David Brooks recognizes some of the best nonfiction essays of 2025.

This selection outlines the 21st annual Sidney Awards, where New York Times columnist David Brooks recognizes some of the best nonfiction essays of 2025. Brooks selects these works to provide readers with deep reflections on life as an alternative to the daily news cycle

“The River House Broke. We Rushed in the River” by Aaron Parsley ( Monthly)

A harrowing, minute-by-minute account of a deadly flood on the Guadalupe River.

The essay explores the psychological transition from the terror of the unknown to a calm acceptance of mortality during a catastrophe.

“The Brother I Lost” by Megan McArdle (The Dispatch)

McArdle reflects on the discovery of a secret brother her mother gave up for adoption before abortion was legalized.

The piece moves beyond political abstractions to ground the abortion debate in the complexities of real-life consequences and personal choices.

“Steam Networks” by Jamie Rumbelow (Works in Progress)

A technical and historical exploration of New York City’s massive steam heating system.

It highlights the efficiency of modern infrastructure compared to wood-burning, which significantly shortens life spans due to pollutants.

“When I Lost My Intuition” by Ronald W. Dworkin (Aeon)

An anesthesiologist describes losing his ability to make snap judgments after a vacation.

The essay argues that high-level expertise relies more on gut intuition than linear reason when facing variables that defeat logic.

“Why Aren’t Smart People Happier?” by Adam Mastroianni (Experimental History)

Mastroianni posits that standardized tests only measure “defined problems” with set rules.

He argues that happiness requires a different kind of intelligence suited for “undefined problems”—life choices where there are no stable rules or objectively correct answers.

“We Live Like Royalty and Don’t Know It” by Charles C. Mann (The New Atlantis)

Mann compares modern life to that of Thomas Jefferson, noting that even the wealthiest historical figures lacked the reliable water, energy, and health systems average citizens enjoy today.

“The Tune of Things” by Christian Wiman (Harper’s Magazine)

Wiman explores “spooky” phenomena, from the biological memory of flatworms to the time-bending behavior of entangled photons.

The essay suggests the world is more mystical than rationalism can explain, requiring a fluid way of thinking that may be beyond the reach of AI.

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