A 2025 Reading Review

I have kept a reading log for many years, recording the author, title, and date of the books I read. This log helps me to assess my reading habit, reflect upon the quality of my reading, and discipline myself in the practice. I set a goal for the number of books I plan to read each year, and I target specific genres relevant to my work and interests. I have never published any of my annual logs, and I do not intend to, but I have shared some quarterly reviews or recommendations from the books I have read. I only log books that I read in their entirety, not pages read or any book that I do not complete. This means that every year I omit thousands of pages of reading from journal articles and portions of larger works that I do not complete. I might record a book that was only 100 pages long but refuse to record the 600 pages I read in another volume because I did not complete its last hundred pages. My criteria for counting is arbitrary and, no doubt, could be improved upon. But the log is simply for my record, recall, and encouragement. There is no need for me to develop a better system. This approach has worked for me for a long time.

I read fewer books and fewer quality books in 2025 than any year since I began tracking my reading. I usually complete more than 100 books each year, sometimes more than 120. I only finished 83 in 2025. I did more light and entertaining reading this year, and though there was some value in these titles, there were fewer total volumes of substance than is typical for me. This could be explained by a number of factors, but those are not particularly relevant to a review like this.

Although 2025 was a less productive year for me in terms of reading than any other in the last decade, I still found a number of titles that were thought-provoking, edifying, and highly valuable. There were more books like that than those listed below, but here I simply call out, in no particular order, five of those that stand out as I review my 2025 list and recall with appreciation the impact these titles had.

1. Peter Leithart, The Kingdom and the Power

I wrote a brief commendation of this book earlier in the year. Originally written thirty years ago and recently republished, The Kingdom and the Power may be even more relevant, important, and insightful in the present day than when it was originally penned. Those interested in issues related to politics, Christian nationalism, transformationalism, and the Church’s engagement in the former should certainly read this book. It is a thoughtful, biblical, and reasonable contribution to the conversation. I highly recommend it.

2. R. R. Reno, Return of the Strong Gods

Although I have had this book for a few years and was generally familiar with its thesis, I had not read Reno’s Return of the Strong Gods until the beginning of 2025. It is a helpful discussion of the forces that shaped earlier civilizations, social and cultural factors that were suppressed in the aftermath of two World Wars by a liberal western order but which are now reasserting themselves as the “postwar consensus” in the West discredits itself and collapses. Many people who participate in conversations related to the “postwar consensus” either do not understand the term or are deliberately using it in a different way than Reno and other writers. This is an important work for understanding the basic issues and providing a historical and cultural analysis of the dominant social and political paradigms in western societies over the last 80 years.

3. Michael Bird, The Saving Righteousness of God

At the risk of seeming ungracious and uncharitable, I will admit that I do not like Michael Bird or appreciate much of his influence in the evangelical and “Reformed-ish” world, but this is an excellent book. The Saving Righteousness of God is an academic monograph in which Bird interacts with the New Perspective on Paul, including various presentations and critiques of it and some of the primary exegetical questions it has raised. I disagree with Bird on a few points here, but overall the discussion is well balanced, thoughtful, exegetically responsible, and provides clarity to controversial issues with a charitable and grateful spirit. Given my general frustration with and lack of confidence in the author, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book and the quality of its work. This is certainly an important text for anyone interested in or engaged with the New Perspective on Paul, the exegetical and soteriological questions it has raised, or New Testament scholarship in general.

4. George Leonard, Mastery

Mastery by George Leonard is one of the books I have reread a number of times and will continue to do so, though not every year. I never fail to be inspired and helped by it. There are other books on productivity, habits, and the pursuit of excellence, including several I have found helpful, but Mastery is one of the few that is worth rereading and that focuses on principles for attaining excellence rather than simply prescribing specific activities and offering general tips.

5. Alex Kershaw, Against All Odds

I read a good bit of history, including military history, every year, and World War II is one of a few historical periods and events that is of special interest to me and that receives extra attention in my reading. Alex Kershaw has written a number of books on the history of World War II, but Against All Odds is not merely the best I have read from him, it is one of the most enjoyable books of its kind I have ever read. Kershaw chronicles the Third Infantry Division from the Battle of Marne to the post-war experience of some of its most significant soldiers. The Third ID produced the most highly decorated American soldiers to that point in our history, including Audie Murphy. The valor, perseverance, and particular exploits of these men is incredible and inspiring to read about. I have read many volumes of the history of this period and particular war, but Against All Odds stands out as one of the most enjoyable I have come across.