Book List of 2026

Last year, I read 11 books. That feels tiny, but several of these were beefy or dense. In any case, I’d like to read 12 books this year. Cheers!

1. Dear Delia edited by Michael J. Larson and John David Smith
   There are a number of Civil War diaries out there, offering excellent sources of firsthand experiences during this conflict. Captain Henry F. Young of the 7th Wisconsin is no exception. Compiled during his three-year enlistment, Young’s diary often drops the reader next to him. He writes on boxes, lying down, or in his tent while the rain falls violently. For my fellow reenactors, this could help with impressions, especially if you portray members of the Iron Brigade. I started this book last year, but finished it on January 6, just before bed.
2. My Life in the Irish Brigade by William McCarter and edited by Kevin E. O’Brien
   Perhaps it’s too early to say so, but a pattern is emerging. Will this be the year of diaries? Private McCarter’s experience lasted less than a year before his wounding at Fredericksburg, but he shares some interesting experiences about camp life, his excellent penmanship, and seeing battle for the first time. I was particularly interested in the time he spent at a Unionist’s house in Virginia. Of course, there are hard times in war, but McCarter’s stay at Mr. Turner’s seems to have been a good one. I recommend this to Civil War fans and aspiring diarists.
3. Intrepid Sailors by Chipp Reid
   At first, this book crosses from flashbacks to the present tense in a bit of a confusing way. However, after the first chapter, I was engrossed. Following the third campaign against the Barbary Pirates in 1803, led by Commodore Edward Preble, it feels like a narrative rather than an academic work. Reid incorporates sources smoothly and creates a bond between the reader and Preble. I had to remind myself that these were real people, which cemented the connection further. I recommend it to anyone interested in naval history.
4. To Appomattox: Nine April Days, 1865 by Burke Davis
   I’m ashamed that it’s July and I’ve only read four books thus far – three books behind my goal. Aside from that, this group of tales, detailing “human beings under stress,” is an excellent collection of perspectives. It was published in 1959. You can tell the author’s leanings when he describes Federal forces as “our enemy.” However, the 409 pages detail the last nine days of the conflict between Grant’s Union forces and Lee’s Confederate troops in a way that captures the sullenness and occasional moments of humor. Really enjoyed how Davis includes the stories from privates, hospital nurses, and general officers throughout.
5. Point of Contact by Mike Maden
   This is a Jack Ryan Jr. story in the Tom Clancy world. Sent on a “white-side” job to analyze a corporate merger, Ryan stumbles upon something bigger. Just like any Clancy novel, this one picks up its pace throughout until the climax. I enjoy the pattern where we get the satisfaction of watching the bad guys go to jail. Maden wrote this in Clancy’s voice, and I liked the modern environment. Quickest read of the year so far in under two weeks!
6. Command Authority by Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney
   This is a Jack Ryan Jr. story in the Tom Clancy world. Sent on a “white-side” job to analyze a corporate merger, Ryan and forensic accountant Paul Brown find the audit is cover for something much bigger, and end up outrunning both a team of assassins and a tropical storm. Maden wrote this in Clancy’s voice, and I liked the modern environment — Singapore instead of the usual Cold War theater. Quickest read of the year so far in under two weeks!
7. Animal Farm by George Orwell
   I’ve been meaning to read this book for years, and I finally did — in two days. It’s much shorter than anything I’ve read in a while. Orwell traces a farm’s slide from rebellion to dictatorship, animal by animal, decree by decree. As Snowball and Napoleon jockey for control, the split reads like Trotsky against Stalin — the revolution’s ideals against its betrayal. Orwell’s real warning is how easily that betrayal slides past everyone watching it happen. Written during WWII, the echoes of that conflict resonate against the barn and into the ploughed fields.

Check out my Book List of 2025

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