Ask HN: What were the best books you read in 2025?
8•dom96•4h ago
Looking for some inspiration for some books to read during the Christmas holidays
Comments
wannabebarista•4h ago
Here's my list so far:
Differential Privacy (2025) by Simson Garfinkel. This is an accessible and enjoyable introduction to differential privacy from the MIT Press essentials series.
The Philosopher in the Kitchen (1825) by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. This is a primer on gourmandism or the art and science of cooking, eating, and hosting. An interesting look at the French intellectual milieu at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Relativism and the Foundations of Philosophy (2006) by Steven Hales. This book argues for relativism about philosophical propositions, e.g., metaphysical statements. I came across this book and picked it up after enjoying a few articles from Hales' blog [0].
I usually put up a list at the end of each year. Here's the list from last year [1].
But I do not read a lot of books in a year anymore.
carlnewton•3h ago
I enjoyed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke the most this year. It has wonderful world building that was reminiscent of The Library of Babel. I'm currently really enjoying We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor. So far it's a very fun spacefaring adventure.
dom96•39m ago
Piranesi has been on my shelf for a while, guess it's time I give it a go
pesfandiar•1h ago
As a parent, I found "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt insightful and eye-opening.
wannabebarista•4h ago
Differential Privacy (2025) by Simson Garfinkel. This is an accessible and enjoyable introduction to differential privacy from the MIT Press essentials series.
The Philosopher in the Kitchen (1825) by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. This is a primer on gourmandism or the art and science of cooking, eating, and hosting. An interesting look at the French intellectual milieu at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Relativism and the Foundations of Philosophy (2006) by Steven Hales. This book argues for relativism about philosophical propositions, e.g., metaphysical statements. I came across this book and picked it up after enjoying a few articles from Hales' blog [0].
I usually put up a list at the end of each year. Here's the list from last year [1].
[0] https://hilariusbookbinder.substack.com
[1] https://bcmullins.github.io/interesting-books-2024/