5 Short Non-fiction Classics Everyone Should Read in 2025

We all know that reading is the best way to deepen our mind and broaden our perspective in life. Legendary writers devote years of intense focus and devotion to create great works. In fact, Marcel Proust, one of the modern masters of French literature defined reading as "that fruitful miracle of a communication in the midst of solitude"

In 2025, a time when we are faced with so many problems including wars, digital addictions, anxieties and stress disorders, which are some of the books that we should read? The books that can light a candle of truth in our hearts; books that will show us the reality, give hope and help us grow as a human being. Let’s see.

This book containing just 150 pages is a classic tribute to hope from the brutal experiences of Hitler’s Holocaust hell. Victor Frankl was an Austrian psychologist who had suffered intense trauma, starvation, sleepless nights of work and the deaths of friends during second world war.

He was taken in as a prisoner into the Nazi concentration camps. He observed that most people died, gave up their will to live and fell into illness when they lost their meaning or purpose in life. The hope that in the near future war will be over and “we can go back to our family and do what we want” sustained some individuals through the worst of hells. Indeed, Frankl himself held on to life by constantly thinking about returning to his homeland, the loving moments that he will be spending with his wife and children and helping others as a psychologist. Deep belief in these dreams gave him energy and resolve to not give up on life. Thus, he wrote in the book:

“Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress… We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms- to choose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Whatever the hardships that you are facing in life right now, this book will surely provide hope. Furthermore, you might be able to even transform your situation into a gift for growth if you truly internalise Frankl’s concepts.


This tiny book containing Gautama Buddha’s ideas on 26 different topics was written down by his followers almost 2000 years ago. This is a gem of wisdom that can offer solace to a suffering soul irrespective of the time or place in which he or she is living.

This book even summarises the basic philosophy of The Buddha. The Noble Eightfold Path can be divided into 3 aspects, namely Sīla, Samādhi and Pañña. Sila means following basic ethical precepts including not lying, not stealing, non-violence and so forth. This forms the foundation for a life directed towards liberation. Then we should focus on meditation and calm our mind. Beginners can start with Anapana which is done by focusing on your breath going in and coming out.

Finally, an individual achieves true freedom when he realises Pañña, the ultimate truth of impermanence within his mind and body. During meditation, we will discover that thoughts, emotions and sensations are constantly arising and passing within us. Every moment our body is changing. Nothing stays in this world forever. Once this realisation happens at an experiential level, our entire life changes.

This great book, divided into 26 chapters, is like a collection of 26 poems. Grab a copy and meditate on each and every sentence in this exceptional work of profound depth. In the 11th chapter on Old Age, The Buddha writes:

“Why the laughter, why the joy,
When flames are ever burning?
Surrounded by darkness,
Shouldn’t you search for light?

Look at this beautified body:
Full of illness, [the object] of many plans,
With nothing stable or lasting…

Even the splendid chariots of the royalty wear out.
So too does the body decay.
But the Dharma of the virtuous doesn’t decay
[For it is upheld when] the virtuous teach [it]
to good people.”


This is another work of boundless wisdom that came from China almost 2000 years ago. Like the Brahman in Hindu philosophy that is infinite and ever-present throughout the universe, Tao is everywhere. It is the life force, the endless energy and light within every living and non-living thing.

We create problems and complexities in life when we are out of balance from our own Tao. That is by thinking too much, lying, developing anger and greed. If we just pause for a moment and observe how the nightingale sings harmoniously, ants collect food, plants perform photosynthesis or honeybees gather honey, we will understand that they are living in harmony with their Tao. They don’t create unnecessary dilemmas like us humans.

Hence, The Master (the one who centres himself on the Tao) gives up all expectations and performs his duty naturally. Actions flow from the core of his being; he is focused on his intuition, gut-feelings or instincts, rather than the overthinking mind.

Lao Tzu gave us one of the most beautiful philosophies to find true inner peace and freedom. It is all about not forcing things, achieving a flow state and allowing life to take its natural courses of action. In chapter 50 Lao Tzu writes:

“The Master gives himself up
to whatever the moment brings.
He knows that he is going to die,
and he has nothing left to hold on to:
no illusions in his mind,
no resistances in his body.
He doesn’t think about his actions;
they flow from the core of his being.”


This book, which was the favourite reading of immortal souls like Nelson Mandela, Goethe and Frederick the Great, among many others, will be a lifetime investment for you. The new translation by Gregory Hays gives the best reading experience for modern readers.

Marcus Aurelius was the emperor of Rome from 161-180 AD and he had led a hard life filled with many ugly border disputes, wars and attempted coups. As he was nearing old age, Marcus started committing his thoughts into a personal journal which he never intended to publish. But posterity has gifted him a lasting reputation and greatness as the author of Meditations, one of the representative works of Stoic philosophy.

At the heart of Marcus’ philosophy is the concept of dichotomy of control. We create stress and roadblocks in our lives by focusing on things that lie beyond our control. What other people think about us, our reputation, possessions or even someone reciprocating our love. These are things that lie beyond our total control. Instead, our perspectives or how we see whatever that happens, our emotions, thoughts and desires; they all lie within our full authority. In short, whatever that is our own doing.

Therefore, always make it a rule in life to change your perspective with a noble intent. Savour the important lessons that you learn from every tragedy that happens. Then, use them as a springboard for growth. Marcus Aurelius writes:

“You say, it’s unfortunate that this has happened. No. It’s fortunate that this has happened and I’ve remained unharmed by it- not shattered by the present or frightened of the future. It could have happened to anyone. But not everyone could have remained unharmed by it.”


This is a controversial book that was written almost about 400 years ago. Machiavelli was an Italian philosopher and statesman who worked closely with the rulers of the time. Moreover, he deeply studied the lives and doctrines of many of the kings who ruled from 400 BC to 1500 AD.

He found that they followed certain common principles. This book is all about showing us how the brutal and power-hungry kings of the past did whatever they could to obtain and maintain power. In the 21st century, where tyrants are conquering different parts of the world and wars have started eating the fundamental humane aspects within us, it is important that we read Machiavelli to understand the psychology of these people and tyranny.

Additionally, this work will also come handy to those who are working in highly competitive or stressful jobs like politics, business or corporate firms. These are fields where people are constantly trying to cut each other down as climbing their career ladders is the most important goal of their life. At some point in life, we will meet a Machiavellian villain like Shakespeare’s Iago in an office or at a railway compartment. To deal with these people, firstly we should understand them.

Machiavelli tells us throughout The Prince that if people were entirely good, his arguments would not hold true. Since many of them are bad and will not keep faith with you, “you too are not bound to observe it with them.”

According to Machiavelli, a prince should integrate both the humane and bestial nature within himself. He should be merciful, faithful, religious, upright and kind, but “with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite." To illustrate this with a modern example, when you are spending time with your family, you should possess all the above-mentioned good qualities. You should be industrious, hard-working, compassionate, truthful and help as many people as you can. But, one day if a burglar enters your home and tries to rape your wife and child, you should be able to activate the beast within you to fight and drag him out through the floor. This is what Carl Jung, the influential analytical psychologist meant when he asked us to integrate the shadow within even though it is “the thing a person has no wish to be.”

Machiavelli is actually a great psychologist who understood our dark nature and power-dynamics that is working within human relationships and society. Along with Marcus Aurelius, Buddha or Lao Tzu, we should also evaluate and study the teachings of Machiavelli to attain a comprehensive understanding about human life.

These are five small books that have the power to change your life if you really grasp their essence. Make the best use of these ancient streams of wisdom that still remain with us like bottles of raw honey.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which is World's No. 1 book?
   The number 1 best-selling book in the world is The Bible with an estimated 5-7 billion copies sold.
2. What's the longest book ever written?
   The longest novel in the world that holds the Guiness World Record for the same is Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. This book contains more than 1 million words and a page count of almost 4000.
3. Is it possible to read a 200 page book in 2 hours?
   The average reading speed of most adults lies between 200 to 300 words in a minute. Thus, for most of us, reading 200 pages may take up to 3.5 to 5 hours.