pocket--:"Experience is what you get when you are expecting something else"--something that captures what life is about.

 

 "Kill All You Can" (2024)  by Pasha Malla was this year's Hamilton Reads selection.  Most of it is weird with some word play.  It has not a surprising resolution. 

"Martyr!" (2024)  by Kaveh Akbar.  Autobiographer had urge to be martyr.  Persian background.  Mother was supposedly killed when U.S. military shot down Iranian passenger airplane.

"Remember Me" (2022)  Well told story by a favorite author from New Zealand.  An award winner and drew a lot of attention for an emphasis on dementia.  A mystery told not by clever detectives uncovering clues and catching a culprit.  Don't want to spoil it any further.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/remember-me-by-charity-norman.html

 

My Friends" (2025) by Fredrik Backman with a story that has an art theme.  Young girl given a valuable painting with a story.  Carries back to the origin of the painting and where it travels afterward.  Very Good.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/07/fredrik-backman-comes-up-with-another.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The First Gentleman" (2025), Bill Clinton, James Patterson.  A political thriller.  An underlying theme is under a female president political powers plan to set up a major rehauling of government finances (Clinton's regrets not doing more).  Very gripping.  A quote from Sir Walker Scott:  "Oh, what a tangled web we weave/ when first we practice to deceive"   

 

 

 

"Death of a Salesman" (1949).  Avoided reading or watching play as thought it would be depressing for me as a salesman.  In some ways stereotypical, in other ways showing all men striving.  Everyone has a facade.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/07/death-of-salesman.html

 

 

 

"Stolen" (2021) by Ann-Helen Laestadius is about what I used to know as Lapland, but more correctly labelled by themselves as Sapmi.  They are considered "indigenous" and have attempted to maintain customs that include colorful clothing and herding reindeer.  Tells a conventional story involving discrimination.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/09/stolen-book-about-sapmi-nation.html

 

'Home for Margaret" (2025) by Denise Davy and illustrated by Berengere Delaporte. A short illustrated  children's book focused on homelessness following an adult book about a real homeless person.  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/10/her-name-is-margaret.html

 

 

Mom's Busy Work (2025) by Jacinda Ardern is aimed at very young children.  Based on conversations Jacinda, New Zealand's prime minister at the time and her daughter.  Like a lot of families it is common for the mother to work and the child to feel neglected.

 

 

"The Brutal Telling" (2009) Murder mystery that sets for an implausible plot, but ties it all together.  Based in Quebec with an interesting side trip to the Queen Charlotte Islands.   Psychology and philosophy interspersed.  

 

 

 

 

Charlotte's Web (1952) by E.B. White.  A good children's book.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/charlottes-web-provides-gentle-lessons.html

 

 

 

 

Non Fiction

"Not Quite Nirvana" by Rachel Newmann.  She was an editor for the often quoted Thich Nhat Hanh, but never quite subscribed to meditation and mindfulness.  She came from a communal background and had been a reporter.  She was definitely affected by Thich Nhat Hanh and passes her adaptions to the readers.  3 questions she tries to answer from time to time:  1). Am I available? 2) Am I engaged? and 3) Am I connected?  "Our investment in others is our continuation after we die." ...If we want to raise the chances of our kids having happy lives we need to focus on making the world a happy place.  We are not responsible for our children's happiness, but we are responsible for that of the whole world." 

"Should We Go Extinct" (2024)  Subtitled "A philosophical dilemma for our unbearable times".  A lot of philosophy of how we might rationalize our continued existence regarding our inflicting the world with suffering.  The world is an unfair place.  Climate change is intertwined with factory farm cruelty, deforestation and natural disasters.   see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/should-we-go-extinct.html

"Jennie's Boy (2022) by Wayne Johnston is a Canada Reads entry.  It is about his childhood in Newfoundland from his perspective at the time.  He was very sickly and a drain on family resources.  Very well told. Canada Reads nomination.

"Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza:  A Reckoning" (2025) by Peter Beinart.  At the beginning Beinart writes to a former friend who had broke off their friendship because Peter spoke against the state of Israel.  Compelling arguments that Israel has become self destructive.  Also writes of hopeful indications.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/02/peter-beinarts-being-jewish-after.html

"At a Loss for Words" (2024) by Carol Off.  A book about political turmoil focusing on the changing meanings of political words that are bandied about.  Excellent.   see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/03/at-loss-for-words.html

 

"Revenge of the Tipping Point" (2024) by Malcolm Gladwell.  Clever how he takes apparently unrelated topics and connects them to make profound point.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/03/the-revenge-of-tipping-point.html

"The Pardon" (2025) by Jeffrey Toobin.  The author focuses on Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon which he feels should never have been issued.  He does mention a few other pardons and comments on Donald Trump who gave pardons for his own benefit.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/03/jeffrey-toobins-pardon.html

A second reading of A Map Of the New Normal.  Times have changed, but his direction is verified.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/a-map-of-new-normal-from-jeff-rubin.html

 

 

"Hooked" (2021)  Big Food has found ways to attract our attention at a good price.  The truth is they are able to take advantage of human evolution.  see  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/hooked-how-big-food-draws-you-in.html   

 

 

 

"Tyranny" (2017) by Timothy Snyder.  A short book with a big message.  A few quotes,  Aristotle warned that "inequality brought instability".  "What might seem as a gesture of pride can be a source of exclusion".  "The biggest wallets pays for the most blinding lights".  "We find it natural that we pay for a plumber or a mechanic, but demand news for free".   "If young people do not make history, politicians of eternity and inevitability will destroy it.  And to make history young Americans will need to know some".  Trump's slogan of "America First" was also the name of a committee that sought to prevent the United States from opposing Nazi Germany.  Written after Trump was elected for his first term and the author's predictions what Trump would do are being acted out for his second term.  

This twopack was the most impressive for me.  It reminds me of the author's adult books.  We think we are the center of the universe, but take an awful lot for granted.  Simple ideas for young people to understand and also for adults.

 

"Unstoppable Us Vol 1:  How Humans Took Over The World" (2022)  by Yuval Noah Harari explains to children how humans conquered the world.  Key element is stories that allow us to co-operate.  Life is not fair so don't be surprised.

 

 

 

 

"Unstoppable Us Vol 2:  Why the World Isn't Fair" (2024) by Yuval Noah Harari who continues from previous volume admitting it has been stories that have made an unfair world, but says changing stories has had an impact.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/yuval-noah-harari-writes-for-young.html

 

 

 

 

 

"The Art of Danish Living" (2024) by Meik Wiking, the founder of Happiness Research Institute offers some ideas for work, with obviously some overlap to your personal life.  He quotes Galileo with " Measure the measurable--and make the unmeasurable measurable".  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/05/living-danish.html

 

 

"You're Not Listening" (2017) with lots of good advice for people who have concerns about their listening (that is all of us, including myself).   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/05/youre-not-listening-me-either.html

 

 

 

 

 

"Shortest History of Migration" (2024) Fairly comprehensive covering a wide range of migration and lots of historical examples.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/05/immigration-is-politcal-football.html

 

 

 

 

  

 

"Abundance" (2025) by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson.  Discussing strategies for the future.  Regulations have made it difficult to get major projects done.  Science has become a matter of getting a budget (needing something appealing for investors).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/05/abundance.html

 

 

 

"Ancestors  Identity and DNA in the Levant" (2025) by Pierre Zalloua.  A geneticist explains a lot of general DNA research, but maintains that culture is just as important for identify.  "Destroying a culture is destroying  a common heritage for all humanity."  and "Cultures like matter don't disappear they morph."

 

 

 

"A Two-Spirit Journey:  The Autobiography Of A Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder" (2016).  Canada Reads winner about a woman  grew up in triyng circumstances and rose to helping others.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/a-two-spirit-journey.html

 

 

Michael Lewis has written a lot of books that get at the root of important issues.  He has a unique style of starting with an apparently irrelevant story, but later connects them as a more complete explanation and about the consequences.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/who-is-government.html

 

 

 

 

"The Anxious Generation" (2024) by Jonathan Haidt about the change from a play-based childhood to phone-based childhood.  Parents became more protective restricting their children from unsupervised activities and by 2010 technology had given them a more sophisticated social media.  Increases in anxiety, depression and suicide.  Suggests how to deal with it.  see  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/the-anxious-generation.html

 

 

"The Little Book of Hygge:  The Danish Way to Live Well" (2016) by Meik Wiking is a researcher about happiness and writes about the Danish approach.  Some unique examples, but lots of general good advice. 

 

 

 

 

"The Undoing Project" (2017) about two men who used psychology and statistics to make better decisions that have affected the world.   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/07/the-undoing-project.html

 

 

 

 

"The Unmaking of the President (2016):  How FBI Director James Comey cost Hillary Clinton the Presidency" (2018).  The 2016 election at one time seemed almost certainly to be won by Hillary.  James Comey appeared conscientious, but he broke protocols that painted  her in a bad light although she did not abuse her power.  We were also reminded that in fact Russia did hurt Hillary's efforts.  

 

 

"Keep Sharp" (2021) was a health guide focused on the brain.  Has modified some of my habits.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/08/keep-sharp-advice-from-dr-sanjay-gupta.html

 

 

 

 

"A Different Kind of Power" (2025) is an autobiography of Jacinda Ardenne.  Lots of interesting details.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/08/a-different-kind-of-power.html

 

 

 

"King of Kings" (2025) by Scott Anderson is a well researched account of events surrounding the Iranian Revolution.   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/09/king-of-kings-iranian-revolution.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The New Tourist" (2024) by Paige McClanahan about how tourism has changed and how we might better get more out of it.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/09/the-future-of-tourism.html

 

 

 

 

"The Crisis in Canadian Democracy" (2025) by Andrew Coyne.  An excellent book exposing many of the defects of Canadian democracy.  Gives solutions while conceding changes can only be made by those who got power through the current system.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/09/the-crisis-of-canadian-democracy.html  

 

 

 

 

"Tomorrow is Yesterday/  Life, Death and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel/Palestine" (2025) By Hussein Agha & Robert Malley.  They describe the two state solution as not the solution.  It has failed partly it seems because  a lack of trust.  The U.S. has always been biased for Israel, but the authors don't mention two factors'  the AIPAC and Evangelicals.   see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/10/life-death-and-pursuit-of-peace-in.html

"Heretic" (2025) by Ayann Hirsi Ali.  As a supposed liberal this was a shock.  We (that is me) tolerate the fundamentalist Muslims who are intolerant to the point of killing non believers.  The author points out that Christianity had been controlled by fundamentalists, but the printing press help initiate reformation.  She hopes that the internet can reform Islam.  The average Muslim is more tolerant, but many are still influenced by the extreme fundamentalists.  To me I am conscious of what Yuval Noah Hariri wrote in his children's books to the effect that we are controlled by stories, many of which have benefited us, but some have harmed all mankind.  She quotes from Jesus; John 8-7, "Let him who is without sin among you throw the first stone."

 

" I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: (1969) by Maya Angelou is considered a classic about a poet and activist's childhood up to giving birth at age 16.  see  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/10/i-know-why-caged-bird-sings.html

 

 "Against the Grain   Defiant Giants Who Changed the World" (2025) by Terry O'Reilly is about individuals and one sports team that overcame obstacles including being mocked to innovate new ideas that have changed the world.   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/11/against-grain.html

 

 

 

"The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" (2000) by Joseph Murphy.  Our subconscious mind takes direction from the conscious mind, but is capable of making a person more productive, creative and happy.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/11/using-your-subconscious-is-key-to.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

"107 Days" by Kamala Harris.  My much favored candidate for over 7 years  saddens me to have to read "What might have been."   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/11/107-days-campaign-of-kamala-harris.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"A Hitchhiker's View of Canada:  Timbit Nation" (2003) My hitch-hiking experiences seem pretty puny compared to this trip--cover from Newfoundland to Tofino, B.C. meeting a wide variety of characters.  John had been a foreign correspondent for the Globe and Mail--two years before had been at an Islamic military training in Pakistan.      

 

 

 

"Scarcity" 2013) by Sendhil Mullainathan & Eldar Shafir.  There is a relationship between abundance and scarcity such as money, time, loneliness, space, etc.  It affects individuals and groups.  One habit many of us have is being liberal with toothpaste until the tube is nearing its end.  See...http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/scarcity.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Notes on Being a Man" (2025) I read this book on false pretensions and although there are some good points I have opted not to post a blog.  It was supposed to be some sort of study of what is wrong with young men (particularly in the U.S.) that voted for Trump.  Some points:  "there is nothing more dangerous than a lonely broke young man"  "this is the first generation not to be better off than their parents"  "Studies show that forgiveness is a key attribute to sustainable relationships."  Italian men kiss one another. 

 

 "The Golden Road" (2024) by William Dalrymple advocates that India plays a very central role in civilization.  Perhaps that significant thing might be in mathematics, but they spread a lot of ideas and material things around the world."  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/the-golden-road-demonstrates-indias.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feel free to let me know your favorite read for 2025.

 You can check my reading for 2024 at http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/12/books-read-in-2024.html