November 2025 Reading Wrap-Up
November ended up being one of my favorite reading months of the year. Looking back, I noticed a common thread running through many of these books. They were written by people who refused to stay in their lane. Musicians became authors. Producers became philosophers. Journalists became historians (for better or worse). Even the older classics reminded me that influence usually comes from genuine relationships instead of clever tactics.
Whether the topic was creativity, music, politics, ADHD, or friendship, I kept coming back to the same idea. The people who leave a lasting impact tend to be the ones willing to tell the truth, think differently, and keep creating anyway.
Processing Creativity by Jesse Cannon ★★★★☆
I’ve watched Jesse Cannon’s YouTube channel for quite a while, so there wasn’t a lot here that was brand new to me.
That doesn’t make it any less valuable.
This is a solid book for anyone who creates things, whether that’s music, writing, videos, podcasts, or just about anything else. It’s geared toward writing better songs, but there is plenty that transposes to other creative endeavors. Jesse does a good job of breaking creativity down into something practical instead of treating it like some mysterious gift that only a few people possess.
If you’re already familiar with his content, you’ll recognize a lot of these ideas. If you’re new to Jesse, this is a great place to start.
To Rescue the American Spirit by Bret Baier & Catherine Whitney ★★★★☆
I enjoyed this look at the life of one of America’s most interesting, and at times confusing, political figures. Teddy Roosevelt is a larger-than-life icon for right wing militiamen and lefty conservationists alike (although for very different reasons).
This book was insightful and well researched overall. It definitely picks and chooses what is covered and how. It’s an exercise in myth-building. It’s obviously written from a conservative perspective, and that bias comes through pretty clearly. Even so, I think it’s worth reading. I prefer to read history written by historians rather than political pundits.
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie ★★★★★
Some books become classics because people keep talking about them.
This one became a classic because it actually works.
The advice inside is simple, timeless, and surprisingly practical. The biggest mistake people make with this book is reading it as a guide to manipulation. I don’t think that’s the point at all.
Read it because you genuinely want to become a better friend, a better listener, and someone people enjoy being around. That’s where the real value is.
Mixing Heavy Music by Jordan Valeriote ★★★★☆
This one couldn’t have come at a better time.
I’ve been helping a friend produce a metalcore project, so almost everything in this book felt immediately useful. I especially appreciated the sections on panning to make a mix feel wider and using EQ to keep instruments from constantly competing with one another.
It’s definitely a niche book, but if you’re producing heavy music, there’s a lot of practical knowledge packed into these pages.
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin ★★★★★
Rick Rubin has one of the most fascinating creative minds I’ve ever encountered.
He doesn’t fit the mold of a traditional producer or musician. In fact, he is often the least technically gifted person in the room. Yet somehow he keeps contributing to some of the greatest records ever made.
This book isn’t really about music. It’s about creativity itself. Rubin has a way of seeing the world that feels completely unique, and reading this often felt like stepping into someone else’s imagination.
I don’t know that I agreed with everything, but I loved spending time inside his creative universe.
Down with the System by Serj Tankian ★★★★★
This was easily one of my favorite books of the year.
If I ever had the chance to sit down with a famous musician for an afternoon, there are only two people who immediately come to mind. Aaron Weiss from mewithoutYou and Serj Tankian.
I’ve always admired Serj and System of a Down because they refused to stay silent about the Armenian genocide. Long before it became fashionable to speak out about injustice, they were using their platform to tell the story of what happened to their grandparents and countless others.
I’ll always take the side of the poet, the prophet, and the truth teller over the politician, the pundit, or the government.
One thing I especially loved was the audiobook. Serj narrates it himself, and hearing his accent and the occasional mispronounced word only made him more endearing. If your only exposure to him has been his screaming vocals, you might be surprised by how gentle and calming his speaking voice is.
This is an absolute must-read for fans of heavy music, but I’d also recommend it to anyone who cares about truth, justice, and history.
ADHD Is Awesome by Penn & Kim Holderness ★★★★☆
This one hit pretty close to home.
There were multiple times where it felt like the authors were describing my own brain. The strengths, the frustrations, the unfinished projects, the way one idea leads to ten more before you’ve finished the first one. It all felt incredibly familiar.
I honestly think my wife would benefit from reading this one even more than I did. She’s naturally structured and organized, while my ADHD often pulls me in the exact opposite direction. I think this book does a great job of helping both people with ADHD and the people who love them understand what’s actually going on.
Our Migrant Souls by Héctor Tobar ★★★★☆
Overall, I thought this was a good book.
My biggest criticism was that it spent much more time discussing LGBTQ issues than I expected based on the title and subtitle. I went into it anticipating a broader discussion of the Latino experience, so that caught me off guard.
Even with that surprise, I still found it worthwhile and appreciated hearing perspectives that were different from my own.
Deliver Me from Nowhere by Warren Zanes ★★★★☆
This book completely changed the way I think about Bruce Springsteen.
I’d always assumed he was mostly an ’80s radio artist. I had no idea how much depth, darkness, and raw beauty existed in albums like Nebraska.
A friend recommended the upcoming movie, so I decided to read the book first. Before I had finished the book, I found myself shopping for a copy of Nebraska on vinyl at my local record shop. They didn’t have one in stock, but he called me just a few days later to say someone had dropped one off on trade. I bought it immediately and listened to the entire thing more than once. It is incredibly raw and haunting, but there is a heartbreaking beauty to it as well.
That’s probably the highest compliment I can give it.
Now I just need to watch the movie.
Final Thoughts
November reminded me that creativity isn’t limited to artists.
Some people create songs. Others create friendships, ideas, communities, or movements. The best books I read this month all came from people who weren’t afraid to think differently and speak honestly, even when it cost them something.
If I had to pick favorites, Down with the System, The Creative Act, and How to Win Friends & Influence People would be at the top of the list. They’re completely different books, but each one changed the way I think about influence in its own way.
Books Read: 9
Average Rating: 4.4/5
