2026 books
goal
target: 35 - read: 04 (so far)
if i were a better man, i’d do something focused and high minded. like targeting research in a specific vein of study. i am not that man.
books
note: this is a running list. (in reverse chronological order)
liberation day (george saunders)
this is a collection of 8 (or 9?) short stories. this came out in 2023 and there’s stuff in here that feels eerily prescient. love letter in particular is a bit of a banger and given recent events really gives one pause. mother’s day is kind of a riotous reading. ghoul is just weird and engrossing. this dude has really earned his rep. there’s a lot to love in here. (18-jan-2026)
recommendation: yeah, totally. get it.
food for thought (alton brown)
i discovered to my joy that alton brown was back on youtube. yay! he’s always fun, i always learn something and i’m a fan of his wry wit. this is a quickly readable collection of his essays. there’s nothing super revelatory here, but you’ll get a couple of nights of chuckle-worthy reading out of it. i would say, that in this very trying week, it’s been nice to be reminded of the simple pleasures of cooking, eating, and community. alton brown sticks the landing on this in a way that gives you a little opportunity to pause with a few amusing stories in the mix. (13-jan-2026)
recommendation: yeah, it’s a quick and fun read.
this is how you lose the time war (amal el mohtar, max gladstone)
i’m honestly not sure how i feel about this book. it was a fast and engaging read. i have to think that this is some first rate book club fodder. the protagonists are really interesting conceptually and the writing is really interesting. i struggled to read this as a piece of storytelling that is standalone and not rooted in the context of whatever the larger conflict is. i think that’s more of a personal failing than any commentary on the book itself. i constantly found myself wondering what was at the root of the conflict these 2 characters are enmeshed in. as a romp through time, space and super weaponry, it’s a lot of fun. (07-jan-2026)
recommendation: sure, why not.
atomic habits (james clear)
you know … it’s a new year, i want to do better. this had some interesting points to make, but fundamentally, it’s a best of habit building lists. this was popping off pretty much all over the place and i probably had unrealistic expectations for the bombs it was gonna drop. i didn’t find it to be super revelatory. i’m glad i bought it used. (01-jan-2026)
recommendation: meh