I get asked about books constantly—what I’m reading, what actually stuck, and what shaped the way I think about leadership, communication, and the world over the past year.
 
In this episode, I walk through some of my favorite books of 2025—a mix of fiction and nonfiction—and talk about why they mattered to me, not just what they were about.
 
Some influenced how I think about people and power.
Some sharpened how I see leadership and decision-making.
Some didn’t fit neatly into a category but stayed with me long after I finished them.
 
This isn’t a “you should read these because everyone else is” list.
It’s a look at the books that genuinely helped me learn, reflect, and see things differently—and why pulling from a wide range of material (not just leadership or business books) makes you sharper overall.
 
You can find a full, continually updated reading list at:
www.artofcoaching.com/reading-list
 
And if you want the complete list of books mentioned in this episode, you can get it by subscribing to our newsletter at:
www.artofcoaching.com/begin
 
⸻
 
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
 
•Which books actually stood out to me in 2025—and why they stuck
 
•How fiction has influenced the way I think about people, conflict, and leadership more than some “business” books
 
•Why reading outside your field makes you more interesting and more effective
 
•How I decide whether a book is worth my time (and when I abandon one)
 
⸻
 

Follow Us:
Website: ArtofCoaching.com
Instagram: @coach_brettb
X: @coach_brettb

The Art Of Coaching

Brett Bartholomew

E409 | Some of My Favorite Books of 2025 (And What Helped Me Learn the Most)

DEC 29, 202528 MIN
The Art Of Coaching

E409 | Some of My Favorite Books of 2025 (And What Helped Me Learn the Most)

DEC 29, 202528 MIN

Description

I get asked about books constantly—what I’m reading, what actually stuck, and what shaped the way I think about leadership, communication, and the world over the past year.   In this episode, I walk through some of my favorite books of 2025—a mix of fiction and nonfiction—and talk about why they mattered to me, not just what they were about.   Some influenced how I think about people and power. Some sharpened how I see leadership and decision-making. Some didn’t fit neatly into a category but stayed with me long after I finished them.   This isn’t a “you should read these because everyone else is” list. It’s a look at the books that genuinely helped me learn, reflect, and see things differently—and why pulling from a wide range of material (not just leadership or business books) makes you sharper overall.   You can find a full, continually updated reading list at: www.artofcoaching.com/reading-list   And if you want the complete list of books mentioned in this episode, you can get it by subscribing to our newsletter at: www.artofcoaching.com/begin   ⸻   What You’ll Learn in This Episode   •Which books actually stood out to me in 2025—and why they stuck   •How fiction has influenced the way I think about people, conflict, and leadership more than some “business” books   •Why reading outside your field makes you more interesting and more effective   •How I decide whether a book is worth my time (and when I abandon one)   ⸻   Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb