Some Favorite Books of 2025

We resume a tradition from the past years, discussing some favorite books we read in 2025. As always, our themes involve religion, spirituality, and the intersection of faith and intellect. This time we welcome Makayla Steiner, assistant professor of English at BYU.

Matt’s list of honorable mentions: Douglas Coupland, Life After God; Paul J. Pastor, The Locust Years; Robert Cording, Finding the World’s Fullness: On Poetry, Metaphor, and Mystery; and Jean-Louis Chrétien, Ten Meditations for Catching and Losing One’s Breath.

Makayla’s list of honorable mentions: Aviya Kushner, The Grammar of God and Regina Schwartz, Loving Justice, Living Shakespeare.

Matt’s top 3 list: 3. Cole Arthur Riley, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us. 2. Jon Fosse, Septology. 1. Sally Read, The Mary Pages.

Makayla’s top 3 list: 3. Marilynne Robinson, Reading Genesis. 2. Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass. 1. Fatima Farheen Mirza, A Place for Us.