Hi Everyone,

Thank you for another year reading The Lake Street Journal, and I hope you have a wonderful 2026. For the last issue of the year, I wanted to share some of my favorite books from 2025.

Best Books of the Year

It wasn't a great reading year for me. Between my second child being born this year and a busier than normal year at work, I didn't spend as much time reading as I would've liked.

That said, I still managed to get through 12 books plus a bunch of other partial books—I've been chipping away at the third book in Caro's LBJ series for months.

These were a few of my favorites from 2025. Interestingly, they were all fiction, which is a big change of pace for me. When my life is busy, I find fiction to be a nice breather. It's a good way to wind down in the evening, and it keeps me reading when I don't have the brain power for some of the heavier non-fiction I usually like to read. I'm also becoming more interested in storytelling, so I've been intentionally picking up more fiction than in the past.

That said, here's my list. I hope you find something you enjoy.

One Second After by William Forstchen - One of the best novels I've ever read. The story of one man as he leads his family and town through the first year of devastation after an EMP attack on the USA.

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry - This is the classic, iconic, American western. I remember watching the miniseries starring Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall with my Dad as a kid. So when a friend raved about the book, I picked it up, and it didn't disappoint. It's one of those books where you love the characters so much you feel their joys and heartbreaks as if they were your own. I highly recommend it.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch -  This was my beach read for the year. I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but this was a sci-fi book just real enough for me to enjoy. The main character gets kidnapped and wakes up to a life entirely different from the one he knew. It's a gripping page turner that I couldn't put down.

2034 by Elliott Ackerman -  Another fast paced read that feels like it could be ripped from the headlines. It's about the next world war—a nuclear slugfest between China and the USA with Iran, Russia, and India as key players. It's wild. The events feel like they could happen which makes it both terrifying and impossible to put down.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck - Small caveat here, I haven't finished this yet. But I'm more than halfway through, and it's incredible. Absolutely incredible. I generally hate classic literature, but this book is a major exception. It's easy to read. The characters are deep and well developed. And Steinbeck finds a way to convey some of the most poignant and fundamental observations about humanity through a wonderful story. If you think classic literature isn't for you, please give this book a try.

As always, if you read something exceptional this year, please tell me about it. I'm always looking for something to add to the library.

Workout of the Week

This was a fun workout that wasn't too painful.

"Revival"

15 minute AMRAP:

• 12 calorie ski erg

• 9 GHD situps

• 6 deadlifts (185)

• 3 strict pullups

My goal was 6+ rounds, and my score was 6 rounds + 8 reps. Let me know how you do!

Quote of the Week

"You're too young a man to be panning memories. You should be getting yourself some new ones, so that the mining will be richer when you come to age." - John Steinbeck

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Talk soon,

Joe