NewsRadio Bookshelf top 10 reads of 2025

Here are the top 10 reads from the NewsRadio Bookshelf, comprising some of the best in local, B.C., and Canadian non-fiction, history, and current affairs.

The Making of Canada: An Epic History in Twenty Extraordinary Lives

The traditional textbook version of Canadian history is a familiar narrative: modern Canada, from its inception through Confederation in 1867, was the culmination of a long-running experiment in which French and English-speaking colonists attempted to live together peacefully. Greg Koabel’s The Making of Canada zooms out from that view.

Canada Is Not The 51st F-ing State: Canadians Face Off Against Donald Trump’s Worst Idea Ever

Are you tired of Donald Trump’s 51st State rhetoric? You’re not alone. Canada Is Not The 51st F-ing State is a new collection of essays, interviews, and artwork from a diverse group of contributors, compiled by editor and publisher John Hughes.

Hide and Sikh: Letters from a Life in Brown Skin

Former journalist Sunny Dhillon went viral in 2018 with a blog post about quitting his high-profile job in a Vancouver newsroom. Now, he is reflecting on that experience, as well as a lifetime of systemic racism, in a new memoir entitled Hide and Sikh.

Chinatown Vancouver: An Illustrated History

During the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian racism in Vancouver increased by 717 per cent. What also happened then was the start of Chinatown Vancouver: An Illustrated History. Author and illustrator Donna Seto delivers both a loving remembrance of Chinatown’s past and hope for its future.

Canada’s Main Street: The Epic Story of the Trans-Canada Highway

Author Craig Baird says he was motivated to write Canada’s Main Street because he feels Highway One continues to live in the shadow of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Ultimately, Baird argues it isn’t just a highway but a seven-thousand-kilometer lifeline.

John Horgan in His Own Words: A Memoir

Much has been written about John Horgan since his passing in late 2024. Now it’s his turn to have the last word, as told to co-author Rod Mickleburgh. John Horgan in His Own Words is a rare and candid read, the type seldom seen in B.C. politics, much like the man himself.

Gino: The Fighting Spirit of Gino Odjick

When it comes to fan favourites, few Canucks are as beloved as the late Gino Odjick. Now, nearly three years after his death, comes Gino: The Fighting Spirit of Gino Odjick, a new biography by Patrick Johnston and Peter Leech.

The Crisis of Canadian Democracy

Canadians tend to think our democracy is relatively healthy, perhaps one of the greatest in the world. Author Andrew Coyne sets out to deprive us of this comfort in The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, his first book.

The Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau

On March 14, Justin Trudeau stepped down as prime minister, a job he had held for almost a decade. “The country has a lot of problems, and he leaves it with a lot of problems,” said Stephen Maher, author of The Prince.

Play Ball! The Amazing Stories and Captivating Characters Who Have Made Baseball a Winning Ticket in Vancouver for Over 100 Years

Baseball has long been a part of the fabric of Vancouver and, indeed, British Columbia. Tom Hawthorn’s Play Ball! celebrates this legacy, from the first recorded baseball game in Victoria in 1863 to today’s Vancouver Canadians.