Fifteen best books first read in 2025

Listed below are the fifteen books enjoyed most during 2025. All were first read this year. As is usual, and as can be seen from the list, non-fiction is strongly preferred over fiction. Nearly a century of literature is represented below with Willa Cather’s 1927 novel, Death Comes for the Archbishop novel being the oldest. Seven (7) of the 15 books listed were written by or principally by women, including my top-rated book for 2025.

Peace and good reading to all!

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**All of the book images below were sourced through bookshop.org.**

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1. The Brothers Vonnegut: Science and Fiction in the House of Magic (2015) by Ginger Strand

2. A Paradise of Small Houses: The Evolution, Devolution, and Rebirth of Urban Housing (2024) by Max Podemski

3. Lost In Austin: The Evolution of An American City (2024) by Alex Hanford

4. Chicago Homes: A Portrait of the City’s Everyday Architecture (2025) by Carla Bruni and Phil Thompson

5. Force of Nature: Three Women Tackle The John Muir Trail (2023) by Joan M. Griffin

6. Adventure North: 2,200 Miles By Canoe (2016) by Sean Bloomfield

7. Music City Musings: Old Nashville Knowledge for Newcomers (2024) by Michelle Stiva

8. Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA (2019) by Amaryllis Fox

9. Now Is the Time: A Van Life Road Trip (2025) by Andrew Singer

10. The Fire and the Darkness: Bombing of Dresden, 1945 (2020) by Sinclair McKay

11. The Crossing: El Paso, The Southwest, and America’s Forgotten Origin Story (2025) by Richard Parker

12. The Great Air Race: Glory, Tragedy, and the Dawn of American Aviation (2022) by John Lancaster

13. Death Comes for the Archbishop (1927) – Willa Cather

14. Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How To Disrupt It (2025) – Tonika Johnson and Maria Krysten

15. How To Resist Amazon And Why (2022) by Danny Caine

#airRaces #amazon #canoeing #chicago #cia #cities #dresden #elPaso #environment #fun #geography #hiking #history #homes #houses #housing #kurtVonnegut #landUse #muirTrail #nashville #planning #religion #roadTrips #segregation #spies #technology #trails #travel

Reno Air Race Fatalities: A list with links to more info of the exciting but dangerous airplane event
https://www.reddit.com/r/Reno/comments/16lw1ay/reno_air_race_fatalities_a_complete_list/
#airraces #aviation #safety #reno #-

Full Noise was to campaign at the #AirRaces in 2024 however she will likely not see #Reno again after the announcement this year’s event will be the last held there. A lot of race fans would dearly love to see the Kiwi “Yak in a box” return to the pylons. I know I would. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

An aircraft I always enjoy seeing is Graeme Frew’s Yak-3 “Full Noise”, a two-time veteran of the National Championship #AirRaces at #Reno. She was up and down a lot over the weekend, flying rides as well as displays. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

La génesis de un bólido aéreo: el Bugatti 100P.
#Aviation #AirRaces #SpeedRecord #30s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwSYfPbcckI