Top 007 Books For 2026

Insight 81 | If you are reading this week's newsletter, it means you survived the two most difficult weeks that were in store for your New Year's resolutions. It also means you are the type of person who is curious and interested in learning more.

If this is the case, today's writing is something you will likely refer back to.

Looking in anticipation for an incredible 2026, here are my personal “Top 007” recommendations and their biggest takeaways in the form of my favorite quote or lesson from the work: 

1. Unreasonable Hospitality, by Will Guidara

Lesson: The One-Inch Rule! Many people, before the baton ever gets passed to you, put in the work to get to the finish line. When it's your turn, make sure not to trip, mess up, or fail on the last inch. “Perfection till the end.”

There were countless takeaways from this New York Times Bestseller, but this notion has stuck with me. Oftentimes, our work takes more than an individual person, and we owe it not only to ourselves, but also to those who have sweated by the scenes, to deliver our best to the very end.

2. The Go Giver, by Bob Burg and John David Mann

Lesson: (I’ll keep it a surprise as I completed the book in just over six hours and believe it’s highly worth your time to give it a perusal.)

If there were a singular book you MUST read off this list its this one. The great teacher of all time, Jesus, was known for teaching in parables. Two thousand years later, we know he was ahead of his time. Humans learn best through stories. The Go Give is a story packed with life truths that will have you thinking about the character long after you finish the little work. 

3. Can’t Hurt Me, by David Goggins

Quote: “I’ll never trust a smile or judge a scowl.”

We all know that wolves in sheep's clothing exist, but have we ever considered the other side of the coin? Sheep can have a bad day too, sometimes making them look like creatures they are not. Or in other words, we don’t always know what it's ​like to be the other person​; this kind of empathy is critical in accepting personal responsibilities in life while avoiding the temptation to blame everything on everybody else! There is more to a book, than just its cover.

4. The Little Red Book of Wisdom, by Mark DeMoss

Lesson: Write more letters!

Although I read this book when I was around thirteen or fourteen, certain learnings from it have stuck with me to this day. While I wasn’t old enough to appreciate the depth and impact of this little life hack when I first learned it, being in full adult mode has made me realize just how much a little bit of intentionality can help you stand out from the crowd or leave an impression worth remembering. The best part? Its simple and cost-effective. Buy a few blank envelopes, grab a pen, and write away. When you're done, deliver the card and watch how their eyes brighten up and begin to shimmer.

5. What I talk about when I talk about running, by Haruki Murakami: 

Quote: “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

I’ve recently learned I'm a lover of memoirs, and this one resonates on two levels. First, as a runner, and second, as a writer, due to the author, Murakami, also being both. Specifically, this quote made me realize something profound: We can choose to enjoy the process. This is true in writing and running, but I argue it's just as applicable to all of life. Sometimes, there are moments that hurt, that’s pain, whether or not you suffer is something much more under your own control.

6. The Dip, by Seth Godin: 

Quote: “All our successes are the same. All our failures, too. We succeed when we do something remarkable. We fail when we give up too soon. We succeed when we are the best in the world at what we do. We fail when we get distracted by tasks we don’t have the guts to quit.”

Ladies and gentlemen, Quitting is ok! Sometimes it’s even for the better. If you realize you have been walking down the wrong path, is it better to stay on it or turn back? Obviously, turn back! And yet we become entrench on our ways just because we don’t want to “quit”. This small quote made it bright as day; this, too, is just another tool in your list of strategies. It should not be your first resource, but certainly do not be afraid of it when needed.

007. The Psychology of Money, by Charlie Mackey:

Quote: "Thinking of market volatility as a fee rather than a fine is an important part of developing the kind of mindset that lets you stick around long enough for investing gains to work in your favor."

Most things worth getting into have some sort of price to pay. C’est la vie. The subtle change in understanding that marks all the difference ies how we interpret the price we pay. See, if you think of it as a “Fine,” you will undoubtedly think yourself into a negative, fixed mindset. You will think you have done something wrong or believe the world is out to get you when it's not. On the other hand, thinking about the cost as a “Fee” restructures your mind's understanding to interpret it as the admission ticket to an amusement park. Sometimes you are more htan willingly pay because you know what is on the other side is beyond worth it. The same is true for life.

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These were my personal treasures of wisdom from these texts… I wonder what yours will be.

If you’ve been meaning to get into reading this year, I firmly believe you cannot go wrong with choosing any of the books from the list above. But if you're looking for a small push, consider this quote that revolutionized the way I approached literature:

“Read What You Love, Until You Love To Read” - Naval Ravikant, Entrepreneur and Investor.

Start somewhere, no matter if it's short or completely for fun. At the end of the day, reading is only one tool in the entire kit of learning at your disposal. But then again Presdient Harry S. Truman said it well:

 "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers".

If you know someone who might benefit from a good reading recommendation, then go ahead and forward this email to them. We’d love for them to join the Curiosity Community we’re building here. Oh, and when you pick up a copy of one of these books for yourself, please reach out to let me know your thoughts and the treasures you find! I look forward to hearing from you. 

In the meantime…

- Making The Most Of Being Curious

Daniel J. Cuesta

P.S. While all these are great recommendations, when it's all put ot the test, there is one text that stands above them all: The Bible. The Word of God is hands down the single most fruitful piece you could read and digest over the course of your life. It is guaranteed to reap countless dividends in all areas of your life for years to come, and if you pay attention, you will notice it is a common denominator among many of the arsenals of successful leaders throughout history. If you find that you yourself are not a believer or see no merit to reading scripture, I challenge you to read it as a critic, to put it to the test, and see just how it performs. I have no doubt you will enjoy what you find.

P.S.S. (If you are interested in more great books with great people, visit the DC online book rec list at the link below!)

DC Book Recs: ​Link

Sources:

• Unreasonable Hospitality: Whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much. - Luke 16:10

• The Go Giver: It is more blessed to give than to receive. - Acts 20:35 

• Can’t Hurt Me: Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. - 1 Samuel 16:7

• The Little Red Book of Wisdom: Gracious words are like a honeycomb. -Proverbs 16:24 

• What I talk about when I talk about running: For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. - Hebrews 12:11

• The Dip: The prudent sees danger and hides himself. Proverbs 22:3

• The Psychology of Money:  And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” - Luke 9:23