I read a lot, but I also seem to buy a fair number of books and not read them – the moment of ‘need’ outpaced by yet another book that has jumped to the top of the #tbr list. I mostly get books from the library (I’ve got 11 books on hold there as of this moment) which isn’t always instant access, and I buy some books in a show of impatience, captured by instant gratification. Others are gifts or recommendations from friends and family or moments where I want to support an author on release day. And still others are those I think I’ll want to keep as reference books, though generally I only buy books after I’ve read them and actually know they are books I will read again or reference. In that way I only added 2 books to my collection last year (out of nearly 100 that I read in 2025).
As I was pondering goals, resolutions and intentions at the close of the year it was hard not to look at all the books I own and think those stacks are something I want to clear off of my mental to-do list. (If you are now wondering if I still try to get rid of 100 things a day, the answer is yes – yesterday was 100 digital pictures off my phone, the weekend included a trunk full to donation centers, last week was about 700 emails and a lot of “unsubscribe” clicks as everyone I have ever bought anything from seemed to reappear over the holidays – digital clutter is real).
My working definition of goals is they are measurable and have a firm timeline (read more about that here if you want). Goals are also great to have an accountability partner on because of that clarity. A friend can check in and ask for a clear yes or no answer regarding your progress. Last year I had a goal of writing a weekly blog post (failed that one gloriously) and reading a certain amount number of books (I met that goal in March – oops) but didn’t really have an accountability partner. So, this year, that partner is you!
My reading goal is broken down this way:
- I own 44 unread books (list below)
- I will read all of these books in 2026.
- Monthly I will blog about both my progress and summaries of what I’m reading, loving, and leaving behind (two goals in one since I also have a goal to write more).
Caveat #1 – I don’t guarantee I’ll finish all of the books. I’m committed to 100 pages and a firm decision on whether or not to continue. I regularly relegate books to the “did not finish” list because not all books are for me, and there are too many books in the world to continue on with the ones that don’t light me up. In addition to the 44 unread books I own and the 11 on hold at the library right now I have an actual written list of hundreds of books I really want to read. (Curious about leaving books behind? I wrote a little more about it here.)
Caveat #2 – Some of these books I started but for some reason didn’t finish and some I’ve been treating as reference books but haven’t read cover to cover. This is particularly true with the yoga and yoga-ish books on the list. I tend to not quite read them but pick through. I do own more yoga books that haven’t been read cover to cover, but these are the ones I want to tackle this year in depth.
If I keep to my goals, you’ll hear more from me on books this year. And in the true spirit of accountability, here is my 2026 reading list (in no particular order, and please excuse any misspellings):
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- 80 Days by Matthew Goodman
- Caesar’s Last Breath by Sam Keene
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Complete Food and Nutrition Guide
- Promised Land by Barack Obama
- Rocket Men by Craig Nelson
- The Escape Artist by Jonathan Friedland
- Taste by Stanley Tucci
- The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
- Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
- Fuzz by Mary Roach
- Excellent Advice for Living by Kevin Kelly
- The Demon of Unrest by Eric Larson
- Finding your Way by Sharon Salzburg
- The Little Book of Gratitude by Robert Emmons
- Gulp by Mary Roach
- Inciting Joy by Ross Gay
- The Artists Way by Cameron
- Meditation for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
- The Kleshas by Deborah Adele
- The Method of Zen By Eugen Herrigal
- Steering by Starlight by Martha Beck
- How To Do the Work by Nicole Lapera
- The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink
- All Along You Were Blooming by Morgan Harper Nichols
- Faster, Smarter, Better by Charles Duhigg
- Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur
- The Light Maker’s Manifesto by Karen Walrund
- The Body Keeps the Score by Vessel Vander Coke
- Getting Grief Right by O’Malley
- Accessing the Healing Powers of the Vagas nerve
- The Teachers Guide to Accessible Yoga by Jivana Heyman
- Grief is for People by Sloan Crossley
- Sacred Rest by Octavia Raheem
- Jumping Mouse by Mary Elizabeth Marlow
- The Luminous Self by Tracee Stanley
- Theme Weaver by Michelle Marchildon
- Verbal Judo by George Thompson and Jerry Jenkins
- Heart Talk by Cleo Wade
- Yoga for Americans by Indra Devi
- Fairytale by Steven King
- The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest
- The Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging
- The Yamas and Niyamas Embodied by Deborah Adele
Journal Prompt: What is my relationship with books? Are they for pleasure? Learning? Decor?
Physical Prompt: If you have a book you’ve had for years (but not read), commit to reading 100 pages of it this month – just 3 or 4 pages a day – and decide if you want to read it or release it (donate it, give it to a friend, resell it).
All content I share here, elsewhere on my websites and in social media is created by me, Alison Gurevich – and not AI or other sources unless otherwise specifically attributed. This includes all photographs, writing, and ideas. All rights reserved by Alison Gurevich. “2026 – Goal #1” was originally published to www.breathtomotion.com on January 7, 2026. When you find typos or grammar errors, celebrate humanity and enjoy a little song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wKzyIN1yk (Human by Rag N Bone Man).
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