- Dec 25, 2025
10 Books to Carry into 2026
- Raphael Reiter
- reading
- 0 comments
As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself returning to a simple truth:
We become what we repeatedly consume.
Books have been my quiet companions for years — teachers, mirrors, and sometimes gentle provocateurs. Some challenged my character. Some reminded me how to live well. Some helped me rest my mind before sleep. And a few I’ve been lucky enough to share with my children, which might be the greatest joy of all.
What follows is not a productivity list. It’s a character list.
Here are 10 books I wholeheartedly recommend for 2026, along with why I recommend them and for whom they might be especially meaningful.
A word about this list:
I have been revisiting my classics lately. And since this is the first time I’m creating a list like this, it felt right to begin with my three all‑time favorites from the Stoics.
I was introduced to Stoicism at a young age, in a moment that quietly shaped my life. The woman who raised me — my grandmother, my deepest emotional anchor — sensed that her time was nearing its end. She didn’t fear death itself. What she feared was how I might carry it.
So she began reading the Stoics to me. Not to harden me, but to steady me. To prepare my character, not just my mind. And that moment became the beginning of more than twenty years of reading, returning to, and living with these teachings.
I have also included a few children's books. Since becoming a father, I have been on the lookout for good books for my kids. Some of them are as good for them as they are to us adults!
1. Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
What it is
The private journal of a Roman emperor — never meant to be published.
Why I recommend it
This is Stoicism in its purest form: reminders to be patient, disciplined, humble, and focused on what truly matters. It’s not philosophy for display — it’s philosophy for survival.
For whom
Anyone seeking inner steadiness in a chaotic world. Leaders, parents, and those carrying responsibility.
2. Discourses — Epictetus
What it is
Practical philosophical talks given by a former slave turned Stoic teacher.
Why I recommend it
No fluff. Epictetus cuts straight through self-pity and illusion. He teaches freedom — not political freedom, but inner freedom.
For whom
Those who feel stuck, resentful, or controlled by circumstances. This book teaches you where real power lives.
3. Letters from a Stoic — Seneca
What it is
Personal letters exploring fear, ambition, anger, grief, and how to live a good life.
Why I recommend it
Seneca is deeply human. Wise, flawed, honest. His writing feels like a conversation with a thoughtful friend who has lived long enough to see through illusion.
For whom
Readers who want philosophy without rigidity. Ideal if you value compassion as much as discipline.
4. The War of Art — Steven Pressfield
What it is
A sharp, uncompromising book about resistance — the invisible force that keeps us from doing our work.
Why I recommend it
Because talent means nothing without discipline. This book doesn’t motivate — it confronts.
For whom
Writers, artists, entrepreneurs, athletes — anyone who knows what they should be doing but keeps postponing it.
5. The Iliad (Emily Wilson translation) — Homer
What it is
One of the oldest stories ever told: rage, honor, fate, love, loss, and mortality.
Why I recommend it
Emily Wilson’s translation makes this ancient epic feel alive and accessible. It reminds us that human nature hasn’t changed — only the costumes have.
For whom
Readers interested in timeless questions about violence, pride, suffering, and what it means to be human.
6. The Boy Who Would Be King — Ryan Holiday
What it is
A children’s introduction to Marcus Aurelius and Stoic values.
Why I recommend it
It teaches virtue, humility, and responsibility without preaching. A rare thing.
For whom
Parents who want to plant seeds of character early — and adults who enjoy simple wisdom told well.
7. Mikey and the Dragons — Jocko Willink
What it is
A story about fear, courage, and facing challenges head-on.
Why I recommend it
Simple, powerful, and emotionally respectful. It gives children language for bravery without glorifying fearlessness.
For whom
Children — and parents who want to raise resilient, honest humans.
8. Way of the Warrior Kid — Jocko Willink
What it is
A story about discipline, confidence, effort, and self-respect.
Why I recommend it
This is one we’re currently reading together with my five-year-old son, Benjamin. It opens real conversations about effort, routine, and responsibility — gently and playfully.
For whom
Kids who need encouragement and structure, and parents who want to model both.
9. Flourish — Martin Seligman
What it is
A foundational book on well-being and positive psychology.
Why I recommend it
Flourishing isn’t about constant happiness. It’s about meaning, engagement, relationships, and growth. This book gives structure to that understanding.
For whom
Anyone interested in mental health, performance, and sustainable fulfillment.
10. Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl
What it is
A psychiatrist’s account of surviving the Holocaust — and what he learned about meaning.
Why I recommend it
Few books recalibrate perspective like this one. Suffering is unavoidable. Meaning is not.
For whom
Everyone, especially those walking through hardship or questioning the purpose of their struggle.
Bonus (strongly insisted upon)
Green Eggs and Ham — Dr. Seuss
What it is
A playful children’s book about resistance, curiosity, and trying.
Why it had to be included
My boys (ages 3 and 5) made it very clear this belonged on the list.
If you don’t try it, how can you know you don’t like it?
They’re right.
I love reading Dr. Seuss to my kids in the evening. Even though English is not their first language (it’s actually their fourth), they absolutely love these books — the rhythm, the sounds, the joy.
And beneath the fun is a quiet life lesson:
Curiosity beats stubborn certainty.
Sometimes wisdom arrives wearing green eggs.
A Closing Thought
As we step into 2026, my hope for you is simple:
Read slowly. Read deeply. Let good books shape your character — not just your opinions.
Thank you for being here this year.
Be still.
Be whole.
Be well,
Raphael
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