Ivanka Trump has revealed a curated list of books that influenced her perspective throughout 2025. Posted on social media, the selection spans genres from historical fiction to philosophy, each accompanied by personal reflections. She also mentioned perennial favorites on her nightstand and sought recommendations for the coming year.
On December 22, 2025, Ivanka Trump posted on X (formerly Twitter) a photograph of herself reading, accompanied by a list of books she described as pivotal to her year. In her caption, she wrote: "Here are some books that shaped my 2025: Each one shifted my perspective, some softly, others profoundly. Some I return to again and again, not just for insight, but for alignment."
The diverse lineup includes 11 titles across novels, classics, and philosophical works. For instance, she praised The Women by Kristin Hannah as "a powerful story of courage, resilience, and sisterhood set against war. It restores women to the center of history and reminds us that some of the bravest acts of service happen quietly."
Reflecting on family reading habits, Trump noted rereading Homer's The Odyssey with her daughter Arabella: "Each year I reread the books my children are assigned in school. This year, I am journeying through The Odyssey again with Arabella. It honors the long arc of adventure and the resolve it takes to press on."
Other selections highlight themes of creativity, resilience, and wisdom. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin is a "meditation on perceiving the world as art in motion and on discipline not as constraint, but as devotion." The Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger offers "proof that even in darkness, freedom is an inner decision."
Titles like Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach serve as metaphors for breaking limits, while The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson provides "clarity on wealth, wisdom, and happiness. Modern stoicism, applied."
Historical and philosophical depth appears in The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant, a "distillation of human civilization and its enduring patterns," and A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell, an "intellectual pilgrimage through the architecture of human thought."
Trump connected The Pursuit of Happiness by Jeffrey Rosen to America's upcoming 250th anniversary, noting it reminds readers that the Founders viewed happiness as "a pursuit rooted in virtue and discipline."
She concluded by sharing nightstand staples: Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, Eckhart Tolle’s Stillness Speaks, A Poem for Every Night of the Year, and The Essential Rumi. Already planning ahead, Trump invited followers: "As I begin my reading list for the year ahead, I’d love to hear your recommendations!" This post underscores her engagement with literature as a tool for personal growth amid a busy public life.
