Tega watches way too much BookTok and BookTube content. In a spontaneous goal-setting session at the start of the year, he decided to emulate these influencers by getting into reading. He set a goal to read 50 books this year. As at October 2025, he has read… 2 books (which were compulsory readings).
What about you?
How has 2025 been for you so far? Have you ticked off everything on your checklist? If you have, congratulations!
Reading books is an important part of our self-development journey. It imparts you with knowledge that causes you to be better at your craft, better with relationships, and a better person. As the saying goes, readers are leaders.
As part of the resolutions for a new year, people usually plan to read more books. They either set a general goal like “cultivate a reading habit this year”, “read more”, “get back into reading”, or specific goals like “read 3o books this year.“ So if you’re nowhere near your reading goals, if you’ve surpassed them, or even if you haven’t made the decision to read any book this year, it’s not too late. Here are 7 books you can finish in a week or less to help you hit your reading goals and improve the quality of your life.
1) The Richest Man In Babylon
by George S. Clason
Pages: 156.
If you are not where you want to be financially, read this insightful book. It tells the tale of men who got tired of their financial state and decided to seek out the richest man in their country and draw from his wisdom. This book gives an all-round approach to becoming rich, from saving to creating more streams of income, to investments, and preventing losses. I love the indirect mode of teaching us about money, as it feels like reading a story while learning very practical steps to becoming wealthy.
2) Make Today Count
by John C Maxwell.
Pages: 160.
As 2025 comes to a close, we need to revisit our goals in order to ensure that we don’t waste our time and to make sure that our daily actions align with our greater goals. This book could be the wake-up call you need to get back on track. Make Today Count is a very concise book that teaches actionable steps you can take everyday. It removes the overwhelming nature of goal setting by breaking things down into daily practices that cover the most important areas of life — health, family, finances, values, and growth.
3) You Have A Brain: A Teen’s Guide to T.H.I.N.K B.I.G.
by Ben Carson.
Pages: 240.
This is a helpful resource for school. Whether you are excelling or struggling with your academics or life in general, you can surely take something away from “You have a Brain.” Dr. Ben Carson struggled without a father, battled with poverty, and did very poorly in school, but he ended up doing so well in school that he became a world renowned neurosurgeon. So, he is definitely someone worth listening to.
This book highlights eight principles , using the words think big as an acronym, that will help your mindset, your outlook on life, and puts you in the right path to success.
4) Helen Keller: A Light For the Blind
by Kathleen Kudlinski.
Pages: 64.
Self-development is not only achieved by reading self-help books alone. You can learn from the stories of others. Reading about their resilience in difficult times may just be the encouragement you need to keep going.
Helen Keller was a notable figure, known for her women’s and disability rights advocacy as a person with special needs herself. This short book is ideal for young readers but is useful to anyone who wants to get a glimpse into her life and experiences.
5) Rich Dad, Poor Dad
by Robert Kiyosaki.
Pages: 336.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a staple when it comes to finances. It teaches what the rich teach their kids about money that the poor and middle class do not. Learn how to make your money work for you, sources of passive income, the difference between assets and liabilities and other factors to consider when building wealth and avoiding losses.
6) Animal Farm
by George Orwell.
Pages: 140.
This book is a great choice if you’re new to stories that deal with socio-political issues. It uses a farm to represent a political climate where deception and the gradual erosion of human rights take place. The book is short, engaging, and is a political commentary that doesn’t read like a news article.
7) Holes
by Louis Sachar.
Pages: 233.
Reading fiction can also help you have a good 2025. It can help you relax in a constructive way and enhance your creativity. It can also help you become better at your craft. Storytelling can be incorporated into many fields, and reading stories can help you hone that skill. Reading stories can also increase your emotional quotient and your interpersonal skills, as it helps you understand people and their motives.
Holes is a good place to start, as it uses very simple language. Although its target audience is preteens, it is engaging across the board. It is about an unlucky young boy who was sent to an unconventional detention camp for a crime that he did not commit.
Reading doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Short books can be packed with value that you can apply and see the results in your life immediately. Improve yourself, your work, your finances, and every area of your life with these books. Here’s to a successful 2025.
