The 2026 Nonfiction Reading Guide
I'm back with the third annual NRG. 30 Books. All Great. You're Welcome.
Well, hello there. Need a book recommendation? Have no fear, my 2026 Nonfiction Reading Guide is here.
This year’s Nonfiction Reading Guide (NRG) is a 30-book reading list of some incredible, unputdownable nonfiction. We’ve got five categories ranging from a deep dive into one of my favorite cities in the 1980s to books that bang on audio. I also added a new category this year with book pairings from past episodes of The Stacks that fit neatly into each category. Plus, there are five bonus books recommended by five of my favorite readers. The nonfiction guide is available now through September 22 (AKA the last day of summer). Once it is gone, it is gone.
Here is a little more about what you can expect from the NRG.
All the books I suggest have been vetted by me; these are books I love. I read a lot of mid books to get to these gems. My goal with the guide, this year and every year, is to help you find your next favorite book.
Aside from a new category that ties into the podcast, these books have not been featured on The Stacks.1 There are a few authors who have been on the show, but not to talk about the books listed.
I will be hosting a virtual meet-up to discuss the guide with all paid subscribers2 today, Friday, May 22nd at 1:30 pm PT. I will go through the books in the guide and discuss whatever you all want to talk about. The link for this chat is below.
Sara Hildreth and I are also going live together here on Substack for everyone today, Friday, May 22nd at 10 am PT. We’ll chat about how we make our guides and answer your questions.
You can get the guide in one of three ways.
All paid subscribers on Patreon and Substack get the guide. If you’re not already paying here (or there), subscribe now. You’ll get the guide and all the other perks like bonus episodes, access to the Discord, virtual book clubs, and more.
If subscribing isn’t your thing, don’t worry. You can get a standalone PDF of the guide in my Patreon shop. It’s super easy, the same great guide, and no commitment3.
Joining as a paid subscriber here or on Patreon is how I’m able to make The Stacks podcast free week in and week out. If you like the show or any work I do, showing your support through a subscription is most impactful. I really and truly appreciate your commitment to this space and my work.4
One more thing.
This year, I will be donating all subscriptions and standalone purchases between now and June 4th to I AM ALS. Earlier this year, Sara Hildreth’s father died of ALS, and she mentioned wanting to donate her proceeds from her Paperback Summer Reading Guide5. I wouldn’t have an NRG if not for Sara advising me at every turn, and to honor her and her dad, I wanted to join her. Sara is generously matching all my donations and all of hers. Which means if you get one of our guides, we’ll donate $10 to ALS research. If you get both, that’s $20 donated. This is summer reading for a good cause!
Now that you know how to get it, let’s dive right in. Shall we?
Welcome to the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Guide
