At the beginning of 2026, I set a goal to read 100 books.
Because I looked at my already full life and thought, “You know what this needs? Homework.”
Now we’ve reached the halfway point of the year, and I have officially read 45 books.
Pretty impressive if I do say so myself.
But, if you’re familiar with math, you may notice that 45 is not half of 100. Half of 100 is 50.
So yes, I am a little behind pace.
But I’m also 45 books more likely to annoyingly start a conversation by saying, “Actually, I just read a book about that.”
You can see the full list of books from my 2026 reading challenge update here: What I’m reading in 2026
The Midyear Stats – My Reading Challenge Update
Through July 1, I’ve read:
- 45 total books
- 14 ebooks
- 12 physical books
- 19 audiobooks
- 7 fiction
- 38 nonfiction
- 19 humor books (at least I thought they were funny)
- 9 sports books
Yes, this means that audiobooks are the majority of books I’ve “read.” I can call them books I’ve “consumed” instead of “read”, if it makes you feel better/more self-righteous.
I know some people still like to debate whether audiobooks “count” as reading. To which I say: Good for you, Dr. Ready McNoAudioBooks. You do you.
My Five Favorite Books So Far
Picking favorites is always difficult, considering the diverse genres. But here we are. These 5 stood out as my favorite reads
Heartland by Keith O’Brien
Heartland tells the story of Larry Bird before he became Larry Legend — my favorite player as a kid. It focuses on his childhood in Indiana and his remarkable college basketball run at Indiana State. (Indiana WHO? Yeah, exactly.) Keith O’Brien dug deep, researching and interviewing people close to the action around that time. Great sports story – especially for Bird nerds, like me.
Heartland Book Review: Larry Bird & Indiana State Basketball – Scott Johnson
Calico Joe by John Grisham
Calico Joe was a bit of a curveball from John Grisham, at least if you mostly think of him as the legal thriller guy. This one is a (fiction) baseball story about a young phenom, a bitter pitcher, one devastating moment, and the colateral damage that lasted decades.
Grisham knows baseball. I’d call this one “historical fiction”. He mixed real life players, events and authentic baseball vibes with a mythical rookie whose career was cut short.
It’s Only Drowning by David Litt
David Litt’s It’s Only Drowning was another favorite. I suppose technically another sports book, although surfing just seems like trying not to die instead of trying to score points.
Litt, a former Obama speechwriter, tells his story of learning to surf with his Liberatarian brother-in-law. A complicated but rewarding relationaship forms on neutral ground…er…water.
It’s Only Drowning Book Review — Opinions from Non-Surfer – Scott Johnson
Big Fan by Michael Schur and Joe Posnanski
I guess I’m into sports books. This one is about sports fandom written by Michael Schur and Joe Posnanski.
Big Fan is funny, smart, and painfully accurate about the irrational emotional contract we sign when we decide to care about sports teams. Being a fan is ridiculous, wonderful and terrible. We’re not just talking about the big sports (football, baseball, basketball.) This duo covers darts, pickleball, Taylor Swift, and Star Wars. And they also attempt to hug Mookie Betts.
Big Fan by Michael Schur and Joe Posnanski: A Sports Fan’s Review – Scott Johnson
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
NOT sports this time! I did not expect one of my favorite books of the year to be about plants.
Plants!
I mean, I respect plants. They make oxygen. They provide shade. Some of them become french fries.
In Lab Girl, Hope Jahren blends science, memoir, friendship, ambition, and…plants. It moves back and forth between the natural world and her own personal story building a career in science.
Lab Girl Book Review: Hope Jahren Made Me Feel Bad About My Garden – Scott Johnson
Funniest Book So Far
The funniest book I read in the first half of 2026 was:
Little Victories by Jason Gay
Jason Gay is my spirit animal. Little Victories hit the sweet spot for me. He writes ridiculous humor essays about sports, parenting and life. Sort of kind of exactly what I attempt to do (Books – Scott Johnson).
Little Victories Book Review: Small Wins Matter – Scott Johnson
Honorable Mention (Funniest): The Land and Its People by David Sedaris
David Sedaris is still David Sedaris. That means his observations are often odd and occasionally cringy. Sometimes you laugh while also wondering if you should feel bad about laughing.
The Land and Its People deserves an honorable mention for funniest book so far because Sedaris remains one of the premier humor essayist today. This book was released in 2026 and I got an advanced copy. So I feel special and honored.
The Land and Its People Book Review: David Sedaris Does It Again – Scott Johnson
Weirdest Book So Far
Harold by Steven Wright
Goofy, deadpan comedian Steven Wright writing a novel is exactly as strange as you’d expect.
Harold is weird, dry, wandering, clever, and very Steven Wright. It doesn’t move like a normal book. It sort of drifts sideways through a child’s mind (represented by birds flying through a picture frame) while mixing in jokes and observations. Weird, but fun.
Biggest Surprise
A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost
My biggest surprise of the first half of the year was A Very Punchable Face by SNL Weekend Update host, Colin Jost.
Surprising because I ended up liking Colin Jost.
Not that I DISLIKED Jost prior to this book. I didn’t really have strong Colin Jost feelings at all. Perhaps a bit of jealousy for marrying Scarlett Johansson.
But the memoir won me over.
Jost is funny, self-aware, kinda nerdy, and more likable than I expected.
SNL Books Every Fan Should Read (Live from Your Bookshelf!) – Scott Johnson
Am I Behind?
Yes.
Thank you for asking during this difficult time.
To stay on pace for 100 books, I should have hit 50 books by July 1. I made it to 45.
That leaves 55 books to read in the second half of the year.
That’s a little over two books per week.
The second half strategy is simple:
Read shorter books sometimes.
Listen to more audiobooks (although I already lean on audio pretty hard.)
Keep a book on my phone.
Keep a physical book nearby.
Do not decide in October that now would be a good time to start a 900-page biography of someone who invented the yoga mat.
Unless it’s funny.
Then maybe.
Wish me luck!
