Over the last few years, I’ve made a conscious effort to read more. As a kid, reading was my favourite thing in the world — I’d spend hours tucked away in my room, completely absorbed in story after story. But as life got busier, reading slowly slipped out of my routine. Between the ages of 16 and 21, I barely read anything unless I was on holiday, sat by the pool thinking, “Wow, I forgot how much I love this.”

As I’ve got older (and more aware of how valuable time is), I’ve tried to build reading back into my daily routine. Since 2022, I’ve set myself yearly reading challenges, slowly increasing the number. This year my target was 36 books — ambitious, and I’m not quite on track… but looking back at everything I have read has been so fun.

I’ve made a conscious effort to mix up genres too. Normally I’m all-in on sci-fi and fantasy, but in 2025 I added non-fiction, philosophy, self-help, and mythology into the mix. It’s been a surprisingly reflective year of reading, and in many ways the books mirror the kind of year I’ve had.

So, without further ado…

All the Books I Read in 2025 (With Authors)

Philosophy

• Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu

Sci-Fi / Halo Universe

• Halo: The Fall of Reach – Eric Nylund
• Halo: The Flood – William C. Dietz
• Halo: First Strike – Eric Nylund
• Halo: Ghosts of Onyx – Eric Nylund
• Halo: Contact Harvest – Joseph Staten
• Halo: Silent Storm – Troy Denning
• Halo: Oblivion – Troy Denning
• Halo: Broken Circle – John Shirley
• Halo: Cryptum – Greg Bear
• Halo: Primordium – Greg Bear
• Halo: Silentium – Greg Bear
• Halo: Mortal Dictata – Karen Traviss

Cherub Series (Re-reads)

• CHERUB: The Recruit – Robert Muchamore
• CHERUB: Class A – Robert Muchamore
• CHERUB: Maximum Security – Robert Muchamore
• CHERUB: Dark Sun – Robert Muchamore

Non-Fiction, Self-Help & Lifestyle

• How to Build a Car – Adrian Newey
• Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness – Ingrid Fetell Lee
• Blood, Sweat, and Pixels – Jason Schreier
• How to Break Up With Your Phone – Catherine Price
• The Neuroscience of Dopamine Detox – Dr. Anna Lembke / similar (note: confirm exact author)
• The 5AM Club – Robin Sharma

Mythology

• Mythos – Stephen Fry

What I Thought of Them – Highlights, Reflections & Surprises

Starting the Year With Philosophy

I began the year with Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu — a book that’s mentioned constantly in discussions about wisdom, balance, and living a more grounded life. I’d seen it recommended so many times that I felt almost obligated to give it a try, especially as someone who’s been actively trying to improve their mindset and outlook on life.

Tao Te Ching is a short book, but it demands slow reading. It’s poetic, full of metaphor, and often intentionally vague so that readers can find their own interpretations. I genuinely tried to take my time with it, but I found it challenging to connect with. The ideas about harmony, non-action, and the flow of life were interesting, but they didn’t land for me in the way I hoped.

Still, reading it wasn’t a waste. Even though philosophy clearly isn’t my go-to genre, I’m glad I stepped outside my comfort zone to try something different. Sometimes the value in a book is simply realising more about what does and doesn’t resonate with you.

My Halo Reading Marathon (And Why I Loved It)

After finishing the Halo games with my partner over winter, I wanted more lore, more backstory, and more of the universe I’ve loved for years — so diving into the Halo novels felt like the perfect next step.

If you’ve read my post “My Ultimate Top 10 Favourite Games of All Time” (https://lifeofj.com/2025/07/28/my-ultimate-top-10-favorite-games-of-all-time/), you’ll know the Halo series has a permanent place on that list. It’s a franchise that’s shaped so many of my gaming memories, so experiencing deeper stories and perspectives through the books has been incredible.

And honestly? They’ve been some of the most enjoyable reads of the year.

• Eric Nylund’s entries were the standouts, especially The Fall of Reach, which remains one of my favourites.
• The Forerunner Saga by Greg Bear started slowly for me, but by the final book I was completely drawn in — it massively expanded my understanding of the Forerunners and the origins of the Halo universe.

Revisiting My Childhood: The CHERUB Series

During spring, I took a break from Halo and returned to a huge part of my reading childhood: the CHERUB series by Robert Muchamore.

These books were the series that turned me into a reader when I was younger. I remember sitting in my bedroom for hours inhaling them — completely obsessed with the idea of kids being trained as undercover agents, going on missions, solving crimes, and doing things adults underestimated them for.

Rereading them as an adult was incredibly nostalgic. They were just as fun, fast-paced, and easy to fall into as I remembered. It genuinely felt like reconnecting with an old friend.

Back then, I also read Muchamore’s Henderson’s Boys series — the prequel set during World War II. I loved the shift in tone and era, taking CHERUB’s world and anchoring it in real wartime events. I never actually finished the whole Henderson’s Boys series as a teenager, so it’s something I’d really like to revisit at some point. There’s something fascinating about seeing the origins of CHERUB and how the organisation was imagined during the war.

Coming back to these books in 2025 reminded me why they captured me in the first place.

The Book That Re-Ignited My Reading Habit: How To Build A Car

When I hit a reading slump mid-year, How To Build A Car by Adrian Newey completely pulled me out of it.

As I’ve said before (including in my early blog post about my love for F1), motorsport has been a huge part of my life for over a decade. Adrian Newey is someone I’ve admired for years — he’s arguably the greatest Formula 1 designer of all time — so finally getting to read his autobiography felt special.

What surprised me most was just how detailed and technical the book is.

• The deep dives into aerodynamics were fascinating.
• The hand-drawn diagrams showing airflow, downforce, components, and chassis geometry were incredible to look at.
• I learned so much about how tiny design decisions can completely change a car’s performance.
• I loved discovering how his brain works — the intuition, creativity, and problem-solving behind some of the most iconic cars ever built.

But the part that hit me hardest was his candid retelling of Ayrton Senna’s accident.
Newey explains the technical failure that led to the crash, how the team analysed the data afterwards, and the enormous guilt he carried — and still carries — decades later. Reading that section was genuinely emotional. It gave me a level of insight into the tragedy that I’d never had before, and a new respect for the human side of F1 engineering.

This book wasn’t just interesting — it made me fall in love with reading all over again.

Finding Joy Again — Literally

After that, I picked up Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee (full review here: https://lifeofj.com/2025/10/02/joyful-by-ingrid-fetell-lee-a-personal-reflection-and-review/).

It genuinely changed how I view small pleasures, colour, design, and the spaces we live in. A surprising highlight.

Holiday Reading in Greece

As usual, I took a stack of books with me on holiday — and while I didn’t get through as many as I normally do, I still enjoyed a couple of great reads.

If you want to see the photos, food, ancient ruins, and the biggest mojito of my life, you can read the full blog post here: https://lifeofj.com/2025/11/28/my-trip-to-greece-rhodes-athens-sun-ruins-food-and-the-biggest-mojito-of-my-life/

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels — Jason Schreier

This book had been on my wishlist for a while, and it absolutely delivered. It’s a brilliant peek behind the curtain of game development — everything from impossible deadlines to studio meltdowns, creative struggles, and miracle turnarounds.
The chapters on Halo Wars and The Witcher were especially fascinating.

I also discovered that Schreier has released a follow-up, which immediately went on my wishlist.

Mythos — Stephen Fry

Since I was literally in Greece, reading about Greek mythology felt like the perfect choice.

Growing up on Percy Jackson, I’ve always loved the ancient Greek world, and Stephen Fry absolutely nails the retelling. It’s funny, clever, modern without losing authenticity, and an easy recommendation for anyone who loves mythology.

A Shift in Mindset: Phones, Dopamine & Early Mornings

Across the second half of the year, I noticed a big shift in how I think about time, distraction, and routine. I’ve become more aware of how much my phone pulls me out of the real world, and how easy it is to spend hours scrolling without really doing anything.

These three books arrived at the perfect time.

How to Break Up with Your Phone — Catherine Price

This book is a mix of neuroscience, psychology, and practical strategies to form a healthier relationship with your phone.
Some insights that stuck with me:

• how apps intentionally exploit dopamine cycles
• how notifications fragment attention
• the importance of building “phone-free” pockets in the day
• the value of mindful, intentional technology use

I didn’t implement every strategy perfectly, but even the ones I tried genuinely helped.

The Neuroscience of Dopamine Detox

This book goes deeper into the mechanisms behind dopamine, craving, and reward. It’s not really about “detoxing” — it’s about understanding the neurological patterns that drive compulsive behaviour.
It helped me understand why things like social media feel so addictive, and gave me a better awareness of when I’m using my phone intentionally vs. reflexively.

The 5AM Club — Robin Sharma

The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma was a book I’d had sitting in my Kindle library for ages, and I’m genuinely annoyed I didn’t read it sooner. Even though it’s written in a slightly unusual fictional style, the core ideas really resonated with me. Sharma focuses on how powerful the early hours of the morning can be for clarity, growth, and focus — before the rest of the world wakes up and distractions take over.

The book’s 20/20/20 formula (20 minutes of movement, 20 minutes of reflection, 20 minutes of learning) felt surprisingly practical. On the mornings when I followed it, I started the day feeling more energised, calmer, and more intentional. It shifted the whole tone of my mornings, making them feel purposeful instead of rushed.

I’m not perfect at waking up at 5AM every day, but even applying the principles a few times a week has made a noticeable difference. It’s a book I’ll probably revisit every year.

Winter Reading: Returning to the Halo Universe

As winter arrived and the nights got colder, my partner and I started talking about finishing Halo ODST and Halo Infinite together before Christmas. That immediately put me back in the mood for more Halo lore, so I picked up the next books in the lineup.

Halo: Oblivion — Troy Denning

This one dives deeper into the tension, mystery, and politics surrounding the early years of the Spartan-II program. I loved getting more insight into Chief’s younger years and the dynamics of Blue Team.

Halo: Broken Circle — John Shirley

Broken Circle was especially interesting because it takes a break from the usual UNSC perspective and instead focuses heavily on the Covenant’s own internal struggles. Seeing the Sangheili and San’Shyuum politics from the inside added a layer of depth to the universe that the games only ever hint at.

Both books reminded me why the Halo universe remains one of my favourite sci-fi settings ever. After so many years (and books), there’s still always something new to learn.

My Favourite Books of 2025

If I had to pick a top four, they’d be:

⭐ How to Build a Car – Adrian Newey
⭐ Joyful – Ingrid Fetell Lee
⭐ The 5AM Club – Robin Sharma
⭐ Halo: The Fall of Reach – Eric Nylund

My 2026 Reading Goal

Next year is going to be extremely busy with work and studying, so I’m setting a more realistic target:

12 books – one per month.

Anything more is a bonus, and I’m hoping holidays will give me a chance to catch up.

Books I’m especially excited to read in 2026:

• The Art of Creative Thinking – Rod Judkins
• How to Talk to Anyone About Anything – James W. Williams
• Brief Answers to the Big Questions – Stephen Hawking
• The Martian – Andy Weir

What About You?

Have you read any of the books I mentioned?
What did you think of them?
What were your favourite books of 2025 — and what are you planning to read next year?

Drop your recommendations in the comments — I’d love to hear them.