How should adults think about reading goals for the coming year—and how do you read more books without letting reading become a burden?

In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we talk about reading goals for 2026 and what it takes to build a reading life that lasts. Whether you’re an avid reader, returning after a long break, or feeling overwhelmed by unfinished books, this conversation explores better ways to read with intention and balance. We discuss fiction and nonfiction, reading for work versus pleasure, and why shared reading and conversation matter so much.

Comment your reading list for 2026! Book recommendations are always welcome.

*Tanya's Stack of Books*

Sense and Sensibility — Jane Austen

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating — Elisabeth Tova Bailey

Absent in the Spring — Agatha Christie

The Door — Magda Szabo

Mystery and Manners — Flannery O'Connor

The Headmaster — John McPhee

Marce Catlett — Wendell Berry

*Martin's Stack of Books*

The Giver — Lois Lowry

Booth Tarkington Biography

Wonderworks — Angus Fletcher

The Master and His Emissary — Iain McGilchrist

Primal Intelligence — Angus Fletcher

The Digital Delusion — Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath

The Last of the Mohicans — James Fenimore Cooper

Quo Vadis — Henryk Sienkiewicz

Sense and Sensibility — Jane Austen

The Jungle Book — Rudyard Kipling

*Paul's Stack of Books*

The Greek Way — Edith Hamilton

The Biological Farmer — Gary F. Zimmer

The Liturgy of the Land — Thomas D. Van Horn & Jason M. Craig

Against the Machine — Paul Kingsnorth

The Wild Orchid — Sigrid Undset

The Southern Tradition at Bay — Richard M. Weaver

The Ministry of Fear — Graham Greene

*Jessica's Stack of Books*

I Beheld the Mountains — Joseph Payne

The Modern Proper — Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

Remarkably Bright Creatures — Shelby Van Pelt

Little Women — Louisa May Alcott

By Her Own Design — Piper Huguley

There is no shortage of advice about how Latin _should_ be taught—immersion, conversation, grammar-first, or a blending of methods. In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we step back and ask a more fundamental question: what should be the real _goal_ of learning Latin, and how should that goal shape the way we teach it? We discuss grammar versus immersion, reading and speaking, and why different methods produce very different results—especially for children. Join us as we clarify common misconceptions and answer several listener questions!

*What We're Reading* from This Episode:

"Hamnet" Maggie O'Farrell (Tanya)

"Hamlet" William Shakespeare (Tanya)

"North and South" Elizabeth Gaskell (Tanya)

"Trust" Hernan Diaz (Paul)

"Mythology" Edith Hamilton (Martin)

"Plutarch's Lives" Plutarch (Martin)

"Practical Theology" Peter Kreeft (Martin)

"The Portrait of a Lady" Henry James (Martin)

Is a classical education practical in today’s world of trades, technology, and rapidly changing careers? In this episode of _Classical Et Cetera_ we explore that question through the real-life experiences of two classically educated graduates—one studying computer science, the other pursuing a trade. Together, we discuss how classical education prepares students not for a single job, but for many possible paths. From plumbing to programming, we examine transferable skills, lifelong learning, and the formation that equips students for real work and real life.

Due to technical difficulties this episode is audio-only. Thanks for bearing with us, and we'll see you next week!

*What We're Reading* from This Episode:

"Trust" Hernan Diaz (Paul)

"Every Thing You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven" Peter Kreeft (Danny)

"Oathbringer" Brandon Sanderson (August)