As the curtain falls on 2025, it's only natural to look back at the stories and ideas that shaped our thinking this year — and for Business Insider staffers, that includes books.We asked our reporters to share the business, tech, and innovation books that left the biggest impression on them this year. Not all of these titles hit the shelves in 2025, but each offered something valuable: a new perspective, a spark of creativity, or simply a story we couldn't put down.Our picks span everything from Big Tech me ...

Core Insights - The retail environment appears busy, indicating a potentially decent holiday season, despite stock struggles in the sector [2][6] - There is a notable disconnect between consumer sentiment and actual purchasing behavior, with consumers remaining resilient despite expressing negativity [14][15] Retail Environment - Current observations suggest that foot traffic in malls is good, which may lead to positive holiday sales [2][6] - The emotional aspect of shopping can create biases that affect market perceptions, especially during the holiday season [4][5] Company-Specific Insights - Birkenstock is highlighted as a strong performer, showing double-digit growth in unit sales, indicating robust demand beyond just price increases [11][12] - Despite Birkenstock's strong fundamentals, its stock is down 25% year-to-date, suggesting a potential investment opportunity due to the mismatch between business performance and stock valuation [12] Consumer Behavior - There is a significant distinction between consumer sentiment and actual spending, with consumers continuing to purchase despite expressing concerns about economic conditions [14][15] - Behavioral economics suggests that negative sentiment does not necessarily translate into reduced retail sales, indicating a resilient consumer base [15][17]

Picture this. You walk past the same coffee shop every day. You never stop.You've already had your coffee at home. You're running late and you're trying to save some money. But one day, something's changed.A new sign catches your eye. Limited offer. Buy one get one free.And suddenly something shifts. You pause. You calculate. You rationalize.Well, it's just for today. Now, what really changed. Not the coffee, not your schedule by much.What changed was you, that small nudge tips you guiding your decisions wi ...

Core Insights - Lemonade Inc. (LMND) shares have surged 96.7% year to date, significantly outperforming the industry, finance sector, and S&P 500 gains of 12.4%, 14.6%, and 18.5% respectively [1][8] Company Performance - Lemonade offers a range of insurance products including renters, homeowners, pet, car, and life insurance, utilizing artificial intelligence and behavioral economics [1] - The company has expanded its offerings beyond renters and homeowners insurance into auto, pet, and life coverage, which broadens its revenue base and reduces reliance on any single product [5] - The third quarter in-force premium (IFP) reached $1.16 billion, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of accelerating growth, with management estimating year-end IFP between $1.218 billion and $1.223 billion [7] - Management projects revenues for 2025 to be between $727 million and $732 million, with a target of 30% IFP growth for FY 2026 [5][7] Competitive Landscape - Peer companies include Root Inc. (ROOT), which has gained 6% year to date, and EverQuote Inc. (EVER), which has seen a 35.8% increase in the same timeframe [4] - Lemonade's stock is currently trading at a price-to-book multiple of 10.33, significantly higher than the industry average of 2.4, indicating it may be overvalued compared to its peers [13][14] Growth Strategy - The company is focusing on geographic expansion, particularly in Europe, to diversify growth opportunities and reduce catastrophe exposure [10] - Continuous investments in digitization and automation have improved operational efficiency, with a loss adjustment expense (LAE) ratio of 7%, which has improved by 600 basis points over the past three years [9] - Lemonade aims to achieve adjusted EBITDA breakeven by 2026, supported by improved margins and positive free cash flow [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LMND's 2025 earnings has increased, while the estimate for 2026 has decreased in the past 30 days [11] - The consensus estimates indicate a year-over-year increase of 16.8% for 2025 and 32.3% for 2026 earnings, along with revenue improvements [12]

Behavioral Economics - The report mentions Alice Fulwood interviewing Nobel laureate Richard Thaler about behavioral economics [1] - The discussion revolves around Thaler's reflections on a lifetime of "nudging" [1]

Behavioral Economics Insights - Richard Thaler 可能比其他经济学家更了解人们的弱点 [1] - Richard Thaler 观察到其他经济学家没有观察到的现象 [1] Media Mention - "Money Talks" 节目讨论了 Richard Thaler 的观点 [1]

Core Insights - Richard Thaler expresses concern over the behavior of retail investors in the stock market, particularly in the context of meme stocks, suggesting that they are unlikely to outperform the market [1][3][4] Group 1: Behavioral Economics and Meme Stocks - Thaler and fellow economist Alex O. Imas discuss how behavioral economics principles apply to the meme stock phenomenon, which has seen stocks like Opendoor Technologies and Beyond Meat surge due to retail interest [2] - The Gamestop short squeeze of 2021 is highlighted as a pivotal moment that initiated this trend, leading to repeated occurrences of struggling companies experiencing unexpected surges [2] Group 2: Retail Investor Challenges - Thaler criticizes the "illusion of inside information" among retail investors, noting that this misconception has been exacerbated in recent years, leading them to believe they possess unique insights [4] - Both economists emphasize that retail traders often lack sufficient information and tend to gravitate towards stocks with the least information, which can result in significant losses when market momentum shifts [5] Group 3: Investment Recommendations - Thaler advises against individual trading for retail investors, suggesting that a diversified index fund is a more prudent investment strategy, with periodic rebalancing [6] - He cites the year-to-date declines of GameStop and AMC Entertainment, which are down 27% and 32% respectively, as cautionary examples of the risks associated with meme stock trading [6]

Opening Bid Unfiltered is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ever wonder about the psychology driving the economy and stock market? Why do investors embrace weak companies? Why do inventors ignore some strong companies? What triggers the start of asset price bubbles, and what causes them to end badly? Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi talks on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast with behavioral economist and co-author of the new book "The Winner’s Curse ...

Tokenomics & Airdrop Strategy - Airdrop recipients face a binary choice: 10% of tokens immediately or 100% after 12 months, with no intermediate options [1] - Behavioral economics suggests 70-80% of recipients will opt for the immediate 10% [1] - This immediate claim could create 7-8 million tokens of immediate sell pressure [1] Market Impact & Trading Strategy - Binance futures with 50x leverage could amplify sell pressure into a liquidation cascade on the Token Generation Event (TGE) day [1] - The report suggests shorting the TGE due to anticipated sell pressure and potential liquidation cascade [1]

Core Insights - Lemonade, Inc. is a technology-driven insurance company that aims to disrupt the insurance industry with its digital-first model, offering various types of insurance including renters, homeowners, pet, and life insurance [1] - The recent appointment of PayPal's Chief Marketing Officer to Lemonade's Board of Directors is a strategic move to enhance marketing capabilities and support growth strategies [2] - Morgan Stanley downgraded Lemonade's stock rating to "Underweight" on October 7, 2025, while simultaneously raising the price target from $43 to $45, indicating mixed sentiments about the company's future performance [3][4] Company Developments - The addition of a seasoned marketing executive from a leading financial technology company is expected to strengthen Lemonade's leadership team and drive expansion efforts [2] - Despite the leadership changes, concerns about Lemonade's current valuation or future prospects have led to a cautious outlook from Morgan Stanley [3] - Lemonade's stock has shown volatility, reaching a recent high of $58.44, reflecting investor interest despite the downgrade [4][5]