TL;DR
A commenter on an Ask HN thread said they primarily read fiction in 2025 but also read several nonfiction titles. Their fiction picks included Luminous and When We Were Real; nonfiction recommendations were Careless People and Apple in China.
What happened
In a response to the Ask HN question 'What did you read in 2025?', a contributor summarized their year of reading. They reported focusing mostly on fiction while making time for a few nonfiction books. The fiction titles they highlighted were Luminous and When We Were Real. On the nonfiction side, they recommended Careless People and Apple in China. The comment included links for the four books: two links to Wikipedia entries (Luminous and Careless People), one link to a publisher page (When We Were Real on Simon & Schuster), and a Wikipedia link for Apple in China. No additional commentary about why they liked the books, the commenter’s full reading list, or a detailed review was provided in the quoted comment.
Why it matters
- Shows an example of a reader balancing fiction and nonfiction within a single year.
- Highlights specific titles that may be of interest to readers looking for contemporary picks.
- Provides direct links to reference pages for further exploration of the mentioned books.
Key facts
- The comment was posted in an Ask HN discussion titled 'What did you read in 2025?'.
- The commenter said they mostly read fiction in 2025 but also read some nonfiction.
- Fiction titles mentioned: Luminous and When We Were Real.
- Nonfiction titles mentioned: Careless People and Apple in China.
- Links included in the comment point to Wikipedia entries for Luminous, Careless People, and Apple in China.
- A link in the comment directs to a publisher page for When We Were Real on Simon & Schuster.
- The source URL for the Hacker News item is https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46391572.
- Timestamp from the source metadata: 2025-12-26T12:55:16+00:00.
What to watch next
- Whether other participants in the thread add corroborating recommendations or form a longer community reading list — not confirmed in the source.
- If any respondents provide full reviews, reading notes, or thematic threads tying these books together — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Ask HN: A recurring section on Hacker News where users ask the community for opinions, recommendations, or help.
- Fiction: Literature created from the imagination, including novels and short stories that are not presented as factual accounts.
- Nonfiction: Prose writing based on facts, real events, and real people, such as history, biography, and reportage.
- Wikipedia: A free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, often used as a general reference for background information.
- Publisher page: A web page hosted by a book publisher that provides information about a specific title, such as a synopsis and purchase links.
Reader FAQ
Who posted the comment?
Not confirmed in the source.
Which books did the commenter recommend?
Fiction: Luminous and When We Were Real. Nonfiction: Careless People and Apple in China.
Are there reviews or reasons given for the recommendations?
The comment did not include detailed reviews or explanations for the choices.
Where was this shared?
In an Ask HN thread on Hacker News; source URL is provided in the report.
I mostly read fiction but I made time for a couple of nonfiction books this year. On the fiction side I really enjoyed "Luminous" and "When We Where Real". -…
Sources
- Ask HN: What did you read in 2025?
- Best of 2025: The Most Popular Editors' Picks of the Year
- The Most Popular Lit Hub Stories of 2025
- Intelligencer's 20 Most-Read Stories in 2025
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