The Best Books We Read in 2025

The Best Books We Read in 2025

Author: Dr Justin Coulson February 4, 2026 Duration: 14:51

Some books entertain.
Some books inform.
And then there are books that unsettle you—and quietly change how you see the world, your kids, and the systems shaping their lives.

In this episode, Kylie and I step away from parenting advice (just briefly) to share the books that mattered most to us in 2025. These aren’t light beach reads. They’re confronting, provocative, and deeply relevant for parents raising children in a digital, diagnosed, distracted world.

If you love books—and you care about the future your kids are growing up in—this one stays with you.

Books & Resources Mentioned

  • Boys — Dr Justin Coulson (join the waitlist to learn more!)
  • Careless People — Sarah Wynn-Williams
  • Searching for Normal — Sami Timimi
  • Essentialism — Greg McKeown
  • The Let Them Theory — Mel Robbins
  • A Thousand Wasted Sundays — Victoria Vanstone
  • Mumming — Victoria Vanstone
  • 1984 — George Orwell
  • Lonesome Dove — Larry McMurtry
  • A Gentleman in Moscow — Amor Towles
  • Greenlights — Matthew McConaughey
  • Parenting ADHD [The Course]
  • My 8 Favourite Books in 2025 [Article]

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

  • Choose one book this year that challenges your assumptions—not just your habits
  • Notice what makes you uncomfortable while reading—and sit with it
  • Talk with your partner or teen about what you’re noticing in tech, mental health, and culture
  • Remember: protecting kids starts with seeing the systems shaping them

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Finding a clear path through the chaos of family life can feel overwhelming. Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families steps into that space with grounded, relatable conversations. Hosted by parenting expert Dr. Justin Coulson and his wife Kylie, this podcast feels like a honest chat with friends who truly understand the daily grind. Together, they draw from their own life raising six daughters, offering a common-sense perspective that resonates with parents everywhere. The discussions move beyond theory, focusing on practical strategies you can apply immediately to navigate common challenges and strengthen your relationships at home. Each episode aims to cut through the noise of conflicting advice, providing thoughtful insights that address real-world situations with empathy and evidence-based wisdom. Tuning into this podcast is like finding a moment of calm reflection in a busy week, a resource for building a more connected and joyful family culture. It’s a place where the complexities of parenting, culture, and society are explored through the lens of everyday experience, making the journey feel a little less solitary and a lot more manageable.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
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