10 Nonfiction Reads for The Curious in 2025 - Noah Ragan
By Noah Ragan
In 2024, I challenged myself to read 52 books in 52 weeks. I quickly realized how ambitious this pursuit was when I found myself about five hundred pages into Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic Dune. While the goal fell short, the ambition proved worthwhile, with a formidable stack of books and a few remarkable ones worth sharing.
I owe the idea for this article to my friend and colleague Grant Hiskes, who, for the past seven years, has made a ritual of sharing his favorite books. In true Hemingway fashion, Grant and I often found ourselves in dimly lit bars, exchanging notes on whatever book had our attention at the time. Before long, I decided to follow suit and compile my own list.
For the sake of originality, the focus I bring is on nonfiction literature. This list is for the curious reader—one with a taste for niche histories, sciences, and everything in between. Each selection has its own story, whether it was a timely recommendation or an unexpected find.
1. The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson
Starting with a story close to home, The Devil in the White City caught my attention after a Managing Director at my company praised it as one of their all-time favorites. Not long after, Grant read it as well, and I knew I had to pick it up. This is one of those wild history books that’ll leave you thinking, “there’s no way this shit actually happened”. These are the kinds of stories that often catch Leonardo DiCaprio’s eye for film adaptation, like Killers of the Flower Moon and The Wager. Set against Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair, it interweaves architectural history with a gnarly true crime story. While sitting in the office the day after Grant finished the book, he shared a quote from the author’s acknowledgments that has since become my favorite Chicago quote and is worth sharing:
“Place has always been important to me, and one thing today’s Chicago exudes, as it did in 1893, is a sense of place. I fell in love with the city, the people I encountered, and above all the lake its moods, which shift so readily from season to season, day to day, even hour to hour. I must confess a shameful secret: I love Chicago best in the cold.”
2. In the City of Bikes: The Story of the Amsterdam Cyclist – Pete Jordan
My summer project—bringing a 1987 Trek road bike back to life—quickly had me feeling like Chicago’s very own Tadej Pogačar. When my mom got wind of this, she came across this book and gifted it to me during a weekend trip up north. Fittingly, much of this book was read sitting beside my bike on the concrete steps of Lincoln Park.
Pete Jordan tells the history of Amsterdam—a city I came to admire while studying abroad—through the iconic bicycle and his own experience as a cycling expat living there. This book captures the thriftiness and character of a city defined by bikes and how cyclists became “the problem child” for Nazi occupation and car-centricity; it turns out, being pissed at road cyclists is not a new phenomenon. While it can feel a bit long-winded, this book will change your perspective on urban design and you’ll be itching to hop on a bike and explore your city like a true Dutchman.
3. Just Kids – Patti Smith
My close friend Keenan Bellisari, an architecture student in New York, appropriately recommended this book, and it’s easy to see why. It captures the essence of New York City in the 1960s—a time when kids could move to Manhattan and scrape by with full commitment to their art. While you may spot droves of NESCAC graduates dressed like characters from Just Kids, the New York City Smith describes feels like a bygone era.
Smith’s writing is cool and poetic as she retells her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and their years of art and poverty. It’s a strong coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever been drawn to the “starving artist” archetype. No surprise that The New York Times named it one of the “100 Best Books of the 21st Century.”
4. Unreasonable Hospitality – Will Guidara
When my former dean and English mentor, Anne Rubin, recommended Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality, I knew it would be great. I had reached out to her on a whim, looking for book recommendations, and she promptly responded with a curated list of a dozen titles (in retrospect, a show of top-tier unreasonable hospitality).
Guidara’s book offers a compelling counterpoint to Anthony Bourdain’s gritty Kitchen Confidential, focusing on the art of hospitality from the front-of-house perspective. Guidara tells what it took to transform Eleven Madison Park into a coveted New York City dining experience—earning both a four-star New York Times review and three Michelin stars.
I found the lessons both genuine and relevant with acts of hospitality that will put a smile on your face. Whether you care for the business case or simply enjoy a good restaurant story, this book has both Anne’s and my strongest recommendation.
5. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World – Jack Weatherford
Among historical works, this one towers above the rest, fundamentally changing your perspective of world history. A hidden gem from my mom’s library, this book was originally recommended to her by a well-read uncle.
Little is known about Genghis Khan, as the legendary leader forbade any depictions of himself through painting or sculpture. This book dives into the fringes of Mongol history and a secret 13th-century scroll that uncovered how Genghis Khan rose to power. This read awed me with details of how the Mongols defeated European knights, pioneered military tactics like “Blitzkrieg” and maintained an unattached attitude toward possessions and fame.
This little-known history offers a story that was never fully explained in my history courses. If you’re into history or just want to understand the second-largest empire in history, this book is for you.
6. Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI – Yuval Noah Harari
Preordering books was never my style—until Yuval Noah Harari came along. After reading Sapiens, Homo Deus, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, my conviction of this man’s writing style and history telling led me to preorder a book for the first time.
The popular documentary The Social Dilemma got us all thinking about how algorithms mess with our information bubble. Harari takes that conversation to another level, breaking down frameworks of information networks and showing how they evolve throughout history. He’s got this incredible knack for looking at human systems and showing us exactly what’s what, no bullshit. As AI integrates into our networks, the questions this book raises become more relevant. Are we screwed? Read this classic to find out.
7. Material World – Ed Conway
At first glance, a book about raw materials might sound dull and exhausting. Material World is anything but that. Ed Conway transforms the subject into a captivating journalistic narrative, reminiscent of Jon Krakauer’s approach to storytelling. In this read, you’ll discover why no one truly knows how an iPhone is fully made, uncover the extent of Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves, and explore the intense battles between corporations and governments for control of these critical resources.
Released just two years ago, Material World is a relevant guide to understanding today’s global market dynamics and intricate supply chains. If you’re excited by the challenge of uncovering what lies at the foundation of the modern world, this book will both inform and satisfy your curiosity.
8. David and Goliath – Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell—a favorite author of my sister Hannah— combines journalism and social science to create compelling works with memorable case studies. He’s a reliable author who, once you read one of his books, compels you to reach for another. Over the course of this year, I’ve read or listened to six of his books, and it’s hard to recommend just one.
Gladwell offers a master class in social psychology, with a straightforward approach to teaching. David and Goliath stands out as one of my favorite works as he challenges our understanding of advantages and disadvantages. The stories he tells will stick with you and make you rethink how you handle your own challenges. As an added bonus, Gladwell’s audiobooks are exceptional, with the author himself narrating in a captivating voice. I’d recommend any of his books for road trips or Sunday reads.
9. Classic Krakauer: Essays on Wilderness and Risk – Jon Krakauer
Before Krakauer wrote his bestselling books Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, he was a freelance writer scraping by to support his mountaineering lifestyle. Classic Krakauer shares some of his earliest articles during this period, reading almost like an anthology. His essays take you through unruly landscapes and wild characters, with his narrative and storytelling pulling you into every page. This book offers an escape that’s both cautionary and inspiring, leaving you eager to plot your next adventure and dive into more of Krakauer’s work. A quick and enjoyable read from one of your favorite authors.
10. Outlive – Peter Attia, MD
If you’re like me, your retirement plans include being a gray-haired skier, taking half-marathon dog walks, and maybe even a few decathlons. Outlive, by Peter Attia, shows a clear roadmap and manual for making that happen. The science is interesting and Peter leaves nothing on the table. His tone is simple and easy to follow. A must-read if you want something that makes a difference in your life. If you spot this one on an Amazon list or at Barnes & Noble, give it a read—it’s worth it.
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Notable reads this year that just missed the cut: Malcolm Gladwell’s explorations (The Tipping Point, What the Dog Saw, Blink, Outliers, Talking to Strangers), David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon and The Wager, Anthony Bourdain’s raw Kitchen Confidential, Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic Dune, and eye-opening works on human behavior like Nudge, Dopamine Nation, and Altered Traits.
