The most popular essays books of 2026

Essays are short works of nonfiction in which a writer thinks something through. The subject can be anything: politics, a walk, a film, a grief. What matters is the mind at work and the voice. Collections here range from the classic to the sharply contemporary. This list shows the ones first published in 2026.

Cover of Obsessed with the Best 100+ Methodically Perfected Recipes Based on 20+ Head-To-Head Tests

Obsessed with the Best 100+ Methodically Perfected Recipes Based on 20+ Head-To-Head Tests

Ella Quittner

Published 2026

384 pages

Cover of Things Trees Know

Things Trees Know

Douglas Wood

Published 2026

64 pages

Cover of The Scientist As Rebel Revised Edition

The Scientist As Rebel Revised Edition

Freeman Dyson

Published 2026

464 pages

Cover of Adult Braces

Adult Braces

Lindy West

Published 2026

432 pages

Cover of Your Presence Is a Danger to Your Life Voices from Gaza

Your Presence Is a Danger to Your Life Voices from Gaza

Samar Yazbek

Published 2026

256 pages

Cover of Word Is Bond The Untold Story of Hip-Hop Journalism

Word Is Bond The Untold Story of Hip-Hop Journalism

Syreeta Gates

Published 2026

240 pages

Cover of Lifelines Searching for Home in the Mountains of Greece

Lifelines Searching for Home in the Mountains of Greece

Julian Hoffman

Published 2026

300 pages

Cover of The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy

The Penguin Book of Existentialist Philosophy

Jonathan Webber

Published 2026

400 pages

Cover of Lucky Devils How Three Tech Mad Gamblers Beat the Odds and Made Millions

Lucky Devils How Three Tech Mad Gamblers Beat the Odds and Made Millions

Kit Chellel

Published 2026

320 pages

Cover of Herlands Lessons from Societies Where Women Make the Rules

Herlands Lessons from Societies Where Women Make the Rules

Megha Mohan

Published 2026

320 pages

Cover of The Journal of Beatles Studies (Volume 4, Issue 2)

The Journal of Beatles Studies (Volume 4, Issue 2)

Holly Tessler, Paul Long

Published 2026

184 pages

Cover of Black Architect

Black Architect

Sekou Cooke

Published 2026

144 pages

Cover of The Sexuality of Care On Nursing, Kink, and a Future Without Hospitals

The Sexuality of Care On Nursing, Kink, and a Future Without Hospitals

M. K. Thekkumkattil

Published 2026

240 pages

Cover of There Is No Meant to Be A Family Story

There Is No Meant to Be A Family Story

Jarred McGinnis

Published 2026

288 pages

Cover of Dressing the Queen The Designers, Embroiderers and Corset-Makers to the Crown

Dressing the Queen The Designers, Embroiderers and Corset-Makers to the Crown

Kate Strasdin

Published 2026

368 pages

Cover of This Is Running A Celebration of the World of Running, Exploring the Culture, History, Brands, Races and People Behind It

This Is Running A Celebration of the World of Running, Exploring the Culture, History, Brands, Races and People Behind It

Raziq Rauf

Published 2026

240 pages

Cover of Queer Art (Art Essentials)

Queer Art (Art Essentials)

Gemma Rolls-Bentley, Mollie E. Barnes

Published 2026

176 pages

Cover of Carrying War

Carrying War

Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt

Published 2026

232 pages

Cover of Birds As Individuals and Living with Birds

Birds As Individuals and Living with Birds

Len Howard

Published 2026

448 pages

Cover of The Cosmic Oval

The Cosmic Oval

Ella Finer

Published 2026

96 pages

Cover of Residential Architecture

Residential Architecture

Kazuo Shinohara

Published 2026

284 pages

Cover of Voyages of the Naughty Lass

Voyages of the Naughty Lass

Robbie Cumming

Published 2026

288 pages

Cover of Ghost Stories

Ghost Stories

Siri Hustvedt

Published 2026

320 pages

Cover of Borrowed Land A Highland Story

Borrowed Land A Highland Story

Kapka Kassabova

Published 2026

352 pages

Load more books