I highly recommend is Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It follows four Nigerian women navigating life in the U.S. during the pandemic. Each chapter dives into their personal struggles and triumphs, offering a rich tapestry of experiences. The storytelling is compelling, and the characters feel real and relatable. It's a book that stays with you long after you've finished reading. I found myself reflecting on the themes of identity and resilience portrayed in the novel. The way Adichie weaves the narratives together is masterful.
One book worth reading this year is The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. It tackles the growing concern around mental health in young people. The writing is clear and focused. It lays out how certain habits and technologies are reshaping how kids grow, learn, and connect. The patterns it points out are hard to ignore. Less time outside. Less real interaction. More stress. More disconnection. As someone who works closely with people every day, I recognized the shifts. Shorter attention spans. Social withdrawal. Reliance on devices instead of face-to-face conversation. The book doesn't drift into theory. It sticks to what's happening and what needs to change. It calls for limits, structure, and a return to routines that support emotional health and development. At home. In schools. Across daily life. This is not a feel-good read. But it's honest. It challenges habits that feel normal but cause harm over time. After finishing it, I adjusted how I approach technology. Fewer screens. More presence. Clearer boundaries. Results came fast. Less tension. More focus. If mental strength, confidence, and connection matter, this book is worth your time.
One book from 2025 that I highly recommend to avid readers is The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien. This novel offers a profound exploration of migration, memory, and identity, set in a near-future migrant compound known as "the Sea." Thien interweaves the personal journey of refugees Lina and her father Wui Shin with reflections on historical figures like Hannah Arendt, Du Fu, and Baruch Spinoza, creating a rich tapestry that examines the human experience across time and cultures. The narrative's depth and the author's literary prowess make it a compelling read that resonates on multiple levels.
If you like to read nonfiction books, or are interested in reading about technology, I would recommend reading "The Coming Wave: AI, Power, and Our Future" by Mustafa Suleyman. Suleyman is an AI entrepreneur and the CEO of Microsoft AI. But, though he is heavily entrenched in AI, he discusses all of the risks and threats posed by AI in this book. He talks about the way it is going to shape the world we live in - for good and bad. It's a very interesting and insightful read.
I haven't read any 2025 books yet since we're still early in the year, but I can share what's been game-changing for my architecture practice recently. "The Pattern Language" by Christopher Alexander completely shifted how I approach post-fire rebuilds here in Southern California. This book breaks down how spaces actually work for people - not just how they look on Instagram. When I'm designing homes for families who've lost everything in wildfires, I use Alexander's patterns to create spaces that feel like home again, not just expensive showpieces. The chapter on "light on two sides of every room" alone has transformed how I handle natural lighting in our rebuild projects. What makes this book special is it's written for anyone who cares about their living space, not just architects. My clients often reference it during our design meetings because it gives them vocabulary for what they actually want. After 20+ years designing luxury homes in LA, I wish I'd found this book sooner - it would have saved me from creating beautiful but soulless spaces.
I discovered 'The Unicorn Project' during a rough digital transformation at my company, and its practical insights about DevOps culture really hit home for me. The book helped me understand how to navigate technical debt and team dynamics better, plus I've actually used some of its suggestions to improve our sprint planning process.
I recently finished 'Build the Damn Thing' by Kathryn Finney, and it honestly changed how I approach my side business. Her personal stories about overcoming startup challenges really hit home, especially when she talks about securing funding as a minority founder - something I've struggled with myself. I love how she breaks down complex business concepts into actionable steps, like her '3-2-1 Launch Framework' which helped me finally get my online shop off the ground.