Gregor
This was an interesting read, with quite a few personal anecdotes mixed in with some useful ideas. The author makes a compelling case that intensity transforms whilst consistency only maintains, which clashes with more conventional advice about just staying consistent and going slow and steady with a habit/activity. My critique would be that a lot of the options the author has at their disposal would not be available to the majority of readers, and the claims are mostly anecdotal rather than evidence-based. Nonetheless I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who have already read some more conventional habit-building books.
This was an enjoyable read, and would be worthwhile for anyone interested in getting on top of their health and fitness. Having already read the authors' earlier book, "Primal Endurance", I found that there was not that much in this one that was new to me, which is why I am slightly marking it down, although that would not be an issue if you have not read their earlier work.
As perhaps the most famous of the Poirot novels, I had high hopes going into this one. The claustrophobic nature of the train stuck in one place and the eclectic cast of characters makes for a top-draw base from which to build the mystery. Having already seen the 2017 movie before reading the novel, I was worried that the ending would fall somewhat flat, but that was decidedly not the case, with some textbook Poirot flourishes as all are gathered to hear his findings. I think this would be a great starting point for anyone wanting to test the waters of the Poirot novels.
I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing of Apple's dealings in China and left with the feeling that the kind of compromises Apple have had to make would be the same made by any other large corporation seeking to penetrate the Chinese market. This was a thoroughly eye-opening read and very well-paced, spending time on important players' backstories when necessary.
Lots of insightful advice here, with the two authors having walked the walk and used the techniques in this book to compete at a high level for a long time. I especially enjoyed the chapter near the end that highlighted some other athletes who had used this approach to training and diet to great effect. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in longevity and their all-round health.
A useful read full of tips for how to have difficult but important conversations. I think this would be worth reading for anyone in a relationship, even those who are already well-read around personal finance, because the situation is far more nuanced when you add a second person to the equation. There is a lot of practical advice here that anyone could benefit from, whether this is their first book on money or their fiftieth.
This book has been a wonderful daily companion this year, and a treasure trove for short, hard-hitting highlights. Having already read some of the works by the ancient Stoics and a little of Ryan Holiday, most of the advice in this book was not new to me. Nonetheless, these are lessons which we would do well to revisit regularly, and this book has been an excellent vehicle to that end.
I began reading this book with little knowledge of Enoch Powell beyond the infamous Birmingham speech, and have come away astonished by his contributions to British politics. His views on the EEC (now the EU), the economy (he felt he should have "a half-share of Milton Friedman's Nobel Prize"), and the Unionist cause in Northern Ireland have, in my eyes, all been vindicated by the years. I think even those who would never agree with Powell's political views could take a lot from this book, so thorough it is in its journey through post-war British politics. This is the best book I have read in 2025.
An interesting read that offers many strong arguments for why less government could be better for society. Some of the topics covered were already well-known to me, but there were some surprises too, such as the exploration of how views have changed around the process of giving birth. If someone is not already well-acquainted with libertarian ideas, then this would be an excellent starting point for them to see whether or not they resonate with this philosophy.
A useful book for anyone wanting to reevaluate their communication at work, although it will be most useful for those in management positions. I enjoyed the author's clear explanations of the four quadrants you can fall into with your communication, and there were some great points about the benefits of giving people criticism early, rather than letting issues fester. Ultimately, this is a book that anyone can benefit from, but those who already have direct reports will get more out of it than individual contributors.
A very quick read that reinforces the same message put across by other Bitcoin and Personal Finance books around devaluation of currency and the difficulty of saving in a soft money. There is nothing new here if you have read these kinds of books already, but it does serve as a good, quick reminder.
Another great book from Morgan Housel. There were lots of good anecdotes here, and the topic is one that is probably not talked about enough in personal finance books. Whilst a lot of the advice can be found in podcast episodes the author has done, and the book is not as impactful, in my opinion, as his earlier work The Psychology of Money, I would still happily recommend this book, especially to people who already feel like they have a good handle on saving and investing their money.
A classic for good reason, although it probably would have had more impact had I read it at a younger age. The novel is certainly of its time, with its racial epithets and unflattering depictions of Native Americans, but it is nonetheless a charming picaresque novel and I can see why it has endured.
A great read full of useful aphorisms. Not a page is wasted, and the book is short enough that you could easily read the whole thing in one sitting if you were so inclined. Naval's points about the democratisation that modern technology brings definitely ring true for me. I also think he has the single best line for getting people into reading: "Read what you love until you love to read". All in all, an excellent book that I would happily recommend to anyone.
A moving memoir of emancipation, family, and the travails of walking a different path to the one planned out for you. The author stays very neutral on Mormonism, and in doing so makes it easier for the reader to relate, as any of a number of sects could be substituted in and have the same effect of creating en extreme us-versus-them mentality. A clear takeaway for me was that as a parent you must be willing to set your children free, to set them up in life the best way you know how and then accept that they are their own sovereign individuals. An intense, rewarding read that would be of particular value to anyone who has felt repressed by their family.
An interesting exploration into how the lines have been blurred between entertainment and information since the proliferation of television. I found it slightly disappointing that there was a lack of solid plan for how to reverse this phenomenon, which will only be harder with the existence of modern technology, but the book deserves a read if only for its prescience in calling out a dangerous trend which has only worsened since the book's publication.
A useful introduction to the ideas behind homeschooling (or "unschooling") if a little light on practical examples. The appendices at the end are a treasure trove of useful information and links, even if a lot of it is US-centric. I think this is a good starting point for people interested in learning about what homeschooling is and why people might want to consider it.
This was recommended by a colleague and I found it am extremely worthwhile read. A lot of the points the author makes are ones that I have heard before but having them gathered in one place is valuable - I took copious highlights. There were also plenty of interesting ideas that I had not come across or considered, and despite being early in my career I feel that reading the book at this time was still worthwhile as I am now aware of various concepts that I can apply as I get more senior. I think any ambitious software engineer should read this book.
A strong entry in the Poirot series with great interplay between the detective and Captain Hastings. The cast of characters is large in this one and at times it felt a little hard to stay on top of things, which would be my only real complaint. Otherwise, the London setting and the dynamic of English aristocracy versus American celebrity are enjoyable, and the big reveal is a delight, especially the last couple of pages.
This time Poirot and Hastings are down in Cornwall, investigating a murder yet to take place. This changes the dynamic as we are treated to various conversations with the would-be victim. The intrigue did not grip me as much as some other of Poirot's adventures but the ending was a highlight, especially the very last paragraph in which the final sticking point is put to rest. Definitely worth a read for anyone who has read Christie's prior works.
A really interesting dive into a domain that not enough football fans know anything about. The author is humble enough to admit that there are no easy answers when it comes to what makes a good owner, and there was a pleasing variety of ownership models and owners explored, from the social media generation to straight-up warlords. Definitely recommended to any football fan who wants to be more informed on the topic.
A real home run that sets things up beautifully for the finale. The character work is excellent here, with Lysander and Darrow's points of view dominating, and Lysander's chapters towards the end of the novel being particularly rich. As is always the case with Brown, the fight scenes are visceral and there are a suitable number of gut punches for the penultimate entry in this series. My only criticisms would be that a couple of deaths felt a little rushed and perhaps under-developed, and there was a lack of focus on a certain antagonist, although I am sure that will make sense in Red God. Those issues are not enough for me to give this book anything less than 5 stars and I cannot wait for the final entry!
A good explanation of Ross Ulbricht's story. The author's writing style of vividly setting the scene and using direct quotation helps to keep the pace up but can make chapters feel disingenuous at times. One thing that the author failed to mention is that Ulbricht was never sentenced to do with hits or alleged hits, so he was sentenced to life in prison for non-violent crimes.