My Reading List for 2026
I love to read, but I’m not good at it. I need months to finish a book. I read slowly and read right before going to bed, which leads me to get sleepy around page two. Every evening, I get about five to ten pages into my system before shutting down. Adding that up, I read around six to eight books a year. This year I want to read at least 13 books. Why 13? I will get to that later. But what books do you want to read? Well, good question, imaginary reader of this blog post. Here is my list of books I want to read in 2026 (ordered in how I want to approach them):
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
I start the year off with a book that helps me shift my perspective from consuming to creating. I want to get into writing. I know that when you want to learn a craft, you have to do the craft. But a starting point is always helpful. Every list of recommendations about books teaching you how to write mentioned this book.
The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi
After starting my learning path to become a better writer, I want to write about everything. Including some harsh topics. The problem? I’m a harmonious person. I don’t like getting into arguments, because I don’t want to be disliked or seen in a negative light. I want to be more open and therefore be more true to myself.
Think by Simon Blackburn
While studying physics, I encounter topics that question the very idea of reality. I am excited about those questions, but I also have huge respect for them. This book was recommended as a starting point into the world of philosophy. Hopefully, it introduces me to a framework to tackle those difficult questions.
The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
What could be better than one introductory book to philosophy? Right. Two. Bertrand Russell was not only a philosopher but also a mathematician and a logician. He is more true to my own profession as a physicist. He might give me a more science-based view on philosophy.
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
If I go crazy during my study of physics, I need some time to retreat from everything. Cal Newport often mentions Walden by Henry David Thoreau in his podcast. This year, I want to give it a try (especially because it is one of his recommendations for 2026). The story itself seems compelling and might help me find a way out of my internet addiction.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Maybe after some time outside of society, I want to rejoin it. Probably not the one in the next book, but while listening to a podcast about the story of Peter Thiel, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand was mentioned as somewhat of a bible for ultra liberalists and the far right movement. To understand this movement and its motivations better, I want to read this book.
Addon: The podcast mentioned that the city in the game Bioshock by Game Developer Ken Levine was inspired by the city imagined by Ayn Rand in The Fountainhead. I never played Bioshock, but maybe I will give it a try after finishing the book.
Complexity: A Guided Tour by Melanie Mitchell
By now, I hope it is around the time of July, and I’m full of excitement for my exchange year in the wonderful city of Rome. Currently, there are two interests in my study of physics. One is Cosmology (Big Bang, Black Holes, and Quantum Gravity), and the other is Complex Systems Physics. While I listen to talks and interviews about the first topic, I would like more input on the second topic.
War and Peace by Leo/Lew Tolstoi
Because I will arrive one month ahead of the beginning of the semester, I will have ample time exploring the city and dive into an epic (with which I mean a big fat book, not the genre). Being mentioned on multiple lists about “the best books ever” or “most influential books”, I’m interested in how this became a classic.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Speaking of classics, this one is also mentioned often. If you would ask me now, what The Great Gatsby is about, the only two things I know for certain: It’s around 1920 and has something to do with The Great Depression. It will be a stark contrast to war and peace, but maybe a desired one.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This year is the year of the classics. I rewatched Bridgerton on Netflix in Italian. I’m curious to see how much influence Pride and Prejudice had on Bridgerton, because if I understood correctly, this is the novel when it comes to romance and old England.
To Kill a Mockingbird
We read this book in school (who could have thought…it’s a classic), but I never actually read it and used summarizations I found online to get through the semester, and forgot most of the story. I know it is about racism and about the South of America. Now I actually want to read it.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
This book has been on my reading list for years, and I never got to it. So this year will finally be the year I read it. I love books that give me an overview of specific topics. I hope by the end of it, I have a good grasp of the history of humankind. I am also interested in his book about networks. Maybe this will be on the list next year.
Meditations by Marc Aurelius
Now, why do I read 13 instead of 12 books? I started reading Marc Aurelius Meditations, but about halfway through, I stopped. I read it in English, and English is not my first language, as you might have figured out after reading all this. I want to give it another try. Meditations, however, is not a book one reads from cover to cover. At least I am not this kind of person. Therefore, I will read it over the course of the 365 days. Insight by insight.
Now this is my list for 2026. Hopefully I will read some more, but I will be satisfied by the end of next year when I accomplished reading at least these thirteen books.