Joanna Bome Kure

Good to Great: A Study of Management Strategies of Companies with Lasting Growth – Jim Collins

This book was gifted to me by Ms Blessing Kudeng, the bookseller in the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, when I was in my third or fourth year. I did not read it then and totally forgot about it, until I found it in 2024, in between stacks of books long forgotten. Last year, I summoned the courage to read it. I must point out that for someone who detested self-help books in the past, I have come to read and appreciate a number of them in recent years. I don’t know if the wahala of adulthood is a factor. Anyway, it’s a book about companies, but the lessons are valuable to individuals as well. It’s not all numbers and complicated stuff that one cannot understand. I believe I would not have valued the book as I do now if I had read it while in uni. I read these sorts of books with highlighters around me, so several portions of the book are highlighted either dark green or lemon green because the book is filled with valuable insights.

The Jewish Phenomenon: Seven Keys to the Enduring Wealth of a People– Steven Silbiger

I borrowed this book from my dad’s library. I guess at this point it is safe to say that 2025 was my self-help books year. My biggest takeaway was learning that some well-known global brands were founded by Jewish people – like Levi Strauss, who knew? But more than that, this book is a sociological study that aims to help others have that grit and staying power of the Jewish people that have made them some of the most successful people in the world, despite their small population. It was a good read, and I think it would not be out of order to glance through every now and then to refresh one’s memory of the lessons learnt in the book.

Formation: The Making of Nigeria from Jihad to Amalgamation– Fola Fagbule and Feyi Fawehinmi

When the authors said they wrote this book partly because “we share a belief that history is too important to be left to historians alone…” I felt some kind of inner peace and an endearment of sorts. In it, one is sure to see Nigeria in a different light. There was an in-depth consideration of many of the push and pull factors that led to the creation of Nigeria. In most accounts on the formation of Nigeria, would-be Nigerians are depicted as being devoid of agency, but that is not entirely true. This book opened me to new stories of people and places. It’s the sort of book that makes you want to dive into the footnotes and read all the other books and materials referenced. I must commend the authors because, apart from being amateur historians, they are perfect storytellers. History nerds would be delighted about this book.

On Marriage– Timothy Keller and Kathy Keller

When one has found oneself in what is called “marriageable age”, it is almost impossible not to find such a person reading one book or another about marriage. On Marriage is a small book that is easy to carry around and finish in a day or two, depending on one’s schedule. But its size does not determine its value. On Marriage is succinct and filled with wisdom and compassion. The authors, whom I respect, tried to help readers understand marriage in its proper context, pointing to God, using some personal examples. In fact, the book is part of a series on ‘How to Find God’. I hope to get the other books in the series in the near future.

Civilisation: The West and the Rest – Niall Ferguson

Because the air we breathe is Western, I needed to read Niall Ferguson’s account of why Western civilisation has largely been undefeated in its domination of the world. I read this book for two reasons: the title piqued my interest, and Ferguson had been highly recommended by a few people I like to listen to. So, why did the West become the first among the Rest? According to Ferguson, it boils down to these broad categories: Competition, Science, Property Rights, Medicine, The Consumer Society and the [Protestant] Work Ethic, most of which were hinged upon Christianity. The entire book is an exploration of these factors, including many other gems of history that provided nuance and perspective to Western ascendancy. I think that this book is important not just for its perspective, but also because it helps one appreciate the virtues of Western civilisation that are increasingly under attack by those who revel in throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Like Ferguson, I do not believe that the West is without faults, but to deny its positive impacts in spite of its chequered history is dishonest. And while there is absolutely no obligation to agree with this account, I believe it is largely fair, a good read and a worthy purchase.

Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World– Niall Ferguson

I’m a great admirer of the British – their language, wit and dry, self-deprecating humour. I also admire the audacity to subject more than a quarter of the world to their power. Please understand that my admiration does not equal approval. But when one considers the size of Britain in comparison to the land mass and peoples they subjected to themselves, one is forced to marvel. It was a David versus Goliath sort of thing. Now, having read Niall Ferguson’s Civilisation, and totally enjoying it, I did not hesitate to purchase and read this book. Was it worth it? Absolutely yes! I finished reading the book feeling like I understood the United Kingdom and the rest of the world better. Ferguson, being a British subject, did not hesitate to point out all the wrongs of empire building, but he tried to show how some good came out of the whole operation. That’s how I like to understand history, to always critique: identify wrongs, but appreciate the good. This book touches close to home because Britain colonised Nigeria. So, its history is also my history. I think it’s also important for me to say that I’m thankful that Britain was able to grow in might to stop the transatlantic slave trade. Was it perfect, no, but their might made a difference. I think I am forever in appreciation of the British sense of justice (shaped by Christianity) and how that was able to spread across the world because their might allowed their ideas to travel and be adopted quickly. Was their sense of justice perfect? No. Did it make a difference? Yes, because we have ideas like the fight against the transatlantic slave trade, the Rule of Law, constitutional law and fundamental rights, among others, as examples. This is another book for the history nerds.

The Jesus Bible, ESV– Zondervan Publishers

My plan for 2025 was to read the entire Bible in a year using the BibleProject’s ‘One Story that Leads to Jesus’ Bible reading plan. Instead, I was only able to read the Old Testament in one year – from Genesis to Chronicles (because that is how the Hebrew Bible is shaped). I read familiar stories with clarity and details I had missed in the past were glaring this time. Of course, this was partly made possible because I read from the English Standard Version, a new addition to my library. Reading the Old Testament is always an enjoyable and relatable read because one gets to know God better. I think many people perceive God in the Old Testament as grumpy, vengeful and lacking compassion. But this could not be further from the truth. With all the understanding I have now, the New Testament makes sense a whole lot more, and that’s just super grand!

So, those were all the books I read in 2025. If anyone piqued your interest, you should totally buy it (if you can) or add it to your wishlist. Until next time, bye.