Mini Book Review: We Need Your Art
Author: Aimee McNee
I moved We Need Your Art way up my TBR because I thought it was exactly the book I needed right now: a creative pep talk, a reminder that making things for the sake of making them is a worthy endeavor. And in some ways, it is that. McNee’s voice is warm, modern, down-to-earth, and a little irreverent in a way I really enjoyed. But I didn't love the book. The full title is We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something, and much of the book circles that message again and again. It’s a good message! I agree with it wholeheartedly. I just found myself constantly thinking, "didn't she just say that?" I did appreciate the sections on saturated markets and boundaries around sharing online. “Art is not toaster” will absolutely stay with me. Ultimately, this was a fast, well-intended read that may deeply encourage the right person. For me, it felt like a heartfelt blog post expanded into a book. I wanted to be moved more than I was, though I still agree with the thesis completely: we need your art.
Books I Read in 2025
Most of the links affiliate links to Bookshop.org, which I prefer to Amazon because it supports local bookstores. I’ve starred my two favorites of the year.
Million Dollar Weekend, Noah Kagan
The Fourth Turning is Here, Neil Howe
Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper, Allen Roland
The Vietnam War: A Military History, Geoffrey Wawro
The Ode Less Travelled, Stephen Fry
Montaigne, Stefan Zweig ✨
Titan, Ron Chernow
Wisdom Takes Work, Ryan Holiday
Living a Quiet Life, Vanessa Marie Dewsbury
Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot, Jim Stockdale
The Sailing of the Intrepid, Montel Williams & Davis Fisher, my thoughts ✨
Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott, my thoughts
Remembrance of Things Paris, [edited by] Ruth Reichl, my thoughts
Here’s the entire list on Bookshop.org, minus Living a Quiet Life, as the author opted to limit availability to Amazon.
Mini Book Review: Bird by Bird
Author: Anne Lamott
A funny, quirky book that’s part memoir, part writing guide, with a strong focus on fiction and novel-writing craft. I understand why this book is so beloved. It’s warm, sharp, strange in the best way, and beautifully voiced. I especially loved the introduction. That said, I went in expecting a broader book about writing and creativity, and was surprised by how much of it centered on writing novels. As a published novelist currently trying to spread my wings beyond fiction, I wasn’t especially looking for advice like “plot grows out of character” or reminders that dialect-heavy dialogue can be tiring to read. Useful, certainly, just very specific to a lane I’m actively trying to step outside of, and I wish it would have said fiction or novels anywhere in the description. So I may simply have read this at the wrong time. I liked it, even admired it, though I don’t think it will become a favorite. Recommended for beginning novelists and readers who love distinctive, well-developed voices.
Mini Book Review: The Sailing of the Intrepid
This is a short, surprisingly moving history of the USS Intrepid, focused mainly on its first combat voyage in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Somehow, this ended up being my favorite read of 2025. I say “somehow” because I have very little natural interest in the Navy, ships, or military history, and yet I was completely pulled in. It’s easy to read, briskly paced, and often feels closer to an adventure story than a dry history book. I was genuinely surprised by how emotional I felt while reading it. At several points, I found myself inexplicably teary-eyed, and yes, apparently I can become emotionally attached to a boat. I’d recommend this especially to readers who want to try nonfiction but prefer something short, accessible, and story-driven. Serious naval history buffs may find it a little introductory, but for civilians like me, that’s part of the appeal.