I never thought fiction could teach me as much about life as non-fiction did—until this year. Through books, I learned about a wide range of topics—factual information about climate change, life lessons from battling depression, and even imaginary tales that transported me to Alaska, Texas, and France.
The way I pick books is simple: either I want to learn about a topic, someone I trust has recommended it, or it’s written by an author I’ve followed for a long time. This year was no different, except that I picked more story-driven books than non-fiction.
This year’s reading journey was quite different from my 2024 reading. In 2024, my book choices largely revolved around philosophical inquiry through science and Eastern philosophy. It was a continuation of the previous year, when I became deeply curious about life in general.
I found the novels written by Kristin Hannah to be especially inspiring—rich in detail, often based on true events, and deeply gripping. I have never been to Alaska, but while reading The Great Alone, I felt as if I were there. The Four Winds taught me a lesser-known history lesson about the post-Depression era in the United States. It highlights the internal economic crisis and how severely it affected farmers, as well as the mass migration from Texas and the resulting racial injustice. The Nightingale was the most engaging for me, as it aligns closely with my interest in World War II. The story is filled with emotional highs and lows. Almost all of her books focus on empowering women—it feels natural, not forced or ideological. I enjoyed reading all of them. If you are primarily a non-fiction reader, I highly recommend giving Kristin Hannah’s books a try.
Matt Haig’s books draw heavily from his own experiences battling years of depression. He beautifully captures this struggle in The Reasons to Stay Alive. His changed perspective on life is evident in his novels. Some of them are light and funny, yet they say a great deal about life. The Midnight Library is one of my favorites—it explores human desires and shows that even after achieving what we want, happiness is not guaranteed. It questions desire itself and inspires readers to find meaning in their existing circumstances.
Tuesdays with Morrie, though written by a different author, is another incredibly inspiring book. It is based on interviews with a dying man and explores how he lived a fulfilling life under all circumstances. The life lessons come from a real person, and nothing beats that authenticity. I also picked up a fun, cartoon-style introduction to philosophy. It was probably intended for kids, but since philosophy can be a difficult subject, I found it refreshing and enjoyable as well—especially as a way to revisit and reinforce core ideas. All these books are philosophical in nature; they question life’s biggest assumptions and offer inspiration and self-knowledge.
Finally, I believe everyone must read The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg. In today’s world, it would be a crime to remain unaware of the science behind climate change. The book is purely informational. Taking action to reduce your carbon footprint is a personal decision, but being ignorant of the facts is not.
To read detailed reviews of each book, please visit my Goodreads profile.
