My Best (Nonfiction) Books of 2025
This is the time of year when everyone compiles their Best of Lists. Best Movies. Best Games. Best Shows. And of course, Best Books. I recently contributed a book list to Shepherd.com, which enlists the help of authors and readers, not algorithms, to share recommendations with readers. Shepherd is running a Best Books of 2025 project, which hundreds of authors have already contributed to. Mine is up now, and it’s called:
JOSEPH D’AGNESE’S 3 FAVORITE READS IN 2025!
It might seem early to be sharing these kinds of lists, but the marvelous gent who runs the site says that book-lovers routinely start searching for Best Books in October. I hope you’ll check the list out. My picks are not typical ones for me, I must say. For one, they’re all nonfiction, and they speak to my current obsession with staying focused on my work, learning more about business, and nailing my creative goals. Also, I have a devil of a time choosing my favorite fiction reads. Probably because I read more of those, and I am far more obsessed with writing fiction currently than nonfiction.
You’ll have to go over to Shepherd to learn which I liked and why. The Best Books of 2025 project at Shepherd is ongoing, but they’ve already got about 400+ writers and reader contributing lists. Totally worth checking out if you’re into that sort of thing. The main page for the project is here:
THE 100 BEST BOOKS OF 2025
My wife and I love Shepherd and have contributed a number of lists to them. So far, my wife has contributed four:
BEST BOOKS ON OR BY MAVERICK WOMEN
BEST BOOKS ON WRITING (FROM A NY TIMES BESTSELLER)
BEST BOOKS ON THE MANHATTAN PROJECT AND THE MAKING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB
THE BEST BOOKS ON GRATITUDE THAT MAKE EVERY DAY FEEL LIKE THANKSGIVING
I’ve contributed a total of six lists. Besides the one I’ve shared above, I’ve posted these five:
JOE’S BEST BOOKS OF 2023
THE BEST BOOKS ABOUT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE THAT BRING THE SIGNERS TO LIFE, WARTS AND ALL
BEST BOOKS ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
BEST BOOKS FOR DISCOVERING ITALIAN MYSTERY NOVELS
BEST BOOKS FOR HELPING YOUR KID FALL IN LOVE WITH MATH
If I’m remembering correctly, Shepherd started these annual lists back in 2023, but I skipped last year because of the hurricane that devastated my region in last September. I had too much on my hands last fall to think about my favorite books.
In general, I like writing for Shepherd because it makes good sense for authors, and it helps me focus my book recs in a way that’s tight and logical.
I usually try to mention one of my books when I post here. Preferably, one that fits the topic I’m writing about. My bookshop mystery fits the bill today. I hope you’ll check out my cozy mystery, Murder on Book Row, (affiliate link) which has a great new cover.
Click image for details (affiliate link).
