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James Ley, Deputy Books + Ideas Editor, The Conversation

Best books of 2025: our experts share their picks

Joan Didion Arundhati Roy Banu Mushtaq Deepa Bhasthi Emma Shortis Intifar Chowdhury John Quiggin Peter Mares Rebecca Solnit Richard Osman

The end of the year means holiday celebrations, summer breaks … and for us, one important thing: best books lists. We asked 35 expert readers for their favourite picks, ranging from novelists to anthropologists, scientists to criminologists – and experts in politics, publishing and philosophy. The only rule? The book had to be published this year.

And the Books & Ideas team are sharing our own best books of 2025.

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