The 2026 Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club!
Our 12 selected books, bonus activities (including new in-person gatherings!), meaningful discussions, expert tools + resources, and everything you need to know about the 2026 book club!
TL;DR: The 2026 lineup for the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club is ready! All paid subscribers are automatic members and will receive monthly reading guides, invitations to participate in online chats and Zoom book club discussions, bonus tools and resources, unique opportunities for in-person meetings, and more! Read on for more or join now by upgrading your subscription here:
** 2026 Edit: Are you a new member to the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club? You can find meeting info, schedule, and more details for the first half of the year here: Book Club Details: January - June, 2026! **
WELCOME!
After an incredible year of connecting with wonderful readers in the 2025 Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club, I’m so excited for us to do it again in 2026! We will once again be reading and discussing excellent nonfiction throughout the year, with some enriching new opportunities for further growth, learning, and connection added as well.
I’ve curated 12 powerful, unique, discussion-worthy nonfiction books - as well as additional titles on each topic for those wishing to delve even deeper - and crafted reading schedules, reflection guides, and more to accompany them. Whether you have a goal to read more nonfiction, wish to discuss important ideas with others, crave a deep reading experience with the additional resources you’ll receive, or would simply like to feel a part of a growth-oriented community while reading on your own, we’re here for you!
All are welcome and can reap the numerous benefits listed below - and all for about the price of a latte per month!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
In addition to a hand-selected list of recommended reads throughout the year, paid subscribers will also receive:
A reading guide for each monthly book selection, with prompts and reflection questions to deepen your experience and support your growth. Even if you don’t always get to the book, you can still use these questions for journaling or personal pondering.
A personal growth theme each month. In addition to our selected book each month, I’ll share a few other titles that I recommend on the theme, as well as articles, TED Talks, and other helpful resources.
A suggested reading schedule to help you divide each book into manageable, readable segments throughout the month.
Monthly discussions via the Reading And Purpose Substack chat. You’ll receive the schedule and can participate in real-time, or review and add thoughts at your leisure.
Quarterly meetings via Zoom where we’ll discuss all of our recent selections, top takeaways, points that stood out for us, and more. We’ll also explore fun bookish topics such as how to annotate, what to include in a reading journal, how we give star-ratings and what they mean, and of course other books to add to our ever-growing TBR (To Be Read) lists.
Quarterly meetings in person, too! If you long for more in-person connection with other insightful people, we have also planned these gatherings in the Des Moines, Iowa area in 2026.
Periodic worksheets, tools, and resources to help you apply what resonates with you. I bring together my 20+ years of coaching, training, and research experience to create these practical, purposeful resources for you!
And due to requests from current members, we’ll be adding a few bonus chats to discuss select fiction reads as well.
As always, we create the environment for a positive, purposeful, inclusive, and forward-moving experience. We don’t just read - we also discuss ways to apply what we’ve read for the betterment of our lives, families, professions, communities, and world at large.
Meaningful, purposeful, growth-oriented, and fun! And you can participate as much or as little as you’d like.
STRUCTURE, YET FLEXIBILITY:
A current member recently commented on how the Reading And Purpose book club truly has something for everyone, such as:
Live Text Chat - Perfect if you’re joining over a lunch break or between meetings, in a location not conducive for talking, or experiencing a bit of videoconference fatigue and just don’t feel like turning on the camera. The chat remains available after the live too, so you can review and add to it later if you can’t meet at the specified time.
Zoom - Enjoy the perks of conversation with readers near and far almost as if we’re sitting in a room together, all from the comfort of your own home, office, front porch, or wherever.
In-person - If you’re craving more in-person connection and are in central Iowa, we’ve planned several gatherings in 2026! (Plus everyone is always welcome to join us monthly for Your Best Self book club at Dog-Eared Books, too - be sure to visit their website for details and updates.)
On Your Own - Maybe you want a curated list of excellent books, helpful guides and resources, and a schedule to help hold you accountable but would prefer to do things on your own. No problem! You’re welcome and valued here, too.
Whether you join us to connect with other readers, to chat about books and topics that matter to you, to receive helpful resources to deepen your reading experience, to keep your reading on track with the guides and schedules, or simply to feel a part of the community even while participating in your own solo way, the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club is here for you!
2026 MONTHLY THEMES + BOOK LINEUP:
Here’s what we’ll be reading:
Month: January
Theme: Mindset
Book: How To Winter by Kari Leibowitz
The author began with the intention of learning how people who live in the coldest, darkest climates manage - only to discover that not only do they manage, they tend to absolutely thrive. This excellent, evidence-based book then shares stories and strategies to help us all flourish in winter specifically, and in various seasons of life generally. You’ll find application here even if you’re reading this in the middle of summer!
Month: February
Theme: Respect
Book: Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
It will warm your heart, rekindle your love for nature, encourage you to slow down, and remind you to honor what matters most in your life. I wrote a stand-alone review after reading this lovely book, recounting the power of respect, silence, and trust throughout the story. This was unlike any other memoir I’ve read and I can’t wait to revisit it with you all!
Month: March
Theme: Strength
Book: Strong Ground by Brene Brown
If you’re looking for ways to build a strong foundation - one based in values, mission, and a focus on the greater good - Brown is here to help. In addition to addressing her signature topics like vulnerability and imperfection, this book also leans into humanity-focused leadership and helping ourselves and others stay true to what matters most even amidst obstacles. Powerful and applicable.
Month: April
Theme: Optimism
Book: Practical Optimism by Sue Varma
An excellent blend of real-life stories, evidence-based suggestions, and practical actions for living with optimism and the benefits, health-related and otherwise, for doing so. This isn’t about head-in-the-sand positivity but rather resilience, action, mental strength, purpose, and more. If the title sounds familiar, perhaps it’s because I deemed it my top book of the year so far a few months back. (Stay tuned for my end-of-year rankings to see if it holds its spot!).
Month: May
Theme: Perspective
Book: Hope For Cynics by Jamil Zaki
This book offers a profound look at how hope and optimism - blended with data, healthy skepticism, and the like - can serve us better and lead to greater meaningful change than cynicism and doubt. I particularly appreciated the various stories of how, and why, people lean toward a brighter vision even while facing incredibly difficult situations. In addition to its valuable points and suggested actions, this book would be wonderful to revisit any time for a mood lift!
Month: June
Theme: Change
Book: The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna
I love a book that you can read in one or two sittings yet makes an impact that will last for years to come. A combination of engaging artwork, fascinating examples, and simple-yet-powerful suggestions, this will be a wonderful one to discuss whether you’re considering a career change, embarking on a new adventure, making a decision of some sort, or trying to define what your ‘next chapter’ will look like.
Month: July
Theme: Connection
Book: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
I heard about this book for years before finally picking it up, then once I started reading I couldn’t stop - plus it kicked off a stream of nature-focused reading that I have enjoyed ever since. Kimmerer brings her experience as a professor, mother, scientist, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation to provide us with a wise and astonishingly beautiful look into nature, humanity, and our relationship with it all. A gorgeous, inspiring read.
Month: August
Theme: Service
Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
This is an intriguing look at setting an outrageous goal and working to achieve it primarily by serving others exceptionally well. My own experience in the restaurant industry only spans a few years as a server in college, but the ideas and tips shared can be adapted and applied to all kinds of endeavors. I found myself rooting for Guidara and his team while also taking detailed notes for my own outrageous goals and desires to serve people well!
Month: September
Theme: Ambition
Book: Unapologetically Ambitious by Shellye Archambeau
Archambeau became one of the first African American female CEOs in high tech and this book generously shares what, exactly, it took for her to reach such heights. From the goals she set as a young adult, to the choices she made along the way, to the successes and difficulties and changing plans, we get an inside look at an incredible example of ambition and drive. I especially appreciated how heavily she relied on her values when making decisions and how she continued to do so even as her roles and ambitions shifted and changed.
Month: October
Theme: Wonder
Book: The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
In this uniquely-structured collection of essays, Green - previously most known for his young adult writing - ventures into nonfiction by discussing various items/aspects from everyday life and assigning them a rating on a 5-star scale. You may agree with some ratings, disagree with others, and discover things you never knew existed; what I loved most about this book, aside from its genuine hug for humanity, was how much more aware I felt in my own environment and life after reading. Surprisingly beautiful.
Month: November
Theme: Creativity
Book: In Defense of Dabbling by Karen Walrond
If I could describe this book in a word, I would choose freeing. Walrond, who has numerous credentials to her name, focuses this book on the joy of doing things merely for the sake of doing them - not to monetize, gain mastery, or get the gold star. If you have achiever, perfectionist, and/or Type A tendencies - or if you simply seek more ways to bring creativity and joy into your life without making it harder than necessary - this book will surely spark all kinds of ideas!
Month: December
Theme: Joy
Book: Joyful by Ingrid Fettel Lee
I am pretty sure I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading Joyful! Filled with unique ideas, you’ll discover ten areas to invoke joy into the everyday. I loved the mix of simple, practical examples, like how we plate our dinners, alongside possibilities I had never really considered before, such as vacationing in a treehouse. The different categories explored, from energy to celebration to various others, made joy feel even more within reach than it often may seem.
What a lineup!
Even with these wonderful recommended resources, we know life gets busy and unexpected events can interfere with even the best laid reading plans. As always, you can fully participate in our chats and meetings even if you haven’t completed the book! Our conversations are inclusive and you’ll walk away from each meeting with new insights from the books as well as from your fellow book club members.
HOW TO JOIN:
Simply become a paid subscriber to Reading And Purpose and you’re an automatic member! For about the price of a latte per month, you can be a part of this enriching and delightful reading experience. Upgrade or renew your subscription and you’re in!
LET’S ENJOY DEEPER READING AND GREATER PURPOSE IN 2026!
Personal growth, professional development, community engagement, relationship building, creative exploration…we’ll read and discuss it all in 2026! If the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Book Club speaks to you even a little, I hope you’ll upgrade your subscription and join us. And feel free to invite friends, colleagues, and others to join as well - you can add even more enrichment to your own experience this way!
Thank you for being part of the Reading And Purpose community, and thank you for considering joining our book club, too! I am grateful for these excellent books and can’t wait to delve into them more deeply with you in 2026!
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Dr. Christi Hegstad is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and self-proclaimed book nerd, here to help you work with meaning, live with purpose, and reach bold + difference-making goals! Peruse coaching opportunities at ChristiHegstad.com, email questions to ReadingAndPurpose(at)gmail(dot)com, and check out book recommendations at the Reading And Purpose bookshop.org store (your book purchases through the links provided may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you).
Thank you for being here!
Just upgraded, I'm really excited for this! I need more nonfiction books in my life, but even better to have a community to discuss it with.
Hello everyone! I’m very excited to join you. Is there a set date for the book for February?