Best Behavioral Science Books of 2025 (According to us)

In this annual “best of the best” episode, we revisit the behavioral science books that most influenced our thinking this year. Rather than ranking titles, we explore what made each book impactful; from happiness and psychological richness to leadership, teams, and behavioral economics, and why these ideas continue to challenge how we think, work, and live. Topics [0:00] Can we really rank “best” books? [2:08] Book Giveaway - How to join [3:34] Psychological richness and happiness [5:50] Redefining wealth beyond money [7:21] The illusion of self-derived beliefs [8:25] Getting out of your own way [11:11] The power of mattering at work [13:21] Rethinking happiness [15:01] Behavioral science in the real world [16:45] Behavioral economics [19:52] Behavioral science in marketing and advertising [20:19] Closing thoughts and community invite  ©2026 Behavioral Grooves Links Life in Three Dimensions – Shigehiro Oishi The Soul of Wealth – Daniel Crosby The Knowledge Illusion – Steven Sloman Detach – Bob Rosen The Collective Edge – Colin Fisher The Power of Mattering – Zach Mercurio What We Value – Emily Falk Beyond Happy – Mark Fabian The Doors You Can Open – Rosalind Chow The Housefly Effect – Eva van den Broek & Tim den Heijer The Winner’s Curse – Richard Thaler & Alex Imas Meditations for Mortals – Oliver Burkeman Hacking the Human Mind – Richard Shotton Join us on Substack! Join the Behavioral Grooves community Subscribe to Behavioral Grooves on YouTube Support Behavioral Grooves Music Links Groovy Listening 2025 Playlist