Holiday season is coming in many countries. Some people have extra time, while others are planning their reading list for 2026 or looking for inspiration. I decided to share a set of books that stayed with me this year. Each one challenged me and left me thinking.
This year, as in many others, I made reading one of my top priorities. The year is not over yet, and I have finished a couple of dozen books so far, a mix of hardcovers and audiobooks, excluding research and articles. I read and listened across many fields including art, politics, economics, leadership, history, and memoir. Below are the titles that stayed with me and why. I hope one or two, or all, will travel with you into the new year.
1929
Andrew Ross Sorkin
This book made me feel like I was watching a film or a series. The storytelling is excellent and shows the people behind systems and decisions. It helped me understand the emotions and dynamics that drive crises. I found many parallels with the present, and it connected past risks to today’s realities in a way that felt immediate and relevant. There is a lot to learn from the past to avoid similar risks in the near future.
Abundance
Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson
This book gave me insights and a fresh perspective on a clear and hopeful case for building more and building smarter. It connects policy to everyday life without heavy jargon. I liked how it covers housing issues and how it made me think about patterns across different countries. It encouraged me to think in terms of possibility and abundance. A good read for policymakers and leaders, offering perspective, hope, and practical ideas.
Aid on the Edge of Chaos
Ben Ramalingam
Reading this book felt like hearing what I often advocate for: adaptive, grounded, and people-centered aid. It is a thoughtful look at development through complexity, written with humility and respect for local knowledge and leadership. Even though it was written years ago, it still feels relevant today. It pushed me to value adaptive learning over rigid plans. I highly recommend it for those working in international aid and development.
Dreams from My Father
Barack Obama
A personal journey of identity and family, written with honesty and depth. I connected to many of his thoughts and vulnerabilities, which mirrored some of my own reflections and struggles. It made me look again at the roots that shape who we are and how we lead. I have read all of Obama’s books, but this remains my favorite. I appreciated seeing the vulnerability of a young adult trying to make sense of the world — something many of us can relate to.
Hillbilly Elegy
J. D. Vance
A difficult and human portrait of place and class that opens conversations many people avoid. I liked the way it describes social capital and the power of belonging. I found parts of my own childhood and story reflected in its pages. It challenged my assumptions about mobility and belonging, and made me think deeply about how social capital can either lift or limit people depending on where they start.
How Countries Go Broke: The Big Cycle
Ray Dalio
I loved this book. It is full of valuable lessons and clear principles. It helped me look at economies through a different lens and understand why some of the countries I lived in experienced economic crises or collapse. It gives a broad perspective on debt, cycles, and national choices. It made me more alert to early signs of economic trouble and how decisions at the macro level shape daily realities. Highly recommended for policymakers and leaders, as it is full of insights and lessons.
Interventions: A Life in War and Peace
Kofi Annan with Nader Mousavizadeh
A calm and balanced account of global crises and the ethics behind decision-making. It helped me understand events I lived through or read about from another angle. Between the lines there are leadership lessons about patience, responsibility, and restraint. I found it insightful and deeply human. It is a reminder that global leadership often begins with quiet strength.
My Story: Fifty Memories from Fifty Years of Service
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Short chapters filled with lessons on leadership, vision, and nation building. I liked how clearly the values come through, and how, walking in Dubai, I could see those lessons turned into reality. It showed me how vision, when consistent, becomes visible in everyday life.
Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World
Ban Ki Moon
A calm voice reflecting on demanding years at the United Nations, filled with leadership lessons and real stories behind the headlines. It helped me see the UN from another angle, one of patience, diplomacy, and quiet persistence. It reminded me that small, steady efforts can move the world forward. It also deepened my understanding of the global goals and the vision behind them.
The Education of an Idealist
Samantha Power
A well-written memoir about ideals and reality, mixing personal and professional stories with honesty. I liked the principles and lessons between the lines, and how human the story feels. It showed me how empathy and conviction can coexist with hard choices. It also gave me a new appreciation for the person behind the headlines.
The Forgotten Highlander
Alistair Urquhart
An unforgettable story of survival in the Second World War, told with quiet strength and humility. It reminded me what resilience truly means when comfort and safety disappear. I listened to this one and finished it in a single sitting. It felt like a film, full of courage and depth.
Unreasonable Hospitality
Will Guidara
A joyful book about service, vision, and creating culture through care. I did not know much about hospitality, but I learned a lot about attention to detail, leadership, and mindset. It made me see generosity as a daily practice, not a project or a product. It offers many leadership lessons and is highly recommended for anyone building teams or shaping organizational culture.
If you have read any of these, I would love to hear what stayed with you. If you have a recommendation for my 2026 list, I am listening. And if you can, support your local bookstore or library. If you like to write, send me something — I always enjoy good writing and discovering new voices.
Ali Al Mokdad
