My 6-Month Reading List: Books for first half of 2026

It was a cold January Tuesday.

I was walking home from the bookstore (on foot, of course — stay active), with my girlfriend by my side and a backpack full of books on my back. I had just bought six books that I plan to read over the next six months.

And in that moment, I felt rich.

I am loved and I love back.
I am healthy.
I’m in great physical shape.
And in my backpack, I’m carrying a small fortune of knowledge, art, and lived experience.

It’s impossible not to feel grateful — and wealthy — in a moment like that.

Every Book Is a Life Lived

Every book represents one lived life.

If I could, I’d read one per day.

Unfortunately, reality allows about one book per month — but even that is powerful when done consistently.

This is my reading list for the next half year. I generally like to mix genres: philosophy, fiction, history, money, mystery.

Because growth doesn’t come from staying in one lane.

Here’s what I chose.

📚 My 6-Month Reading List

1. Marcus Aurelius — Meditations

A Stoic philosopher and Roman emperor.

Lately, I’ve been listening to many podcasts about Stoicism, which pushed me to explore it more deeply. There are few better places to start than the private thoughts of one of history’s greatest Stoics.

The core message of Stoicism is simple:

Some things are in our control. Some things are not.

A Stoic learns to invest energy and emotion only into what he can control.

Stoicism also reminds us that our time here is limited — and that we should use it wisely:

Memento mori — remember that you will die.

A powerful filter for everyday decisions.

2. Terry Pratchett — Interesting Times

After philosophy, it’s time to let the mind relax with the legendary Terry Pratchett.

Discworld: a flat world carried by four elephants standing on a giant turtle floating through space.

Whatever happens there, it can’t be boring.

I’ve already read many of Pratchett’s books, and every single one was excellent. I expect nothing less from this one.

3. David McWilliams — Money: A Story of Humanity

According to the back cover, this book explores the relationship between people and money throughout history — and how money shaped civilization and the world we live in.

Several rules in my own book touch on the importance of money. My motivation here is to understand it historically and from a new perspective.

Money is not just currency.

It’s psychology. Power. Trust. Culture.

Understanding it means understanding humanity.

4. Ken Follett — The Armour of Light

Ken Follett, along with Jo Nesbø, is my favorite author.

His writing style, his themes, the way he pulls you through a story — outstanding.

The Century Trilogy is something I recommend to everyone. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of his books.

So yes — I was genuinely excited to find one of his novels that I hadn’t read yet.

5. Claire Douglas — The Wrong Sister

A thriller that caught my attention based on its description.

I love a good mystery (which is why Jo Nesbø is my favorite), so I picked something from this genre. The author is new to me, but I’m hoping for suspense right up to the final page.

6. Henry Ford — Today and Tomorrow

The philosophy of the man who pioneered mass production.

One of the most influential figures in modern history — someone who helped shape the world we live in today.

This book was written back in 1926, yet according to reviews, it remains timeless.

That alone makes it worth reading.

Reading Is Strategic Self-Investment

Books don’t just entertain.

They sharpen your thinking.
They expand your perspective.
They compress decades of experience into hours.

Most men spend their free time scrolling.

Few invest it in growth.

Reading is compound interest for the mind.

One book per month doesn’t sound impressive — until you realize that’s twelve per year. Over ten years, that’s 120 books.

That changes a man.

So this is my list for the next six months.

What’s on yours?