What to Read in Q1 2026

Zainab Aderounmu

January 20, 2026

The right books to read in the first quarter of 2026 shouldn’t only entertain you, but also give you clarity and tools for building mental strength.

The idea is to set the tempo for the year with books that would challenge your usual thoughts and refine how you show up in your world.

1. My first recommendation is Becoming Bulletproof by Evy Pompouras. As a former Secret Service Agent, who protected about three presidents of the United States, Evy teaches you how to navigate extremely stressful situations, read other people and live a life of influence.

The interesting fact about this book is that the author has walked the talk owing to her life’s experiences. Imaging actively surviving the 9/11 and interviewing tons of criminals during the course of her career as an agent. If mental strength and people management are skills you want to build, this is your top pick.

2. My second pick for you is Rejection Proof by Jia Jang. This is an old book, and I’m often surprised when people say they haven’t read it. It’s that good, not just in the sense of being entertaining but instructive as well. Jang embarked on an experiment called 100 Days of Rejection, where he had to ask strangers for stuff and get at least 100 rejections. The data he collected was profound but I won’t tell you about it; you’d have to read the book. However, this book would help you understand the science of rejections and how to deal with the situation when someone tells you no. Sometimes, it might just be the way you asked.

3. In addition to that, I’m definitely recommending E for Excellence by Temilade Salami. She’s a Climate Change education and communications expert whose passion for young people has led her to mentor hundreds of young professionals. In this book, she lists 30 skills that young people need to lead boldly and successfully in their careers. Like the above authors, she lives by these values and embodies them even in her teachings.

In sum, readers are leaders; I hope we both agree on that. But, it might be hard to pick out what to read, because there are lots of options to choose from. You can begin with these three to kickstart your year on a solid note.

Zainab ADEROUNMU A. W. is a First Class graduate of English Language and the Overall Best Graduating Student from the Lagos State University, Lagos Nigeria. She’s a professional Master of Ceremonies, known as The Hijabi Compere , a public speaking coach and Communications Professional. She is currently a Youth advisor to the European Union where she doubles as the Spokesperson and Head of Communications & PR for the Youth Sounding Board.