The Best Books I Read in September 2026
I’m trying something new with this post.
Because I’m always on the lookout for good book recommendations, I wanted to share a few books I’ve read lately and ask for your recs.
Add a comment below this post with 1-2 of your favorite recent books.
My Favorites from September
I read twice as many books this month as I normally do. That’s because my wife and I were on vacation for a week and a half, then I had work trips to New York and Minneapolis, so I got a lot of reading time in airplanes and hotels.
Here’s what I read this month, ranked in order of my favorites:
1. The Castle by Jon Ronson
- Genre: Nonfiction - Weird Stories, True Crime
- # of Pages: 336
This book is classic Ronson: quirky, page-turning, and shocking. The story begins as Ronson’s son and a few friends get invited to a castle in the woods, where the creepy owner of the castle is filming a reality show called “101 Princesses.” Things only get weirder from there. And btw, if you don’t know Jon Ronson, he’s an investigative journalist who loves to write about strange true events, so the fact that this story fell into his lap is a miracle.
2. The Missing Crypto Queen by Jamie Bartlett
- Genre: Nonfiction - Fraud, True Crime, Cryptocurrency, Finance
- # of Pages: 320
Bartlett wrote the definitive account of the second-biggest Ponzi scheme in history. (Bernie Madoff was the biggest.) And remarkably, this one didn’t get much press—partly because it happened in the confusing digital world of cryptocurrency. Barlett’s story-telling is fast-paced and also educational. You’ll get entralled by the wild characters and also learn a lot about crypto along the way.
3. Switch by Chip & Dan Heath
- Genre: Nonfiction - Business, Leadership, Change Management
- # of Pages: 320
The Brothers Heath are two of my favorite business authors. I’ve loved everything they’ve written, and their book Switch is the best book on change management I’ve found. It contains a helpful three-step framework and tons of real-world examples about how to motivate others and communicate change more effectively as a leader.
4. Never Enough by Andrew Wilkinson
- Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir, Business, Entrepreneurship
- # of Pages: 288
I'm shocked I've never heard anyone talk about this book. It's one of the most honest explorations I've found about whether money creates happiness. (Hint: It doesn't.) Wilkinson's story is also a masterclass in the highs and lows of running a business.
5. Verity by Colleen Hoover
- Genre: Fiction - Thriller, Psychological
- # of Pages: 368
I had never read a Colleen Hoover novel because she mostly writes romance, which isn't really my thing. But based on how good this book is, I hope she writes more thrillers soon. Verity is a dark tale about a ghostwriter whose newest project leads to twisted places. The movie version just hit theaters on Friday.
6. Sliver by Ira Levin
- Genre: Fiction - Thriller, Horror
- # of Pages: 210
A few years ago, I stumbled across Ira Levin's work, and he quickly became one of my favorite writers. Levin passed away in 2007, but his books like Rosemary's Baby and The Stepford Wives live on in pop culture. This little-known book is about a woman who moves into a New York high-rise and learns horrifying facts about the owner.
7. Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings by Jared Diamond
- Genre: Nonfiction - History, Leadership
- # of Pages: 288
This September 2026 release is an interesting exploration of whether leaders actually impact history as much as we think, written by the bestselling author of Guns, Germs, and Steel. I’d give the book three stars out of five. It’s way too philosophical for most readers, but I enjoyed it and learned a few new things.
8. Tales of Horror by H.P. Lovecraft
- Genre: Fiction - Horror, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
- # of Pages: 377
I’ve heard about Lovecraft for years, but had never read his work until checking out this short story collection this month. I enjoyed the haunting, mysterious worlds of these stories, and I know I’ll read more of his haunting cosmic horror at some point.
9. As You Wish by Cary Elwes
- Genre: Nonfiction - Memoir, Filmmaking, Movies
- # of Pages: 272
I recently re-watched The Princess Bride (it holds up), so it was great fun to read this light-hearted memoir by the swashbuckling Westley. I did this one on audiobook, which was the perfect medium because Elwes reads it himself and includes guest readings from the other stars of the film.
10. Time Anxiety by Chris Guillebeau
- Genre: Nonfiction - Personal Development, Productivity
- # of Pages: 288
Most of Guillebeau’s books are about entrepreneurship. (Btw, if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, you should definitely check out his book The $100 Startup.) Time Anxiety offers a nice change of pace, as Guillebeau unpacks his own struggles with trying to be productive while not losing track of what’s most meaningful in life.
11. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
- Genre: Fiction - Classic Literature, Psychological, Allegorical
- # of Pages: 128
I’ve been working my way through the Top 200 Books of All Time, and this is one of Kafka’s two classics on the list. Honestly, it wasn’t my jam, but I’m still glad I read it because it’s interesting to see which books have influenced literary history. Kafka’s absurdist novel pushed themes of existential alienation and magical realism into the public consciousness.
12. Lead Like a Pro by Eric Girard
- Genre: Nonfiction - Leadership, Early Management
- # of Pages: 154
This was the least impactful book I read this month. I read a lot of books for first-time managers because I’m writing a book for that audience right now, and this one was primarily a regurgitation of popular concepts from other authors. If you’re looking for a great management primer, check out The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo or The First-Time Manager by Belker, McCormick, and Topchik.
What’s one of your favorite books you’ve read recently? Let me know!
Note: Each book above includes an affiliate link from Bookshop.org. (If you purchase one of the books, you’ll support me as well as local bookstores. Win-win!)
