Best Reads of 2025 & Holiday Guide
- Heather White
- Dec 15, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
This holiday season is all about rest, resilience, and .... reading. And reading is resistance.
What a tumultuous year. I'm trying my best to focus on the small joys. Nothing is promised, and I'm recommitting to celebrating each day. Reading, community, and organizing have sustained me this year. I'm going to spend the holidays reflecting, putting down my phone, working to be present ... and reading. Yes, I'll be reading throughout the holiday to try to cleanse my brain from the constant dopamine hits of doom scrolling. Grateful for all of YOU!
Here are some of my top reads for 2025, sustainable gift ideas and more!
Reads
The Last Beekeeper- Julie Carrick Dalton. A family drama in a world where bees are extinct. Tender climate fiction.
Katabasis - RF Kuang - Think Ursula K. LeGuin's Earth Sea meets Dante's Inferno. A fun, smart, and delightful read.
Spent- Alison Bechdel - Graphic novelist of "Fun Home" on consumerism, community, and freedom. Witty.
The Book of Awakening - Mark Nepo- essays, meditations, and journal prompts to lead a more meaningful life. Thoughtful.
James- Percival Everett- Pulitzer Prize winner that envisions Twain's Huck Finn from the perspective of James. Insightful & powerful.
Cleaning House- Lindsay Dahl- an accessible toxic free living guide with insights into how policies have failed us. Hopeful.
The Thursday Murder Club series - Richard Osman - a light, clever mystery series set in a UK retirement community. I've read them all!
The Art Thief- Michael Finkel- nonfiction tale about the criminal who stole art to appreciate its beauty, not to sell it. Fascinating.
The Long View - Richard Fisher- A primer on deep time. Compelling.
Sea of Tranquility- Emily St. John Mandel- the author of Station Eleven latest work centering time travel. Mind-bending.
Wandering Stars- Tommy Orange - a chronicle of 150 years of a Native American family, intergenerational trauma, and resilience. Intense.
You Better Be Lightning - Andrea Gibson- This book of poetry knocked my socks off. Enthralling.
Eco-Anxiety- Voted Bozeman's best new book in 2025 and honored that I was also named Bozeman's Favorite Local Author. Thank you for all the love! 💚
Sustainable Gifts
Loving my Nama Juicer (it's very pricey, but worth it!)
Kate McCleod body stone lotion bar (plastic free goodness)
Sewing Patch Kit (to mend, darn & repair)
Tea strainer (to avoid microplastics)
Chemex pour over pitcher (for plastic-free coffee)
Museum membership or gift certificate to a favorite restaurant
Make Your Own Gift - (check out this homemade Simmer Pot)
A Greener Holiday: The OneGreenThing Advent Calendar
Check out these the OneGreenThing Advent Calendar that I've been posting on Instagram and TikTok.
No matter what holiday you celebrate, join us to learn more ways to green your holidays and have a more thoughtful season.
From flipping through photo albums, watching old movies, try to be fully present and intentional with your family conversations and connections with friends.
Subscribe to the OneGreenThing Advent Calendar Game Playlist on YouTube. More here.
My favorite #onegreenthings this holiday season include:
Spending time outside. It's 55 degrees in Bozeman right now. Global weirding at its finest.
Keeping the pressure on members of Congress to support public lands, democracy, human rights, and strong climate action. Call (202) 224-3121.
Using my china and fancy plates and real stuff all holiday season to avoid single use plastic.
Supporting my local food bank and public library!
Having the tough conversations about climate with everyone I know. Here's my advice on Pix11 News on how.
Holiday Musings
What I'm soon-to-be reading - PREORDERS
Your Best Shot- by certified nutritionist Ashley Koff. True story- we met in the green room of the Dr. Oz Show. LOL! Whether you're taking a GLP-1 or not, this book is about optimizing your health. Pub date: Jan. 6, 2026.
Hope is the Strategy by OneGreenThing board member Jen Fisher. She's a global expert on well-being and human sustainability. Hope isn't naive, it's necessary in these trying times. Pub date: Jan. 27, 2026.
What I'm watching
Pluribus - creepy, sci-fi series about an alien virus taking over the world. Explores community, compassion, and loneliness.
"I hope you make it"- a spoken word poem by Maxine Meixner.
Death By Lightning - absolutely loved this four part series about President Garfield. Did you know his death spurred the creation of the nonpartisan civil service in Washington? Outstanding acting inspired by this true story.
Give Back: Charities to Support
Did you know I take the OneGreenThing Service Superpower Assessment and apply it to environmental nonprofits? There's a complete list in the appendix of Eco-Anxiety.
Here's a round up of the nonprofits that are at the top of my list this holiday season.
Plastic Pollution Coalition - working for a plastic free future.
Made Safe- certification for non-toxic brands.
Montana Conservation Voters- protecting public lands.
Lone Peak Film Festival - celebrating innovative filmmaking. They are looking for sponsors for next year's festival! Reach out with questions.
OneGreenThing-tackling eco-anxiety through joyful daily action.
Please consider supporting the climate action and environmental nonprofits you love, and I'd be honored if you'd consider donating to my nonprofit OneGreenThing as we work to tackle eco-anxiety.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
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