It seems lately like everyone wants to talk about what will happen to The Culture as AI extends its ever-advancing influence over the way we think. Well, allow us to propose an alternative to whatever your chat engine of choice is recommending.

Here’s a list of the best books of 2025 that is highly curated and carefully selected by the voracious and discerning readers on our staff. We’ve been building this list since the start of the year and will continue to edit and refine it, giving you a sense of what deserves attention, and what might have so far escaped your notice, in the months to come. This isn’t a comprehensive list, of course—just books that we’ve actually read and loved. Enjoy.

Playworld by Adam Ross (January)

Playworld: A Novel $29 $23 (21% off)

AMAZON

An alternate

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