Number 6's Blog

I’ve been an avid reader my entire life; 2025 was no exception. My favorite genre is Science Fiction. However, I attempt to read at least a dozen non-fiction books every year to expand my horizons so to speak.

This year I read 38 books, 14 of which were non fiction. The non-fiction books (plus two fiction) were:

Several of the books are re-reads.They belong to the half dozen books I attempt to re-read every few years because I enjoyed them immensely and every time I read them I gain new insights. This year’s were Meditations, A Brief History of Time, and The Lord of the Rings.

I included two fiction books this hear because they are excellent books I’d recommend to everyone:

• Blue Mars is the third and final book in the Mars trilogy. They are science fiction. The book has a lot to think about concerning life, death, and society.
• The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy book needing no introduction. I’ve read this really three books over and over since I was young and is one of my all time favorites.

I don’t ever have a favorite book or top five books. However, usually there are several I’d read again and several I would not recommend to anyone.

In addition to the three re-reads mentioned above I’ll put Wisdom Takes Work and Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind on the shelf and consider reading them again.The former is the last book of the four part Stoic series and I’ve heard the best by far. Time after time I set the book down to just think. The later is a series of talks given by the author during their morning zazen. I don’t follow Zen but this book encouraged me to reflect on life.

Big Jim and the White Boy is not a book worth reading. It’s a graphic novel version of Huckleberry Finn told from the perspective of the slave Jim. Read the original instead.

Before signing off I have to mention Tiny Experiments which is not a book to read over and over again as time rolls on but I started my own Tiny experiments and continue to do so. Might not be a book for everyone but a valuable addition to the lifelong learner’s toolbox.