I’ve added some structure to my reading for 2026. I am trying to keep books on creativity, gardening, sewing/quilting, coaching, and spirituality/philosophy on the bookstack with at least one fiction selection. I am also planning to read three challenging books this year. I read an interesting post on designing your own college course, and I will adapt this for my challenging reads.
How about you? Do you have any reading goals for the year ahead? I love book recommendations and invite you to reply and share!
Creativity/Writing: Running Down the Dream: Winning Your Creative Battles by Tim Grahl. I heard Tim Grahl speak at a writing summit a few months ago and was compelled to track down a few of his books. If you’ve read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, Running Down the Dream is structured in a similar style with short chapters.
Coaching: Helping People Change: Coaching with Compassion for Lifelong Learning and Growth by Richard Boyatzis, Melvin Smith, and Ellen Van Oosten is a re-read for me. I often return to the chapter on articulating a vision and a six-word vision statement. It’s also a good reminder that compliance-focused coaching doesn’t create sustained change.
Gardening: Northwest Garden Manifesto: Create, Restore, and Maintain a Sustainable Yard by John J. Albers with photography by David Perry. I am always a little wary of anything with “manifesto” in the title. But this is a science-backed gardening book for creating a sustainable, wildlife-friendly garden.
Sewing/Quilting: A Colourful Journey: Patchwork and Quilting (2003) by Kaffe Fassett (rhymes with Safe Asset). This book features 21 quilt projects designed by Fassett, Roberta Horton, Mary Mashuta, and others. The great thing about quilting books is that they are filled with beautiful photos, amazing projects, and endless inspiration. Inspiration is good, but action is better, right? My plan is to make a version of the strip quilt that’s featured. I’m going to do my own thing with the strips because that’s my jam, but I am looking forward to trying out the layout, which is unlike anything I have done.
Philosophy: The Daily Stoic Journal by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. I bought this at a used book sale. It was unmarked except for a dedication in the front to someone named Maureen who decided it wasn’t her jam. Her loss is my gain. I waited for the new year to begin but this is an undated journal so you can start whenever you get it. Each week has a theme—this week, Week IV, is “A Little Better Every Day.” There is a new prompt every day with a space for both morning and evening reflections. I had to overcome a lifelong aversion to writing in books to start this journal. A cheeky dedication to Maureen helped! Pen to paper! This is your sign to get started (or keep going).
Fiction: My Friends by Fredrik Backman. This is the current nightly read-aloud selection at Chez Haiku. We didn’t even get through the first page without stopping several times to marvel at and appreciate Backman’s writing. This is a good one.
