Dear reader,
As we near the end of 2025, it’s time for reflection.
This year, like most years, we read buckets of books. We’ve picked our Top 7, which you might wish to add to your list.
For more in-depth reviews, click the link at the bottom of this email, and you’ll also get to read up on what we’re looking forward to reading in 2026.
Wishing you all the most marvellous Christmas holiday and a happy and healthy New Year,
Chris & The 42courses Team x
P.S. Which books did you enjoy this year? Reply to this email to let us know.
1. Apple In China by Patrick McGee
A gripping deep dive into how Tim Cook’s quest for efficiency tied Apple inextricably to China. It’s a stark lesson on the geopolitical risks of outsourcing and the hidden costs of corporate greed.
2. Hacking the Human Mind by Michael Aaron Flicker & Richard Shotton
We love our friend Richard Shotton and behavioural science, and this practical guide reveals exactly how giants like Red Bull and Dyson hack our psychology to sell products. A must-read for boosting your brand’s brainpower.
3. The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck by Dr Christian Busch
Dr. Busch argues that while luck is passive, serendipity is something you can engineer. Learn how to stop waiting for good things to happen and start turning unexpected connections into career-defining opportunities.
4. Endurance by Alfred Lansing
This survival story of Shackleton’s Antarctic voyage reads like a thriller but serves as a masterclass in leadership. Proof that a cool head and resilience are your best assets when the pressure is (literally) crushing.
5. The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander
A beautiful reminder that the "rules" of life are often just stories we’ve invented. This book provides a toolkit to shatter those self-imposed limits, helping you step out of a world of comparison and into a universe of pure possibility. (Chris read this one 4 times!!)
6. Shoemaker by Joe Foster
If you loved Nike’s Shoe Dog, this "warts-and-all" history of Reebok is your next obsession. A wild ride of family feuds and near-bankruptcies that built a small British shoemaker into a billion-dollar brand.
7. The Most Interesting Book in the World by Edward Brooke-Hitching
From Chewbacca’s bodyguards to glow-in-the-dark golf, this book lives up to its bold title. Perfect for anyone who loves falling down a rabbit hole of weird and wonderful facts.
