At the beginning of 2025, I set myself a familiar but demanding goal: 52 books in 52 weeks.
It was an expression of optimism and belief — belief that reading sharpens judgment, stretches time, and quietly compounds. I have long felt that books are among the few places where borrowed wisdom costs nothing and pays dividends forever. It’s learning beyond book counts.
By the end of 2025, I had read 14 books.
On paper, the number looks underwhelming. In reality, the year turned out to be far richer — not because of how much I read, but because of how learning showed up differently than planned.
When Curiosity Takes the Wheel
2025 nudged me into territories I hadn’t anticipated. I found myself increasingly absorbed in personal finance, behavioural decision-making, and the surprisingly intricate world of credit cards, reward points, and miles. What began as a practical interest evolved into a serious intellectual pursuit — one rooted in incentives, psychology, and systems thinking.
This learning did not come neatly packaged in chapters or highlighted paragraphs. It came through exploration, experimentation, and reflection. Yet books remained my anchors — slowing me down, forcing clarity, and offering long-term perspective.
Books, however, remained my intellectual anchors.
Below are the 14 books that shaped my thinking in 2025 — not as a checklist, but as milestones along the way.
Buffett and Munger Unscripted by Alex W. Morris
Three decades of Berkshire wisdom distilled — on temperament, rationality, and long-term decision-making.
100 to 1 in the Stock Market by Thomas William Phelps
A timeless case for owning exceptional businesses patiently and letting compounding do the heavy lifting.
House of Huawei: The Secret History of China’s Most Powerful Company by Eva Dou
A gripping intersection of technology, geopolitics, ambition, and state power.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
A demanding but essential exploration of how biases quietly shape our judgments and decisions.
Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction by Chris Bailey
A practical guide to reclaiming attention in an economy designed to fragment it.
The Joys of Compounding: The Passionate Pursuit of Lifelong Learning by Gautam Baid
An elegant blend of investing, learning, and life — reinforcing why patience is a strategic advantage.
Overloaded: How Every Aspect of Your Life Is Influenced by Your Brain Chemicals by Ginny Smith
An eye-opening look at how neurochemistry silently drives motivation, stress, and behavior.
Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke
A powerful counterpoint to blind persistence — knowing when to stop is often the smarter move.
Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
A sharp reminder that ego sabotages growth quietly, often disguised as ambition.
The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant by Tae Kim
A leadership case study on long-term vision, execution, and conviction in the face of uncertainty.
Mind Over Money: Why Understanding Your Money Behaviour Will Improve Your Financial Freedom by Evan Lucas
A behavioral lens on money — explaining why financial success is more about mindset than math.
The Magic Ladder to Success by Napoleon Hill
Timeless principles on discipline, belief, and purposeful ambition.
The Master-Key to Riches by Napoleon Hill
A philosophy of wealth rooted in clarity of purpose and personal achievement.
Fourteen Books, Not a Miss
It would be easy for me to look at 14 books instead of 52 and label the year a miss. But numbers alone don’t tell the story.
Some books demand time. Some ideas take repetition. Some learning happens only when life creates the right context. In 2025, reading slowed — but understanding deepened.
Looking Ahead to 2026
I am setting the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge again for 2026 — not to chase a number, but to create direction. This time, with more humility, more patience, and greater respect for the many forms learning can take.
If the year taught me anything, it is this:
It’s learning beyond book counts. Learning is not linear. Curiosity compounds quietly. And wisdom often arrives disguised as detours.
The calendar may reset. The challenge may restart. But the commitment remains unchanged.
The learning must never stop.
Click on the image to see Reflections of my reading on Goodreads…
