From Politics to Belonging: 7 Books That Leave a Lasting Mark
—October 2025 Book Recommendations
“A house that has a library in it has a soul.”
— Plato
Some books are companions. Some are warnings. Some are guides. And some become classics that leave a lasting mark on us. This past month, I finished seven books that together did all these things. They ranged from political deep-dives to thought-provoking reflections on belonging, justice, money, and resilience.
Books like these continue to remind me that stories—whether true or imagined—shape the way we see ourselves and can inform how we interact with the world.
Here are the 5 nonfiction books and 2 novels that made an impact on me this month.
[See previously recommended books here]
NONFICTION
1. We Can Do Hard Things
Answers to Life’s 20 Questions
by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle
This is a heavy book, both literally and emotionally. And also an enlightening one. It is full of answers on some of life’s hardest questions based on the words and wisdom of guests through years of conversations on the “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast. I really enjoyed it.
2. 2024
How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America
by Josh Dawsey
Unlike Original Sin (which I read last month about Biden’s campaign only in 2024), this book flips back and forth between both Biden’s and Trump’s campaigns. I can’t know how much is accurate, but assuming much of it is, it was quite a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at how Trump managed to return to the presidency in 2024. It’s also a sobering reminder of how fragile democracy can be.
3. Arbitrary Death
A Prosecutor’s Perspective on the Death Penalty
by Rick Unklesbay
I read this for a book club Zoom with other death penalty abolitionists, and, as you might guess, it was both disturbing and informative. Unklesbay, an Arizona prosecutor, has seen firsthand how arbitrary and flawed the death penalty system can be. The murder cases are hard to read about, but Unklesbay’s perspective is an important one to listen to, an insider’s view on some flaws in our justice system.
4. Die with Zero
Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life
by Bill Perkins
This book surprised me by how much it made sense. While nobody wants to run out of money before they die, we also don’t want to hoard it for no good reason. Perkins encourages us to align our spending with our values—so we actually use our resources for experiences and meaning while we’re alive.
5. Belonging
Remembering Ourselves Home
by Toko-pa Turner
Ah, this book is a deep cleansing breath among some of the heavier ones. We all like to belong, right? Turner writes beautifully about the ways we already do belong and how to nurture that sense of belonging in our communities. If you’ve ever felt out of place, her words are a reminder that belonging is not a destination but a practice. This was another online book club choice; our conversation about it was rich.
FICTION
6. Take My Hand
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Unfortunately, this novel is based on a true story—the truth behind it is heartbreaking. Set in my state of Alabama in the 1970s, it uncovers a horrific racial injustice in the healthcare system. Painful, yes, but important to read. We need to learn from the past so we can do better in the future.
7. The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
How have I never read this classic? I only vaguely remember the 1985 movie (with Oprah in it), but reading the book now made a big impression on me. There’s good reason why Walker’s story of sisterhood, resilience, and transformation remains a masterpiece since it was first published in 1982.
WHAT I’M READING NOW
- The Art of Gathering *
How We Meet and Why It Matters
by Priya Parker - Joyspan
The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half
by Kerry Burnight - Bad Therapy
Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up
by Abigail Shrier - Traffic
Why We Drive the Way We Do and What It Says About Us
by Tom Vanderbilt - Facing Climate Anxiety
Evidence-Based Skills to Cope with Fear and Overwhelm, Find Meaning, and Take Action
by Jon Gorman, PsyD - Time Anxiety
The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to Live
by Chris Guillebeau - Not That Wheel, Jesus!
Stories From a Faith That Went Off-Road in the Best (And Worst) Possible Ways
by Mary Katherine Backstrom - Broken Country
by Clare Leslie Hall
* Asterisked books from Daniel Pink’s Favorite Books list; you can find it here.
What book has left a lasting mark on you? Please share in the comments.
wow some heavy reading this month but a great list as usual. Take some deep breaths, my friend. I did request a few from the library, the Belonging one and We can do hard things. Not sure my soul is ready for the others right now….
Thanks for the reminder to take some deep breaths, Jean. I definitely need to do that. I like to keep a novel going in the midst of heavier books to lighten the mood, but sometimes novels can be just as heavy, depending on the story. We do need to tend to our souls both in times of chaos as well as normal times.
Die with Zero sounds fascinating! That definitely should be the goal for most everyone.
I’m not sure why I was so surprised that I agreed so much with the author of Die with Zero, but I really did appreciate much of his advice!
I’ve never read The Color Purple, either, Lisa, and I really should add that to my list of novels to read. Great recommendations as always!
I was really surprised by The Color Purple. I *very* vaguely remember seeing the movie years ago, but apparently I’d remembered nothing about it. 😉
Die With Zero sounds like it would be a helpful perspective. Can’t argue with having our finances reflect our values and priorities. I haven’t read The Color Purple either. Yet. Shh, don’t tell anyone! 😉 Happy Reading!
I wondered how I’d never read The Color Purple either! ha. But then again, there are still so many classic novels I’ve yet to get to and never will get to. Now and again I think about picking up War and Peace, for example, but then I look at its size and push it off til later. 😉
It took me so long to read The Color Purple, as well … now I need to reread it. Your other choices also look so fascinating. I’ve been reading (and rereading) a lot of memoirs lately … Cloistered, by Catherine Coldstream, was particularly thought-provoking.
As I was reading The Color People, I was watching for the segment you used for our Sacred Reading session! But I didn’t catch it. Perhaps I was too caught up in the story as I read, which is a good thing. 🙂 I did go back and find it though. Love the serendipity of that.
Cloistered was indeed a thought-provoking book. It left an impression on me.
These look very interesting and especially your non-fiction selections. I may well have to check out a couple of those. Die with Zero and the 2024 book both sound especially interesting to me.
Both “Die with Zero” and “2024” flew by as I read them. Not every non-fiction book works that way for me, but those two did. 🙂 I just looked at your September books and added a few to my own list. Thanks, Jeanie!
Die With Zero is on my list! I’ll have to move that up on my TBR.
Take My Hand was a great book, but definitely agreed — we really need to learn from the past and not repeat history.
Not That Wheel sounds like it might be a fun read, haha. Thanks for linking up with me this month! :]
Die With Zero had been languishing on my list awhile too. But a friend recently read it and told me how good it was, so that prompted me to move it higher on my list. 🙂
Yes, Not That Wheel is a little lighter read compared to some of the others, but Mary Kathryn Backstrom still included some heavy things in it too. I’m hearing her speak in a couple weeks in my city so I wanted to get acquainted with her work. I really like it so far.
I found Take my Hand a very good read but so sad and cruel in many ways. The Color Purple I read years ago and thought some great spiritual thoughts. I hope democracy wins out in your country but it is on a knife’s edge I’d think.
Yes, I agree with you that Take My Hand is both a good book yet also disturbing. It’s sometimes hard to put into words the feelings I have about books like that; same with The Color Purple. The situations are horrifying, even as the stories are well told.
Thanks for the well-wishes for the U.S. We definitely need them; it’s a crazy, chaotic time here. I’m with you in hoping that democracy wins out in the end. It’s not looking good at the moment….
Lisa, Die with Zero, is now on my list. I really enjoyed this list of books you mentioned, and this is how I find a new read each time. Thank you so much. Featuring your post tomorrow at The Crazy Little Lovebirds link party.
Die with Zero had been on my list for awhile, but after a friend read it and told me how good it was, I moved it higher on my list and I’m glad I did. 🙂
That sounds like a really good selection of books, although some would definitely be too heavy for me! I like my reading as a form of escape and definitely prefer fiction.
I’m in awe that you have so many books on the go at once!
Popping over from Book Worms Monthly.
I totally understand reading for escape. I like fiction for that too. I keep one novel going at all times for when I want to read to get away from it all. Books are marvelous for that. I’m currently reading Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand. It’s really good so far!
Some very interesting books there, I think I’d be most likely to read Belonging as I’ve never felt as though I belong.
If you do pick up Belonging, I hope it will be encouraging to you, Anne. One of the beautiful insights in the book was to practice our belonging with ourselves. It’s not something we’re often encouraged to do, and thus don’t get a lot of exercise in. But I think the concept is valuable.