Best of 2025 (Books, TV, Music)

Welcome to this year’s best-of list!

This past Lent, in the spirit of self-examination and repentance, our church community engaged a series on the enneagram. Around the same time, I wandered into a thrift store and found a 1984 book on the enneagram for $1 (or was it $2?). I’d never read it before, and it has since become my favourite book on the topic — ever. Incidentally, others in my community reflected on these end-of-year best-of lists and concluded that, given my enneatype, they finally understand why I bother with such things. 😳

I read a fair bit on Gaza this year, and virtually everything I read was both spectacular and horrendous. Though there were several contenders, I chose Plestia Alaqad’s book as the best non-fiction of the year (that I read, anyway), to honour a Palestinian woman’s first-hand account of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

At the bottom of the page is a comprehensive book list, organized from highest rating (out of five stars) to lowest. Because I’m a nerd.

In terms of television, it’s no surprise that Adolescence is my best of the year. Its plot, acting, and cinematography — with each nearly hour-long episode shot in one continuous, uninterrupted take — were remarkable. I had never heard of The Rehearsal and found myself riveted by its tantalizing blurring of the line between reality and illusion. It’s a fascinating and singular piece of television.

Speaking of alternate realities, Pluribus (from the creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul) takes the cake for a zany, original idea handled well. And if you’re looking to stay current with cultural phenomena, look no further than the enjoyable and moving six-part documentary series on Taylor Swift’s blockbuster Eras tour.

Naturally, I dabbled in various songs and artists throughout the year, but the albums that made the list are the ones I committed to (i.e., purchased on vinyl). This commitment is somewhat shaped by what the rest of my family will tolerate or enjoy, and I’m happy to say that we all loved Bon Iver’s album (very family-friendly), while 3/4 of us loved Addison Rae’s album (not so family-friendly).

These lists are entirely subjective. The books were published in previous years, while the television and music lists are based on shows and albums released this year, respectively.

As always, feel free to let me know what you enjoyed and appreciated. See you next year!

Previous Lists

2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2013 (Film) | 2012 | 2011

BOOKS

Best in Spiritual Direction: Supervision of Spiritual Directors: Engaging in Holy Mystery
~ Ed. Mary Rose Bumpus and Rebecca Bradburn Langer

Best in Contemplative Spirituality: The Enneagram: A Journey of Self-Discovery
~ Maria Beesing, Robert J. Nogosek, Patrick H. O’Leary

Best in Christian Theology: God and the Gay Christian ~ Matthew Vines

Best in Spiritual Classics: The Rule of St. Benedict ~ St. Benedict of Nursia

Best in Fiction: What Strange Paradise ~ Omar El Akkad

Best in Non-Fiction

Winner: The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience ~ Plestia Alaqad
Runner-Up: When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion
~ Laura E. Anderson

Best in Poetry: Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza ~ Mosab Abu Toha

TELEVISION

1. Adolescence

2. Severance (s2)

3. The Rehearsal (s1-s2)

4. Riot Women

5. Pluribus

6. The Beast in Me

7. Taylor Swift: The End of an Era

MUSIC

Addision Rae “Addison”
Bon Iver “Sable, Fable”
Blood Orange “Essex Honey”

The Complete Book List

Supervision of Spiritual Directors: Engaging in Holy Mystery ~ Mary Rose Bumpus and Rebecca Bradburn Langer (editors) (2018) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships ~ Matthew Vines (2014) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
What Strange Paradise ~ Omar El Akkad (2021) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
The Enneagram: A Journey of Discovery ~ Maria Beesing, Robert J. Nogosek, and Patrick H. O’Leary (1984) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning ~ Peter Beinart (2024) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
The Killing of Gaza: Reports on a Catastrophe ~ Gideon Levy (2024) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience ~ Plestia Alaqad (2024) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
The Rule of St. Benedict ~ Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. 530) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion ~ Laura E. Anderson (2023) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza ~ Mosab Abu Toha (2022) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Invitation to Love: The Way of Christian Contemplation ~ Thomas Keating (1992) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine ~ Chris Hedges (2024) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This ~ Omar El Akkad (2023) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Girlhood ~ Melissa Febos (2021) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
The Spiritual Journey: Critical Thresholds and Adult Faith ~ Thomas P. Nemeck and Marie T. Coombs (1985) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart ~ Jacques Philippe (2002) (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
The Let Them Theory: A Tool for Letting Go of Control and Living a More Fulfilled Life ~ Mel Robbins (2023) (⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
Brown: What Being Brown Means to Me ~ Kamal Al-Solaylee (2016) (⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
Pageboy: A Memoir ~ Elliot Page (2023) (⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
Personal Prayer: A Guide to the Father’s Love ~ Thomas Dubay, S.M. (1985) (⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
The Cloud of Unknowing ~ Anonymous (late 14th century, c. 1370) (⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
Spiritual Direction Beyond the Beginnings: Practicing Compassionate Presence ~ Janet K. Ruffing, R.S.M. (2000) (⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality ~ Anthony de Mello (1990) (⭐️⭐️⭐️½)
Orbital ~ Samantha Harvey (2023) (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief ~ Rowan Williams (2007) (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
A Letter to My Congregation: An Evangelical Pastor’s Path to Embracing People Who Are Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender ~ Ken Wilson (2014) (⭐️⭐️⭐️)