Each year I set a goal of reading 52 books — one per week. I think it’s a pretty ambitious goal and most years I fall short. But by the time I finish up my current read, I’ll be at 56 books this year. In December, I like to look back and determine which books resonated with me the most. As always, my 2025 year-end list is comprised of mostly non-fiction: lots of books about theology and baseball and prayer and — my most recent obsession — maritime disaster. (Check it out; it’s an actual thing.) If you want to look back over some of the lists from previous years, you can find them here.

[Note: these are books I read this year, not necessarily books which were published in 2025.]

Best Books of 2025:

1. The Wisdom of the Desert by Thomas Merton
   • When I look back on 2025, I will remember it as my deep dive into the world of the Desert Fathers. Many of you are probably thinking, “Who are the Desert Fathers?” In the fourth century A.D., as Christianity was being established as the official state religion of the Roman Empire, a growing number of believers fled to the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, and Arabia, abandoning the cities of the pagan world to live in solitude. These men and women are known to us today as the Desert Fathers and Mothers. Their sojourn into the desert was based upon the conviction that this new relationship between church and state was producing a society which was “regarded by them as a shipwreck from which each single individual man had to swim for his life,” (Merton, 3). Skeptical that Christianity and politics could successfully produce a utopian society, these believers retreated to the desert (Greek, eremos). Thus, these came to be known as eremites, or “hermits.” In later years, they also came to be known as “monks,” based on the Greek word monos, which simply means “alone.” The Christian “monk” sets his life on one goal: the submission of his whole being to God by imitating Christ (Peter H. Gorg, The Desert Fathers). Over time, communities of hermits developed in several of these desert locations. These hermits were not scholars but laypeople who simply sought to live obediently to Christ. They practiced solitude and silence, devoting themselves to scripture, prayer, and a simple way of life. But they also practiced generosity and hospitality, sharing resources with one another and passing on valuable spiritual instruction to one another. Some of this wisdom has been recorded and preserved as “The Sayings of the Desert Fathers.” In this concise volume (80 pages), Merton gives a brief historical sketch of the desert movement before offering up what is essentially a “greatest hits” compendium of desert teaching. These writings have been a tremendous aid to my prayer life while also challenging me to practice silence and solitude more regularly. Many of these stories and sayings have made their way off the page and into my heart. I only wish I had been exposed to this wisdom earlier in my life. I highly recommend this work to anyone who wishes to grow their prayer life.
2. The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks, translated by Benedicta Ward
   • After reading Merton’s “greatest hits,” I decided to go back to the original source material to get all of the “deep cuts.” This collection is organized by topic and it includes the stories from Merton’s volume, along with a host of other desert sayings. I’d say try the Merton book on for size before you launch into this unabridged volume. But both are extremely rich and challenging.
3. The Shape of Joy: The Transformative Power of Moving Beyond Yourself by Richard Beck
   • This year, I’ve also spent a good deal of time thinking about and pursuing joy. Beck’s latest has been in my Kindle library for several months, but I didn’t read it until very recently. His central thesis is that there is a certain geometry to joy that eludes us as we are increasingly “curved inward” — obsessed with ourselves and our attendant neuroses. In order to pursue joy we must willfully turn away from the self through acts of service and moments of awe. But the science is clear: we don’t arrive at true joy without ultimately moving beyond ourselves into transcendence. Cosmic mattering is essential to our flourishing — which opens us up to the full impact of the gospel. I’ve loved everything Beck has written, but I think this might be my favorite so far. Highly recommend.
4. Divorce and Remarriage: A Redemptive Theology by Rubel Shelly
   • In my line of work, I am asked about divorce and remarriage regularly. And usually, the stakes are quite high in those conversations. Shelly’s “redemptive theology” is a welcome addition to my library of pastoral resources on these topics. I certainly appreciate Shelly’s scholarship and his careful treatment of the biblical text. But I’m especially touched by the ministry sensibility with which he writes. Chances are that someone in your circle — a family member, a close friend — has been touched by divorce in one way or another. If you’re following Jesus, I think you’ll appreciate Shelly’s high view of scripture and his compassionate tone. I wish everyone would read this book.
5. Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith by Henri Nouwen
   • Anything by Nouwen is bound to be thoughtful, but this collection of lecture notes, sermons, and journal reflections — compiled posthumously — is rife with wisdom on the practice of spiritual companionship, moving readers away from the notion of a spiritual director as a “guru,” instead presenting them as a “soul friend” willing to listen someone into existence. So much wisdom packed into this volume.
6. Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
   • Written in 1959, Lansing’s account of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated Trans-Antarctic Expedition is the definitive work on the subject. Lansing uses interviews from surviving crew members as well as material from their personal diaries to tell a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. This story is simply too incredible to be fiction. You won’t be able to put it down.
7. All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
   • I don’t read a lot of fiction, but Whitaker’s story has stayed with me since I read it over the summer. Equal parts serial killer thriller, coming-of-age tale, and love story, this sprawling narrative plays out over several decades in the lives of two childhood friends, Patch and Saint. The best piece of fiction I read all year.
8. The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns Goodwin
   • Every year, I read at least one Presidential biography; Doris Kearns Goodwin’s The Bully Pulpit is a double feature, covering the presidencies of Roosevelt and his successor and eventual rival, Taft. Goodwin’s treatment is always thorough and compelling.
9. Getting High: The Adventures of Oasis by Paulo Hewitt
   • I read this one in anticipation of catching the Oasis reunion show in Chicago this summer. Hewitt’s work with the band is considered definitive, covering Oasis at their What’s the Story, Morning Glory peak.
10. The Tao of the Backup Catcher: Playing Baseball for the Love of the Game by Tim Brown with Erik Kratz
    • I read several baseball books every summer, but this one was my favorite this year. Brown highlights the heroics of the backup catcher, using the story of former MLB catcher Erik Kratz to call attention to the unsung nature of the position.
11. Guidelines for Prayer by Matthew the Poor
    • Matthew the Poor was the refounder and the spiritual father of the Monastery of St. Macarius the Great in Egypt. He offers some great wisdom for growing in prayer.
12. James: A Novel by Percival Everett
    • Everett reimagines the story of Huckleberry Finn as told from the perspective of Jim, who reclaims his full name “James.” It’s a subversive take on the racial constructs and oppressive systems which shape our identities. Timely in so many ways.
13. In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides
    • I fell in love with Sides last year as I read The Wide, Wide Sea, his account of Captain James Cook’s third and final voyage. So I was eager to dive into In the Kingdom of Ice, Sides’s account of Lieutenant George DeLong’s search for the mythical “Open Polar Sea” aboard the USS Jeannette. And this one did not disappoint. This ill-fated journey led to the crew being stuck in Arctic pack ice for nearly two years. What ensues is a white-knuckle survival tale presented by a master storyteller. Read it and you’ll see why I’m a sucker for these “maritime disaster” stories.
14. Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House by Jared Cohen
    • Cohen examines seven former Presidents who find various paths toward significance in their post-Presidency years, which Cohen describes as “the most dramatic retirement in the world.” Jefferson devoted his final years toward founding the University of Virginia. John Quincy Adams went on to serve nine terms in the House of Representatives and became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement. Until Donald Trump, Grover Cleveland was the only President to serve non-consecutive terms, making Cleveland the original “comeback kid.” Taft followed up his single term in the Oval Office by pursuing his ultimate dream of becoming a Supreme Court Justice. Hoover and his wife devoted themselves to humanitarian aid for decades after leaving the White House. Jimmy Carter enjoyed the longest post-Presidency in history, devoting himself to a variety of human rights causes. And if you’ve lost track of George W. Bush since he left Washington, that’s by design. Free from the limelight, you won’t believe how Bush has been spending his time lately. A fascinating read if you love Presidential history.
15. Bible Translations for Everyone: A Guide to Finding a Bible That’s Right for You by Tim Wildsmith
    • Another question I’m asked quite often is, “What is the difference between this translation of the Bible and that one?” Wildsmith has written a concise, informative volume explaining the history and translation philosophy of each major English Bible on the market today. I’ll be handing out copies of this for years to come.

Best Re-Read:

The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out by Brennan Manning

I spent the summer re-reading this classic by Brennan Manning. I originally read this 25 years ago as a brand new youth minister. I’m happy to say that it still holds up. A stirring examination of the best news of all: the gift of God’s grace.