Best Nonfiction Books of 2025
I have read so many great books this year that I knew it was time to make my list of the best nonfiction books of 2025. I wanted to have a list of all my favorite books in one place.
Together, Jackie and I read approximately 300 books a year, give or take. The best books immediately stand out. The writing, storytelling, and character development set these books apart. The 5-star reads become more than just the sum of their parts. They have that extra something that makes you think about them long after you finish the last page. If you are looking for the best fiction books of 2025, I have that list as well.
Since this year is not through, this list will change as Kirsten and I add books we love. We would also love to hear your recommendations for your favorite five-star nonfiction books of 2025 to add to our list. Feel free to reach out with suggestions.
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Best Nonfiction Books of 2025
Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service
Author: Michael Lewis
Year: 2025
Genre: Essays
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Through a series of essays, Michael Lewis and his fellow writers peel back the curtain on various public offices from the IRS to the National Cemetery Administration to reveal the vital work of longtime federal employees. I was captivated by each person’s unique job and expertise.
Why Kirsten loves it
I was so incredibly impressed with this collection of essays about various public officials. I learned so much about specific jobs and branches of government that I didn’t even realize existed! And I love it was handled in a non-political way that just showcased how vital career, nonpartisan government officials are to the running of our country.
Kuleana: A Story of Family, Land, And Legacy in Old Hawaii
Author: Sara Kehaulani Goo
Year: 2025
Genre: Nonfiction
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Sara tells the story of her family’s ancestral land and the struggles her family has to keep it, a struggle that echoes those of many families like hers. Additionally, she goes into detail about her struggles to connect with her Hawaiian heritage when she lives on the mainland. Part family history, part history of Hawaii, this book takes readers into the very real problems of the struggles of Native Hawaiians to keep their culture alive.
Why Kirsten loves it
My beloved Aunt Jann has a home in Hawaii and lives there for half the year. She’s explained some of the same struggles that her friends experience. It broke my heart to learn about how vacationers and millionaires snatching up land has resulted in so many locals being unable to get by without relocating or selling their land.
At the same time, I loved hearing about Sara embracing her heritage and finding ways to help her children learn their roots as well. I found myself wanting to visit the beautiful locations she discussed.
Find this book in: Beach Reads 2025 / Best Nonfiction Books of 2025
Plot
This moving memoir was written by Geraldine Brooks to help her process the unexpected death of her husband, Tony Horwitz a few years prior. She had not grieved properly because of the release of her Pulitzer prize-winning book, Horse, so she takes herself to a remote island to be in isolation and process her feelings.
Trigger Warnings
Death of a Spouse
Why Kirsten loves it
I was moved by Brooks’ candor about her grieving process. She lets us into her deepest, most private thoughts as she oscillates between telling the story of what happened to her husband and the immediate aftermath of his death and why, years later, she finally decides to grieve properly. It was hard to read at times, but I believe it will be very helpful for others in similar circumstances and for friends and family wishing to support loved ones suffering a loss. #gifted by PRH Audio
Find this book in: Celebrity Memoirs / Best Nonfiction Books of 2025
Raising Hare
Author: Chloe Dalton
Year: 2025
Genre: Memoir
More info: International Bestseller
Age Range: 14+
Plot
During the Covid lockdown, Chloe discovered a leveret, aka a baby hare, and decided to rescue it from death. She nursed it to health, working hard not to domesticate it, and watched it grow and thrive, eventually having babies of its own in her backyard in the English countryside.
Why Kirsten loves it
This cozy read is a bestseller in the UK for a reason. Chloe’s narrative was soothing and interesting as she details the hurdles and highlights of rescuing a leveret and watching it mature. I felt her compassion and care in her narrative — it gave me new respect for these wild creatures. #gifted by Penguin Random House
Find this book in: Nonfiction Books About Animals / Best Beach Reads 2025 / Giftable Books / Best Nonfiction Books of 2025
Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck
Author: Sophie Elmhirst
Year: 2025
Genre: Biography
Age Range: 15+
Plot
Maurice and Maralyn decide to sell their house and build their dream boat to sail around the world. They departed in June 1972 and everything went well for nearly a year due to their meticulous planning. When they encounter a whale injured by a whaling ship, it breaches and quickly sinks their boat. They are left stranded at sea for months.
What follows is a miraculous tale of survival as the two can only depend on each other through injury, starvation, and their eventual rescue.
Trigger Warnings
Starvation, shipwreck
Why Jackie loves it
I cannot believe what Maurice and Maralyn went through. This nonfiction reads like a novel. It was a fast read, but it was well-written and detailed. It would make an amazing movie, but nobody would believe it is true. Thank you, PRH Audio for this book #gifted.
Find this book in: Beach Reads 2025 / Best Nonfiction Books of 2025 / Boat Books
Making Mary Poppins: The Sherman Brothers, Walt Disney, and the Creation of the Classic Film
Author: Todd James Pierce
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: November 11, 2025
Age Range: 12+
Plot
Mary Poppins is a Disney movie that still resonates today. This is the book that tells the story of how brothers, Robert and Richard Sherman, came to Disney studios to write the music for Mary Poppins.
The book delves a little bit into the childhood of Bob and Dick Sherman, and weaves the story of how the incredible masterpiece of Mary Poppins came to be. The brothers worked closely with Disney and Traverse, navigating hurdles before the movie was made.
Why Jackie loves it
I had no idea that the Sherman brothers were the artists behind so many of the musical masterpieces from Disney that I loved as a child and still love to this day. “Let’s Get Together” from The Parent Trap is just one example. This book was so easy to read, I breezed through it. There was so much information, but it never felt like too much. I could not read this book fast enough.
Find this book in: Pop Culture Nonfiction Books / Best Nonfiction Books of 2025
Someday, Now: A Memoir of Family, Reclaiming Possibility, and One Sicilian Summer
Author: Tembi Locke
Year: 2025
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: Exclusively Audiobook Format
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This story takes place with Tembi and her daughter going on a trip together before her daughter leaves for college in the fall. Her husband, Robert, joins them in Sicily at the end of their trip as a way of healing and bringing two families together.
Why Jackie loves it
I read and loved From Scratch and was so happy to read about Tembi’s story, years later. I wanted to know how her story continued and this was just what I needed. I love the author’s outlook and the way she explores her surroundings.
Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2025 / Best Nonfiction Books of 2025
Expert Tip
Are you looking for the best new nonfiction books of 2025 but can’t choose what to read next? Here are some expert tips for choosing your next book:
- Read the description of what the book is about. Kirsten and I never include books that we have not read in our book lists.
- If you know what genre of book you are in the mood for, pick a book from that category
- Are you a “Kirsten” or a “Jackie”? Have a look at who read the book and what we loved about it. Kirsten and I often read different books, so you have a wide variety of books to choose from. Bonus if we both read the book!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best new nonfiction books of 2025?
Jackie and I have read some fantastic nonfiction books this year. Some of our favorites are:
1. Who is Government? by Michael Lewis
2. Someday, Now by Tembi Locke
3. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
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Epilogue
What is your favorite nonfiction book of 2025? If you have a book that you loved that is not on this list, please let me know so I can add it to my TBR.
