Books are small universes—affordable and easily carried, filled with mind-expanding possibilities. Through their pages, I explore new experiences and worlds, meet unforgettable characters, and deepen my understanding of…everything.
These are the books I read in November 2025, listed chronologically, and graded by recommendation (highly recommend, recommend, and do not recommend).
The Patriarchs: The Origins of Inequality
As an elderly Millennial, I was taught (in a nutshell) that early human history/society was matriarchal, until “something happened,” and pagan goddesses were replaced by gods and human women toppled from esteem and leadership.
“Patriarchs” argues that the shift was more complicated than that. (That argument is more hopeful than it sounds.)
Saini traces this fallacy through three sources (including Engels!) into the seventeenth century, then proceeds to use the rest of the book (and new archaeological evidence about human history) to dismantle it.
Note this now: Angela seeks to dismantle the fallacy considering the fall of matriarchal society structure, NOT the feminist movement. However. Third-wave, white-centered, non-intersectional feminism deserves the criticism this book serves; highly recommend.
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
With Spooky Season over, you might miss terror. May I suggest this truly horrifying non-fiction tome about the danger of our current economic system?
This is a heavy book (literally, it’s thiiiick), with crushing themes, laid with prodding deliberation. This will not be a fun book to read. But read it you must; highly recommend.
Avidly Reads: Screen Time
This slim collection of essays is one of a series that asks authors to explore topical subjects.
Maciak dives into the idea of “screen time” over the past thirty years, from the age of “Golden Television” to the idea that it is something that must be “managed.”
It’s an interesting, though toothless, cultural critique, recommend.
Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments
What was it like in America, for the first couple of generations after American slavery? Uh…not that great. Due to an almost complete lack of employment opportunities or forceful incarceration (due to laws such as The Wayward Minor Act or loitering prohibitions), slavery didn’t really end in the 1860’s.
But Hartman shows that not all was doom and gloom, that non-white early 20th century youth found joy where they could, often stealing it.
If you’re looking for models of ways to live (and flourish) in dark times, look to this book; highly recommend.
Quicksand
Oh, man. What a quietly devastating book. Helga Crane starts life triumphant, especially considering the circumstances of her birth in early 20th century America (she’s mixed race, her mother Danish and her father West Indian).
I rooted for her, all the way until the end. Then I mourned with her. I thought the way her situations crumbled around her was the result of contrariness and propulsion, but it was more self-destruction and circumstance.
How Larsen makes that known will paralyze you; highly recommend.
Lorraine Hansberrry Collection
I read “Raisin” years ago, but I’ve never heard of “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window.” (Hansberry left us too soon.)
It’s the 1960’s in Greenwich Village, and Sidney considers himself a Good Bohemian (don’t ask his black wife if she agrees), backing another local Good Bohemian, Wally O’Hara.
Definitely don’t ask Iris about O’Hara, cuz she knows he’s no good guy. What will it take to convince Sidney? Plays can be hard to read, stick it out to find out, highly recommend.
The Stone Diaries
This book had me looking like a fool, Googling people who didn’t exist.
“Diaries” is presented as an autobiography, or at least a memoir. But it is neither! Those pictures in the middle are feck-all! Old-timey stock photos. The more recent ones are of the author’s own grandchildren.
Shields meant to document an “ordinary” 20th century American life in such a way to make it the stuff of biography, or intelligentsia. And she succeeded. I can’t wait to read her other books, hopefully they won’t all Sixth Sense me; recommend.
Fuller Collection
Does the name Margaret Fuller ring a bell? It did with me, though faint. She was an important American writer and Transcendentalist, who passed away tragically in a shipwreck.
Margaret was a brave and deep thinker, writing about human rights (especially the enslaved, Irish people, and women), the role of the state, and the effects of the Industrial Revolution.
Check out this collection for an exercise in attention span (such long sentences and elliptical thoughts!), a time capsule exploration (be convinced that the Irish are, in fact, just people! And did you know women have souls?) and a reminder that you actually know nothing of The Classics (Fuller can quote Greek masters for days!); recommend.
The Years
A beautifully written French memoir covering the years (get it that’s the title) 1940-2000, this book was a traipse through the uncanny valley.
The author recounted things I knew, as a fellow time contemporary (geopolitical events, rise of technology, etc), but through a strange (to me) lens of reference (French celebrities, the effects of being raised by war survivors, etc).
Anne’s use of the third plural voice increases this effect; highly recommend.
Judgment Day
Laddenham, England’s local church is in need of restoration, and Clare Paling isn’t going to let her agnosticism get in the way of her community spirit (much to the chagrin of George, the vicar, who might also have a crush on Clare).
Will the church get repaired, without the foundation or the delicate masks of the village residents crumbling? Uh, no, but read to find out, highly recommend.
Conclusion
In the quiet company of these November 2025 reads, I found stories and echoes of the human experience: resilience in the face of despair, the enduring power of connection, and timeless wisdom woven into words.
I hope this bite size book reviews open up new literary adventures for you. What books are you reading? I’d love to hear!
Want More?
Check out more bookish content here:
Happy reading!
Love,
