Thinking Ahead to 2026's Read-Alongs
Suggest some books
Usually, I send out a post for our read-along of Plato’s Republic on Monday mornings. I typically write those posts on Sunday evenings, but yesterday was Mother’s Day and I tried to give my wife a break. So, this week’s post will be delayed until Tuesday.
One of the things I enjoy most about writing this newsletter is leading our philosophical read-alongs. In 2025, we’re tackling some great books: Arendt’s The Human Condition, Plato’s Republic, and even Chuang Tzu. As we move into 2026 (we’re already halfway there!), I’m thinking about two things: how to make these read-alongs even better, and what, exactly, we should read.
There are some problems: the books are demanding, and the read-alongs tend to naturally lose steam after a few weeks. We’re halfway through the Republic and I can see that many people have fallen behind either due to time or lack of interest. The Republic’s fall-off is a bit more dramatic than other books, but I’ve seen it happen with each book. (The Dispossessed had the best participation from start to finish.) The format in 2026 might look a little different than it has in 2025. We’ll see!
But this post, really, is about what books we should read together next year. Today, I’m asking you for suggestions. Leave those suggestions down in the comments. Keep in mind a few things:
Good suggestions are specific and provide reasons. Give me an author, a title, and a short argument.
Alternating between novels and philosophical texts has proven effective, but the novel matters. Le Guin was a big hit and made for great discussions, while Mrs Dalloway wasn’t quite as intellectually productive (though it was very good, and some of the discussions via Zoom were excellent).
I’ll keep an eye on likes, supportive replies to comments, etc., but it isn’t a vote. I’m soliciting suggestions, and I want to take those suggestions seriously, but it’s not as simple as just picking the top 5 comments.
If (and this is a big if) my book comes out early enough, I hope to include it in the 2026 read-along schedule. So, that’s one slot likely filled.
Augustine’s Confessions. People think of it as theological (and it is) but his reflections on the self, the cosmos, time, and other concepts massively shaped the Western philosophical soul.
My suggestion would be "Stories of Your Life and Others" by Ted Chiang, a collection of short stories. I have thoroughly enjoyed Chiang's work and his ability to make me think about what it means to be human. Bonus part of this pick, if you're into movies, is add in a watch of the film "Arrival" which is based on the titular story of the collection. Much discussion could then be had about translation from page to screen.