Bread & Circuses: My 2025 Reading Roundup
In the early second century AD, during the height of the Roman Empire under emperors such as Trajan, the Roman poet Juvenal wrote his Satires. In Satire X, he coined the phrase "panem et circenses," bread and circuses, as a sharp critique of the Roman populace. At a time when citizens had largely surrendered their political power and civic responsibilities, Juvenal observed that the people were pacified with free grain distributions and extravagant public entertainments like gladiatorial games and chariot races.
This deliberate strategy by emperors maintained control, distracted from corruption, economic decline, and the erosion of freedoms.
Sound familiar? My mind goes straight to the show that distracted the masses during the beginning of the COVID pandemic: Tiger King. The masses, once engaged in governance, both in the Roman Empire and most Americans, present day, now prioritize entertainment and immediate gratification over preserving liberty.
This ancient warning feels strikingly relevant today, which is why I am reflecting on it in this 2025 reading roundup.
There is no circus like the social media circus, where people endlessly doomscroll for the next dopamine hit. Bread represents our basic needs being met by the government in many cases in our society, but it can also mean the relative comfort we are afforded in the west. As Dr. Jordan B. Peterson has aptly stated, "This is the easiest time to be alive in the history of the world.”
Quite literally for over $40 million Americans on the SNAP program, while an onslaught of digital distraction is at our fingertips: addictive social media algorithms designed to keep users scrolling for hours, coupled with a dominant progressive narrative that often silences or marginalizes contrarian and conservative voices, like my former boss Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who was de-platformed during the pandemic.
One cannot exist without the other; when sustenance is guaranteed by the state, there is little perceived need or awareness to fight tyranny, leaving people free to sit on the couch and scroll TikTok indefinitely. In stark contrast, when individuals must work diligently for their own bread, there is simply no time to waste. As G. Michael Hopf said in his novel Those Who Remain, "Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And weak men create hard times."
During the pandemic, people were not paying attention, and tyrannical leaders began eroding rights bit by bit. People grew complacent in holding their leaders accountable long before the pandemic even began. The masses demonstrated that even if their rights were stripped, the right to assemble in church, the right to body autonomy by way of breathing without a mask in public and to keep their job without injecting a minimally-tested vaccination into their bodies, people proved they would rather attend a concert, go on vacation, or visit a restaurant than stand up to this tyranny.
In 2025, I took many months off social media because I sensed God preparing me for something. I needed to buckle down to learn, and pray. I highly recommend fasting from social media from time to time. I can recall at most five reels I have ever watched, but I can list hundreds of books that have transformed me as a person.
I have always admired Charlie Kirk immensely for his intellect. Charlie was an avid reader, reportedly aiming to read 100 books a year. When we assume someone is simply "gifted" without effort, we excuse ourselves from self-improvement. True excellence comes from disciplined work, consistent study, and a commitment to growth, qualities Charlie exemplified and that we should all pursue. Education does not end when we complete formal schooling. We must continually educate ourselves, sharpen our minds, and deepen our understanding to navigate this world faithfully.
If we, as Christians do not start every day with the intention to fight the very real spiritual warfare in our world, by educating ourselves to defend our values and putting on the full armor of God through prayer and immersion in His Word, we will not be strong enough to withstand the difficulties of this world. Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Peter 5:8
To thrive in this age of bread and circuses, be countercultural: reject complacency and distraction. Commit to vigilant study, prayer, and spiritual discipline. Immerse yourself in truths that build resilience to fight the true fight of faith. This is how we honor our calling, prepare for what God has ahead, and continue to hold the line for the values that will preserve and make our nation great.
In 2025, my reading focused on books that strengthened my faith and intellect, from classics on faith like C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity to devotionals reinforcing Ephesians' call to readiness.
Below, I am sharing my top books from 2025. These are only the titles read that I wholeheartedly recommend reading. Each one has shaped my thinking, deepened my faith, or equipped me for the challenges of our time. I hope they inspire you to pick up a book and keep learning. Happy reading in 2026!
Faith:
Chase the Lion, Mark Batterson
Ephesians: Growing in Christ, Lydia Brownback
Spiritual Parenting: An Awakening for Today’s Families, Michelle Anthony
Small Group Bible Study 1, 2, & 3 John: Everybody Ought to Know, Earl. C. Wolf
Philosophy:
Black Rednecks and White Liberals, Thomas Sowell
Return of the Primitive, Ayn Rand and Peter Schwartz
A Letter to Liberals, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
American Values, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Campus Battlefield, Charlie Kirk
Why Orwell Matters, Christopher Hitchens
Leadership:
How to Win Friends & Influence People, Dale Carnegie
7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey
Finance:
The Richest Man in Babylon, George S. Clason
History:
People Love Dead Jews, Dara Horn
Psychology & Mindset:
As a Man Thinketh, James Allen
Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, Napoleon Hill
The Power of Positive Thinking, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
This post includes affiliate links to Amazon. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.