2025 Books that left an impression

"2025 Books that left an impression" written by Nathalie Edmond, PsyD.

​Books were a resource for me in 2025. I read 119 books!  I hope to never read over 100 books in a year again.  it lost some joy and curiosity at some point.  It became a chore.  I had to give myself permission to not finish books.  To slow down.  I tend to do things with intensity and needed to remind myself to be gentle and let go of the hustle and grind.

Storygraph created this cool pic. 89% of my books were nonfiction.  I will highlight some of my favorites.  I forgot that I read some of these especially the ones from the beginning of 2025.

• I read many books on antisemitism, from more zionist to more antizionist perspectives.  I was searching for nuance and how to incorporate discussions on antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racism into my workshops and life.  My favorites were "Safety through solidarity" and "On anti-semitism" by Jewish Voices for Peace.
• books on ableism and neurodivergence. Love the word neuroqueer
• read books to build my antifragility (half the books I read this past year)
• "Social justice for the sensitive soul"
• "Copaganda"- why police abolition is important
• books about Black Panther which inspired me to brave. So timely to have read Assata Shakur's memoir a few months before her death
• read "hospicing modernity" once or twice. Still my favorite non-fiction book in adulthood.  Helping me on my journey of decolonizing
• The importance of free speech even when you don't agree with the content "Hate: why we should resist it with free speech, not censorship"
• Books on Palestine: "One day, the world will always have been against this" and "Perfect Victims"
• Fighting facism and authoritarianism "On Tyranny"
• Black romance ~ Kennedy Ryan series
• Finding ways to build solidarity with people you don't agree with on every issue- "Calling In"
• "Why we are so polarized"~ put things into context about the democrat/republican divide and why democrat side can be so divided
• The surprise book was "Let them theory" which reinforced not caring so much about what others think about you
• I enjoyed Esther Perel as I contemplated my marriage in its different phases and what I want for myself going forward
• Books about indigenous people to regions whether that is Turtle Island, historic Palestine, Haiti, Africa
• I really enjoyed Malcolm Gladwell this year
• shortest book: "how to resist amazon and why".  the surveillance connected to amazon is intense.
• books to help me rest more, reflect more, break up with hustle and grind culture and capitalism
• "Climate change is racist" was great basic book
• "Antiracism as a daily practice" great book for someone trying to incorporate antiracism in daily life
• "Conflict is not abuse" really helped me process some of the aftermath of ISITDBT conference backlash
• "Having it all" was a great book about the "squeeze" that so many women experience when they are partnered and have kids and how to improve their quality of life either with their partner or by uncoupling. I felt so seen. 
• Everyone should read "Unmasking autism" so you can work on being less ableist and more accepting
• "Israel on the brink" was a great way to end the year with some hope and ideas of how to move forward in a way that liberates which requires us to let go of strategies typically used in the Global North

All 119 books and the many webinars and podcasts I consumed have shaped me in one way or another. Helped birth 2 loops of liberation. They shape how I do therapy, how I lead, how I parent, how I show up in the world, and content of my workshops.  

If you have some books for me to check out let me know.  You can reach me here.

The books I read helped me wrestle with the continuum of zionism to antizionsim.