📖 Reading 52 books in 2026

Third year running. Let's go again.

In 2024 I read 15 books – the most I've ever read in a single year. I didn't hit 52, but I got into a genuine rhythm. Towards the end of the year I made the conscious decision to pause rather than rush through books just to bump the number. That felt right.

2025 was different. I burnt out towards the end of the year and never really found my rhythm with reading. I finished 4 books, with a handful of partially completed ones. The energy and ethos that drove me in 2024 just wasn't there – my 2025 attempt lacked that spark.

I've been thinking about why that is. In 2024, I was genuinely embracing the challenge. In 2025, I was just going through the motions.

As I wrote in my original post, I'm not here to read 52 books – I'm here to gain discipline and train my mind. That still holds true. It's about doing something hard, learning, exploring new ideas and becoming the kind of person who reads.

This Year's Approach

I'm setting two clear milestone goals based on my previous years:

• 4 books – Match my 2025 finish line
• 15 books – Match my 2024 personal best

52 remains the north star, but these milestones give me something concrete to build on.

Beyond that, I'm adding stretch goals:

• 🥉 Bronze – 25 books (halfway there)
• 🥈 Silver – 40 books (serious momentum)
• 🥇 Gold – 52 books (the dream)

Same rules as always:

• Audiobooks count
• Any length goes
• Repeat books are allowed
• Finishing a previously started book is fair game

Fancy joining me? Or have a recommendation? Drop me a DM

Matt

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So far I've read: