Every year I try to read ultimately at the rate of a book a month, but this year I’ve not hit that target. At least I’ve managed to review what I did read, which is better than I managed last year when that usual annual post fell off the planet for whatever reason.

At any (reading) rate, here’s the 10 books that I managed to explore cover to cover in 2025.

The Anxious Generation: Jonathan Haidt

This became quite a pertinent book to read with the world-first under-age social media ban implemented in Australia in December this year. Haidt is a New York based psychologist and academic who has spent countless hours researching the perils of the smartphone and the disturbing level of impact it has inflicted on a generation of unsuspecting youths. For anyone interested in exploring the impact of social media (and mobile phone use in general) on socialisation skills, mental health and identity development, this book is in the category of ‘must-read’.

A quiver full of arrows: Jeffrey Archer

Realising I had (somehow) never read anything by Jeffrey Archer and noting the biblical message in the title, I was keen to get stuck into this collection of short stories. Archer is a master craftsman, and anyone wishing to write needs to do themselves a favour and get some of his books under their belt (or on their shelf). The way he develops a narrative and builds in the layers of seemingly trivial details but then, with finesse lands them all together in the end with a healthy dose of humour or revelation is simply expert. If I was a creative writing teacher, I would mandate Archer on the reading list.

The Making of Us: Sheridan Voysey

I always enjoy a Sheridan Voysey book and this was no exception. Following a pilgrimage trek across the UK with a friend, this is a spiritual and reflective read. Interestingly in his Christmas message this year, King Charles noted that pilgrimages are not mentioned as readily in conversation as in the past. I agree that this is unfortunate. Voysey gives a great starting point for helping us understand the value that can come through such a journey, both for our bodies and our souls. As the synopsis says “part pilgrim’s journal, part call to reflection” this is a helpful read. After reading it, I wouldn’t mind trekking a pilgrimage too.

And I love Sheridan’s reflective conclusion as he writes his own creed, which concludes with:

I am one brief flash on the timeline of history.

Just one note in the great symphony.

Still:

I will not wish for another’s life.

I will take my place.

Play my part.

Something important will be missed if I don’t.

For the hand that spins the galaxies wants me here.

Amen.

Help! I need to know about narcissism: John Steley

In my study of psychology, I keep returning to explore personality disorders, both in my own time and in my teaching in the classroom. They, in my opinion, are as toxic as mental health disorders can get and lead to all sorts of abuse. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) strikes me as one of the worst also, as the person with the disorder has all manner of arts to project a certain image to the world and yet the layers of gaslighting and downright lies are, well, basically, that of a maniac.

I loved how Steley explored in this very practical book the ways that even parents with NPD can fool the world into believing that they are loving parents, and yet, the reality is, the narcissist does not love their child.

I remember once hearing the late Shakespearean expert, Harold Bloom speak of Hamlet and how little people understood his behaviour. In particular, he cited the fact that people frequently say that Hamlet was in love with his mother. Bloom absolutely scoffed at this and wondered what part of Hamlet’s words they were missing when he refers to his mother as wretched and a whore. No Freudian issues that way around. However, Bloom also describes Hamlet as “incapable of love” which, since hearing a few years ago, I have chewed over. I’m not sure I agree with Bloom on that one when it comes to Hamlet.

However, when it comes to the narcissist, Steley has helped me to understand that “incapable of love” is absolutely spot on.

5 Things to pray for a suffering friend: Helen Thorne

5 Things to pray for your city: Peter Nicholas & Helen Thorne (Introduction by Tim Keller)

Over the last few years, I have found that the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting has increasingly been something God has called me to practice.

I prayed through these two books around the middle of the year and found that they helped me immensely to pray for my loved ones and the wider world with sharper focus and a broader range of ideas.

I especially liked the way that the book helped me to pray for people’s illnesses, both physical and spiritual, and that it helped me to develop my own prayers for these folks.

I started praying for those that were ill with the following prayer:

That the Holy Spirit’s power would flow through them from the top of their head all the way down to their toes. And that it would flow through every part of their body, every cell and wash away all the dirt and disease, and renew, restore and rebirth every cell with its power so that every cell was new, as though it had never been ill before.

And I’ve kept praying it, ever since.

Motives – Why do I do the things I do: Edward T Welch

As the bible says, “The heart is deceitful beyond measure, who can fathom it.” The older we get, the more adept at posturing and masking we become, to the extent that we can fool the world with our actual motives and what we’re getting up to behind other people’s backs.

But we cannot fool God.

I found this book a helpful way to stop and check my own attitude and question whether my thoughts and motivations were ones that were pleasing to God or not.

Two can play that game: Leanne Yong

Great book. Even greater title. My school librarian suggested I read this one – thanks Rob – and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Though I am not into computer games at all, you don’t have to be to enjoy just how ‘gloriously nerdy’ this book is (as one critic described it). The story follows a university aged love story within the context of Asian Australia and is a light hearted exploration of game design and how a little bit of competition between lovers can be a great relationship starter.

Some notable inclusions in the book were the references to Asian church and bible study, which were mentioned in a very realistic and natural way and added depth to the book. I have no idea of what Yong’s religious beliefs are but I think this, her debut novel, was a stellar effort.

Wonder: R J Palacio

So, if you’re going to teach a book to your Year 7 class, it helps if you’ve read it. That I did at the same time as teaching it… and discovered that at least 85% of them had already read it in primary school. So I’m not sure who was teaching who….

Fortunately, I have far more literary study under my belt than they do (well, that and the work booklet I found online for free), so I was able to wing it the whole way through without them suspecting anything. It’s times like these that Socratic questioning is your friend.

As for the actual book itself, I think its winning feature is the fact that the narrator shifts multiple times throughout the book. Sure, August is the protagonist but the author’s decision to gain multiple perspectives on events blows open the possibilities within the book to explore how everyone experiences ‘difference’ or isolation or a lack of belonging in some way in life. It may not be the same as someone else’s experience, but all of us have experienced the pain of rejection in some way. As soon as we acknowledge that and allow ourselves to explore these ‘similar differences’ the sooner we can grow together and become more complete.

Thank you RJ. An accessible read, even for children, with an important message.

The entire book shows Barack’s devotion to his family despite his busy schedule but also shows how their family life and world politics combined within the literal corridors of the White House. There was something even more profound about this intersection of family life and politics on the night that Barack was about to report that Osama Bin Laden had been killed. Michelle writes:

‘Barack was coming out of our bedroom as I walked down the hall in the residence…

“We got him,” he said. “And no one got hurt.”’

I looked at that line in the book for a long time because it was so compelling.

Whilst not needing to agree with every policy Barack ever had, I’ve always liked and respected the Obamas. After reading Michelle’s memoir, that admiration has only increased.

Currently reading – A Room Made of Leaves: Kate Grenville

Having just started this one, I’ve not much to say on it. However, I’m looking forward to reading the letters of Elizabeth Macarthur – wife of John Macarthur – and seeing what if anything I can glean about Australia’s colonial history.

Yours in another book,

Alison