My Top 12 Books for 2026

Why real wisdom is borrowed—not earned the hard way.

I’m including my Top 12 book recommendations to start your 2026 for subscribers who refer at least one new subscriber to Relentless Pursuit (If you already have, you’ll see the list down below. If you refer someone new, you’ll receive the list in a separate email).

Thank you to everyone who shares this, it helps the newsletter grow and I greatly appreciate the support!

I love this quote:

Some people insist on learning everything the hard way.

They won’t change until it hurts.

They keep repeating the same failures.

They carry the scars as proof that they “earned” the lesson.

But the older I get, the more convinced I am:

Life is too short to make every mistake yourself.

Wisdom isn’t just learning from experience.

Wisdom is learning from someone else’s experience—so you don’t have to bleed for every insight.

And for me, the greatest shortcut to that kind of wisdom has always been reading.

Why I’m Raising Readers

Growing up, I was obsessed with books.

I devoured Harry Potter.

My mom always made sure the next book was waiting for me the day it came out.

That shaped me more than I realized at the time.

Today, I have a rule in our home:

📖 Every kid over six must read 20 pages before they get any screen time, video games, etc.

If I can teach my kids to fall in love with reading…

…I am handing them a lifetime supply of wisdom, mentors, and perspective — at almost no cost.

They’ll make mistakes, but not every mistake.

They’ll gain experience, but not only through pain.

🔒 Bonus Section (Unlocked by 1 Referral)

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The Lesson

You can learn everything the hard way.

You can let life punch you in the mouth and hope you absorb enough wisdom to avoid the next hit.

Or…

You can build a habit of studying the failures, victories, and patterns of people far ahead of you.

Pain will still come — but you won’t waste it.

A smart man learns from his mistakes.

A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

A relentless man learns from both.

Don’t settle. Be relentless.

— Hunter