Top Books to Read in 2026: A Curated List

At the beginning of each year I like to make a list of books I intend to read in the upcoming year. These are not exhaustive lists but they are benchmarks to help pace me and make sure I stay widely read. These books are either the books I am most excited to read or the ones I feel I need to engage with. Also each year I try to engage with at least one book on history, one on the Bible, one that engages science, and one classic fiction work. I think this along with one or two more miscellaneous books helps keep me well-rounded. And if you read this list please comment something that I need to consider reading, I am always looking for suggestions and will try to engage with about any book. With that brief introduction here are the books I intend to read in 2026

History

Timothy Egan A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them

I normally try to keep to two books I am committed to try to read in a year, but these three I felt belong together. In the last few years I have been reading more about the development in American Christianity from the Fundamentalists to modern Evangelicals and I have been made aware of several overlapping themes (including the one in Balmer’s book below). With this in mind I want to take 2026 to read more on how slavery (and the politics that surrounded it) impacted Christian thought and potentially continue to impact us today.

I also want to try to read: Randall Balmer Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right

Edward E. Baptist The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism

Science

John Polkinghorne Quarks, Chaos & Christianity: Questions to Science And Religion
Dr Polkinghorne was a well respected physicist turned Anglican priest. I have greatly enjoyed all the other books by him that I have read. He has a way of making difficult scientific ideas seem engaging and he does so through a lens that allows you to see how his scientific career led him to a deeper relationship with God.

Another I want to read: Sy Garte Beyond Evolution: How New Discoveries in the Science of Life Point to God

[Yes I recognize that these books are more on the intersection of faith and science but they were near the top of my list, if people have recommendations for more purely scientific books I would like them]

Bible/theology

Nijay K. Gupta Reading Philippians: A Theological Introduction

I intend t begin the year reading Philippians and so this theological walk-through by a leading New Testament scholar seemed like a smart decision. When I commit to reading a book of the Bible in-depth I always like to accompany my own reading with something from a scholar who can help me understand aspects of the book that I miss on my own. I’m hoping that since Philippians is a short book and I am only spending a month in it, this theological approach will be more useful than a traditional commentary.

Another I would like to read: Craig Keener Christobiography: Memory, History, and the Reliability of the Gospels

Literature

George MacDonald Phantastes

I think it is somewhat scandalous that I have not yet read this book. I love George MacDonald and often find myself immersed in his work. I am truly excited to read one of his more popular works.

I would also like to read: Victor Hugo Les Misérables

Miscellaneous

Miguel A. de la Torre, Albert Hernández The Quest for the Historical Satan

This book just looked interesting. I am curious how they approach the idea and person of Satan and what I can learn from a historical (instead of a theological) approach to Satan.

Daniel J. Siegel Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence–A Complete Guide to the Groundbreaking Wheel of Awareness Meditation Practice

We could all work to be more aware of our world and I am hopeful there will be some tips in this for helping me be more awake to my environment.