On My 2026 Reading List

When was the last time you picked up a book and read it cover to cover?

I used to be a big reader. I think it started in elementary school when we were given designated time to read (my school had DEAR – Drop Everything and Read) and always had a library book at our desk to read during down time. I also grew up in the era where we eagerly awaited the release of new Harry Potter books and bookstores would have midnight release parties. My parents never would take me to a midnight release party, but I was usually treated to a bookstore trip to pick up the latest copy on release day or allowed to preorder the book.

Various points systems probably also motivated me to read more. During the summers, our township library had great summer reading programs with Library Bucks earned based on the length and reading level of the book that could be exchanged for prizes at the end of the summer. And who could forget AR points? (For you youngsters, school library books were assigned colored reading levels and were valued on a points system – usually more points for higher reading levels. We were assigned a certain number of points to earn each quarter of the school year, which were earned by taking a quiz after reading the book. Ace the quiz, get the full number of points. Miss a question or two, a few points were knocked off. Just make sure to read enough books and score highly enough on the quizzes to earn your quarterly target.)

Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any local libraries that offer adult summer reading programs. (Boo.)

My annual book count fell by the wayside in college as required textbook reading edged out interest in reading for pleasure. And then I was launched into full-fledged adulthood with a job and new responsibilities. I feel like others in this stage of life can probably relate.

So what motivates me to read today? Honestly, figuring out what I needed from books is what worked them back into my routine. And for me, that’s knowledge that I can glean directly from non-fiction (usually in the food and ag space) or indirectly from historical fiction (I know it’s written for kids, but I would love to re-read the Little House on the Prairie series again as an adult!).

Here’s what I have on my reading list for 2026:

• Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents – and What They Mean for America’s Future by Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D.
  • Learning how messages resonate with our target audience is a big consideration in consumer engagement, and we know that the generation someone belongs to can influence their views, their concerns, and where they seek new information. This book was recommended to me a few years ago and I’m excited to finally dive into it.
• Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation by Andrea Wulf
  • This is another book that was recently recommended to me, and I think the timing is perfect as the U.S. marks the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this summer. We are also considering opportunities where we can connect with consumer audiences through gardening, so I’m interested to see whether this could be a future book club title.
• Tractor Wars: John Deere, Henry Ford, International Harvester, and the Birth of Modern Agriculture by Neil Dahlstrom
  • Tractor Wars has been in the stack of books on the bottom shelf of my coffee table for a long time and this is the year I’m finally going to finish it! Iowa PBS aired a documentary last February that I’ve also been meaning to watch.
• Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves by Nicola Twilley
  • Refrigeration is huge in our modern food system. I’m curious to learn more about how it came to be as well as what the author discusses when it comes to ‘Our Planet’ and ‘Ourselves.’ This book is rated relatively highly in online book communities and I’m interested to see how my notes compare.
• Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth Wayland Barber
  • Women’s Work explores the development of textiles and their influence on cultures across thousands of years. As someone who enjoys hobbies like crocheting and sewing, the summary of this book piqued my interest. I’m not sure how closely this will relate to agriculture – breaking from the theme of this list – but I’ll consider it my fun read for the year.

And if you’re just here for a book recommendation and happen to like non-fiction, Grocery: The Buying and Selling of Food in America by Michael Ruhlman is one of my favorites! Grocery explores how modern grocery stores may influence how we shop for food and shape the way we eat. It gives a great starting point for food conversations, from meal planning and recipe sharing to how grocery shopping might look different for a family living in town minutes from a grocery store compared to a farm family living 30+ minutes from the nearest Walmart.

Have a recommendation for me? Drop the title in the comments!