10 Must-Read Business Books from 2025
In the fast-paced world of business, whether you’re navigating corporate boardrooms or innovating in a startup garage, one thing remains constant: the need for fresh, actionable ideas. The landscape is constantly shifting, demanding that leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs alike seek out insights that don’t just sound good on paper, but actually work in the real world.
That’s why we’ve scoured the latest releases to bring you 10 must-read business books from 2025. These selections offer a broader perspective, helping us cut through the day-to-day grind and understand the deeper patterns shaping our economy, our workplaces, and our future. Get ready to expand your mind, challenge your assumptions, and equip yourself with the knowledge to thrive.
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Before we dive into the list, imagine this: what if you could learn the core takeaways from a groundbreaking new book every single day? With the Next Big Idea App, this is a reality! Discover “Book Bites,” 15-minute audio summaries of the latest and greatest nonfiction, prepared and read aloud by the authors themselves. Perfect for your commute, a quick break, or walking the dog. Download the Next Big Idea App today and start your journey of continuous learning!
The 2025 Business Book Lineup:
1. Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously) by Bree Groff
Tired of wishing away your workweek? Bree Groff challenges us to rethink our relationship with our jobs, arguing that when we wish away the workweek, we ultimately wish away our lives. This refreshing and unconventional take on the world of work promises to help you look forward to Monday mornings. Find out what it takes to transform your work experience.
Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Bree Groff, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
2. Click: How to Make What People Want by Jake Knapp with John Zeratsky
From the minds behind “Sprint,” Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky deliver a definitive guide for tackling big projects the smart way. Based on their firsthand experience with over three hundred new products and businesses, “Click” provides actionable strategies to ensure you’re building what people truly want, right from the start.
Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Jake Knapp, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
3. Capitalism: A Global History by Sven Beckert
Sven Beckert invites readers to fundamentally rethink capitalism, the most influential force shaping our lives. By moving beyond Western-centric narratives and embracing a truly global perspective, this book opens new avenues for imagining our economic futures and understanding the intricate history of this complex system.
Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sven Beckert, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
4. 99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life by Adam Chandler
Adam Chandler offers an enlightening and entertaining interrogation of the pervasive myth of American self-reliance and the idea that hard work alone dictates destiny. “99% Perspiration” challenges conventional wisdom, inviting us to consider a more nuanced understanding of success and effort.
Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Adam Chandler, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
5. Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It All Away by David Gelles
A New York Times reporter, David Gelles, unveils the incredible story of how Patagonia, under the vision of Yvon Chouinard, became a global leader in doing well by doing good. Explore how other companies are now adopting its pioneering principles of sustainable and ethical business practices.
Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author David Gelles, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
6. Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart by Nicholas Carr
Nicholas Carr confronts the paradoxical tragedy of communication: the more ways we connect, the more discord seems to sow. Despite generations of hope that world peace awaits faster, more frequent contact, “Superbloom” reveals how history and psychology tell a different story about our hyper-connected world.
Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Nicholas Carr, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
7. The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto by Benjamin Wallace
Someone created Bitcoin, but their identity remains shrouded in mystery. In “The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto,” journalist Benjamin Wallace chronicles his fascinating attempt to unmask the enigmatic figure behind the revolutionary cryptocurrency and the world it brought into being.
Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Benjamin Wallace, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
8. Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future by Dan Wang
Dan Wang delivers a riveting, firsthand investigation into China’s seismic technological progress. “Breakneck” delves into the human costs of this rapid advancement and explores what China’s relentless quest to engineer the future truly means for America and the global landscape.
Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Dan Wang, in the Next Big Idea App or view on Amazon.
9. The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World’s Most Coveted Microchip by Stephen Witt
Stephen Witt presents a riveting investigative account of Nvidia, the tech company that has seen an explosion in value due to its artificial intelligence computing hardware. Discover the story of Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s charismatic, uncompromising CEO, and the microchip that powers the future.
Listen to our Next Big Idea podcast episode interviewing author Stephen Witt, or view on Amazon.
10. 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation by Andrew Ross Sorkin
Andrew Ross Sorkin provides an eye-opening account of the forces that culminated in the worst financial crisis in history. “1929” offers crucial lessons from that disaster, providing invaluable insights for understanding and navigating today’s complex economy.
Listen to our Next Big Idea podcast episode interviewing author Andrew Ross Sorkin, or view on Amazon.
The Key Ideas in 15 Minutes: Your Daily Dose of Inspiration
“If you are going to get anywhere in life, you have to read a lot of books,” Roald Dahl famously said. The only trouble? Reading a book cover-to-cover takes precious hours many of us simply don’t have. But what if you could absorb the groundbreaking insights of a new book every day? Or even better, what if you could invite a world-renowned thinker into your earbuds, where they personally describe the 5 key takeaways from their work in just 15 minutes?
With the Next Big Idea App, we’ve turned this fantasy into a reality. We’ve partnered with hundreds of acclaimed authors to create “Book Bites”—short audio summaries of the latest nonfiction, prepared and read aloud by the authors themselves. Discover cutting-edge leadership skills, productivity hacks, the science of happiness and well-being, and much more—all in the time it takes to drive to work or walk the dog.
“I love this app! The Book Bites are brilliant, perfect to have in airports, waiting rooms, anywhere I need to not doomscroll… You guys are the best!” – Missy G.
Go Deeper with a Next Big Idea Club Membership
The Next Big Idea App is free for anyone to try. If you love it, we invite you to become an official member of the Next Big Idea Club. Membership grants you unlimited access to Book Bites and unlocks early-release, ad-free episodes of our LinkedIn-partnered podcast. You also gain entry to our private online discussion group, where you can talk big ideas with fellow club members and join exclusive live Q&A sessions with featured authors.
For a more focused learning experience, we recommend a Hardcover or eBook Membership. Every few months, legendary authors and club curators Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink select two new nonfiction books as the must-reads of the season. We then send hardcover copies straight to your doorstep, or eBook versions to your favorite digital device. We also collaborate with the authors of selected books to produce original reading guides and premium e-courses—50-minute master classes that take you step by step through their most life-changing ideas. And yes, it’s all available through the Next Big Idea App.
“My biggest Thank You is for the quality of book selections so far. I look on my shelf and see these great titles, and I find myself taking down one or two each month to reread an underlined passage. Full marks to all involved!” – Tim K.
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Whether you prefer to read, listen, or watch, the Next Big Idea is here to help you work smarter and live better. Wake up with an always-fresh Idea of the Day, the perfect shot of inspiration to go with your morning coffee. Then dive into one of our Challenges, hand-picked collections of Book Bites that form crash courses in subjects like communication, motivation, and career acceleration. Later, watch the playback of an interview with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Stanford psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt, or philosopher John Kaag. And be sure to check the “Events” tab in the app, so that you can join an upcoming live Q&A and personally chat with the next featured thought leader.
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This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.
Source: Original Article
