Here’s all the books I read and/or listened to in 2025
Capitalist Realism, Mark Fisher
Kind of a general lament about The Man. Not untrue, but also sort of felt like a conversation 2 disgruntled line cooks would have over cigarettes behind the restaurant.
Feelings, Manjit Thapp
A graphic novel that follows a woman’s emotional rhythm alongside the seasons. Just picked this one up on a whim because I liked the art style. Worth the read if you’re into softer stuff.
Catching the Big Fish, David Lynch
Read shortly after the death of the legend. More memoir than instruction manual but contains many nuggets of wisdom.
Society of the Spectacle, Guy Debord
Didn’t understand a damn word of this one. Need to reread when I fully develop brain.
The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus
This one really shook me up for a while. Really powerful book, a great life philosophy, makes sense intellectually but hard to live by. A good perspective to keep in mind.
On The Genealogy Of Morals, Friedrich Nietzsche
A wacky book by a wacky guy, but much to think about. Some parts felt intuitively true, other parts felt like a blueprint for fascism. I did enjoy how Nietzsche writes like he’s shaking his fist at you personally.
Discipline and Punish, Michel Foucault
Historically fascinating and philosophically terrifying. Proof positive of your most paranoid social fears.
Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace
Aww yeah baybee. This shit took up every spare brain cell for like 3 months this year. A new all time favorite. Tennis, drugs, and videotape. And but like so anyway.
Beloved, Toni Morrison
Actually haven’t finished this one yet, Libby ran out when I was halfway through. but it’s really good and so I put it on the list. Kind of terrifying, in multiple ways, also spicier than I expected. Intending to finish as soon as I get my copy back but that may be in ‘26.
Honorable mentions
A Little Life, Hanya Yanagihara
Heard the controversy and read all the spoilers before reading. Enjoyed the first 1/3 or so but DNF’d about 60% through when I realized the story wasn’t getting any more profound as it piled on soap opera theatrics. Glad I at least tried to read it because it led me to discover Infinite Jest and DFW.
A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, David Foster Wallace
Consider The Lobster, David Foster Wallace
Listened to a few essays from each. Both ASFTINDA and Lobster were my constant companions when I was working long ass shifts at the arcade I worked at as a second job this summer. I did a lot of my listening at work with a secret earbud under my hair.
Oblivion, David Foster Wallace
Haven’t read every story yet but thoroughly enjoyed Mister Squishy (one of my favorite DFW stories) and Good Old Neon. If nothing else 2025 was far and away my year of DFW.
Every Love Story is a Ghost Story, D.T. Max
An official biography of David Foster Wallace. Haven’t finished but wanted to know the context in which his works were written.
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
An old favorite from high school. Listened to it as a bit of a break from Infinite Jest and it’s better than I remembered. If it hadn’t come out before Discipline and Punish I would have assumed that was a huge influence.
Megg, Mogg and Owl (assorted comics), Simon Hanselmann
My favorite comic of all time. Read mostly on Simon’s Instagram page. Hilarious, filthy, and often poignantly sad.
If anyone would like to engage in unrestrained yapping about any of the books listed above, or send me recommendations for books to read in 2026, drop me a line in the DM’s.
