For most of my adult life, reading just wasn’t a habit I stuck with.

I liked books. I bought them. I intended to read many of them.

But they kept getting pushed aside by work or anything that felt immediately productive.

I treated them as a luxury, not a necessity

So in 2026, I’m being more deliberate about making time to read.

This list is a starting point: books I already own and genuinely want to read. Titles I was drawn to at the time, but never properly gave a chance.

It’s roughly half fiction and half non-fiction, spanning a wide range of genres and difficulty levels (for me, at least).

Manga

Vagabond - Takehiko Inoue

Based on the life of Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary samurai, Vagabond is about ego, discipline, personal growth, and what it means to pursue mastery.

I’ve read the first two volumes and plan to continue with the hardcover Definitive Editions as they’re released.

20th Century Boys - Naoki Urasawa

This begins with a group of children who invent “The Book of Prophecy” and a symbol during their childhood. Later, as adults, they realise the same symbol has been adopted by a real-world doomsday cult, sparking the group to try and save the world.

I’ve heard 20th Century Boys described as a masterpiece more times than I can count.

Science Fiction

The Martian - Andy Weir

This follows an astronaut stranded alone on Mars who has to rely on science and problem-solving to survive.

I enjoy how Weir writes sci-fi. The science is precise and the perfect vehicle for his feel-good stories.

The Dune Trilogy - Frank Herbert

The Dune books are about power, politics, religion and ecology. I adore the Dune films and would love to complete the trilogy before the third instalment is released.

I’ve tried to start Dune more than once and never stuck with it. This time, I’m committed to giving the saga my full attention.

Mystery & Gothic Fiction

And Then There Were None - Agatha Christie

This is about ten strangers who are invited to an isolated island, and killed off one by one according to a nursery rhyme.

Mystery isn’t a genre I naturally gravitate toward, but this is widely regarded as one of Christie’s best, so I couldn’t resist purchasing it at a local book fair.

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Known as the first science-fiction novel, Frankenstein, is about creation, ambition and responsibility.

This feels like an essential book, and despite knowing the story, I’ve never actually read it.

The recent Guillermo del Toro adaptation was my favourite film of 2025.

Dracula - Bram Stoker

Another classic I’ve somehow never read.

Told through letters and journal entries, Dracula is known for establishing most of the vampire tropes we are familiar with today.

Literary & Historical Fiction

Notes from Underground - Fyodor Dostoevsky

This is written from the perspective of a bitter, isolated man who spends much of the book arguing with himself about logic and rationality.

It is short, but I fully expect it will be a challenging and eye-opening read.

The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

This is an epic historical novel set in medieval England about the people involved in constructing an advanced cathedral. It touches on politics, ambition, religion and survival.

I started the audiobook version of this and enjoyed the level of detail in the world and characters, so I am looking forward to reading it properly in paperback.

11/22/63 - Stephen King

This follows a man who discovers a way to time-travel and tries to prevent the assassination of JFK. Like most time-travel stories, I’m sure this will be heavily themed around the consequences and repercussions of changing history.

I’ve heard this is one of King’s best works, and countless avid King readers rave about this.

Lincoln in the Bardo - George Saunders

This is set during the American Civil War and focuses on Abraham Lincoln as he grieves the death of his young son.

The story is told through many voices and spirits. I’m not entirely sure what to expect with this title, which is part of the reason I wanted to include it.

Creativity & Mythology

On Writing - Stephen King

Part memoir and part guide. On Writing is about writing as a daily, disciplined practice rather than a skill and talent.

King is perhaps the most prolific author of our time, so I am excited to learn about his process, systems, and what he emphasises to produce such a large body of work.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces - Joseph Campbell

This explores the common story structures behind the myths and legends told across cultures for thousands of years - often referred to as the “hero’s journey”.

Many of the patterns are still heavily used and relied upon in modern books, film and television.

Business & Biography

Zero to One - Peter Thiel

Many people reference this book for its ideas around innovation, originality and building something new from the ground up.

Rather than focusing on growth and scale, the premise is about taking the first step (going from zero to one) by making something original rather than repeating or copying what already works.

The Snowball - Alice Schroeder

This is a long, highly detailed biography of Warren Buffett. It covers not just his investing career and success, but how he thinks about time, patience and decision-making.

It is a mammoth book and will be littered with incredible mindsets about wealth and restraint. Perhaps the most daunting read on my list.

After Steve - Tripp Mickle

This explores how Apple evolved after Steve Jobs’ death and how the company shifted from being founder-driven to a corporate mega-machine.

I loved Walter Isaacson’s Jobs biography, so this feels like the natural follow-up.

Mary, Queen of Scots - John Guy

A detailed account of the rise and fall of Mary, Queen of Scots. It covers leadership, religion and power during an extremely volatile time in British history.

This is not a period I am very familiar with, but the book’s reputation and story intrigued me.

Philosohy & Self-Help

Beyond Good and Evil - Friedrich Nietzsche

Nietzsche questions the frameworks most of us take for granted and gives a critique of traditional ideas about morality and truth.

Given how often his work is referenced by people whose thoughts and opinions I value, it feels important for me to spend time with this one.

The 48 Laws of Power - Robert Greene

This is a collection of historical examples and case studies that explore power, manipulation, and influence.

I’ve read the first portion of this in the past, and I appreciate how Greene thinks and approaches the research for his books.

The 50th Law - 50 Cent & Robert Greene

A follow-up to The 48 Laws of Power that focuses on fearlessness and personal authority, tying in examples with 50 Cent’s lived experience.

These two books are linked for a reason, so I’ll likely read them back-to-back.

Science & History

Cosmos - Carl Sagan

An exploration of the universe, science, and humanity’s place within it all.

Cosmos was published in 1980, so inevitably, some specifics will be dated, but I am curious to understand Sagan’s perspective on the world.

The Greatest Story Ever Told…So Far - Lawrence Krauss

This is about how modern physics and science, rather than religion, explain the origins of the universe.

It walks through what scientists currently understand about how the universe began and evolved.

Fingerprints of the Gods - Graham Hancock

This book presents an alternative history that questions our mainstream understanding of how ancient civilisations developed.

The theory is based around advanced cultures that existed earlier than commonly accepted, and the possible cataclysmic events that took place and reset human progress.

The Silk Roads - Peter Frankopan

This is about the history of the Silk Roads, a trade network linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

It explains how goods, ideas and influence moved across continents and impacted culture and society over time.

This focuses on both Western history and how the exchanges with Eastern civilisation shaped the modern world.

The goal for 2026 is to read with more attention and less pressure.

Some of these books will take time, others I’ll move through quickly, and a few may end up as DNFs.

I’ll share brief month-to-month reading check-ins throughout the year, covering what I’ve finished and a few honest thoughts on each book.

You can watch the video version of me sharing my 2026 TBR list here.

Buy me a coffee ☕