May 2026
The 2026 Summer Reading List
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become much more selective about what I read. Great books pull me in and change how I think. Bad books steal my time. So without further ado, here are the books that have earned a spot on this year’s summer reading list.
Check out last year’s recommendations here.
Check out a list of my 100+ favorite books of all time here.
📚 Practical Learning
The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Better Life by Morgan Housel
The Soul of Wealth: 50 reflections on money and meaning by Daniel Crosby
🧠 Health & Wellness
💡 Psychology & Human Behavior
Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier by Arthur Brooks
🔥 Inspiring
The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Better Life by Morgan Housel
Hell Year or No: What’s Worth Doing by Derek Sivers
👨👩👧 Parenting
The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Struggle and How All Can Thrive by W. Thomas Boyce MD
🎭 Miscellaneous
With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by E.B. Sledge
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt &, Stephen J. Dubner
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
—Brian
P.S. I completed my first annual Birthday Fitness Challenge over the course of about a week. You’re my accountability buddy, so here are my results.
Age: 40
Weight: 155
✅ Push-ups: 42 (goal: 30)
✅ Pull-ups: 17 (goal: 15)
❌ Squat: 155# x6 reps (goal: 15 reps)
✅ Deadlift: 155# x17 reps (goal: 15 reps)
✅ Run: 61:24 min, 7.29 miles (8:25 min/mi) (goal: 60 minutes)
✅ Ruck: 62’ with 45# (30% of 154#) for 3.91 miles with 15:57/mi pace (goal: 60 minutes with 30% of bodyweight)
✅ Jump rope: 310 (goal: 120 jumps)
✅ Box jumps: 33 to 16” (40.64 cm) box (goal: 10 reps to a 40 cm box)
🎙️ The Growth Kit (Podcast)
Full list of episodes here. Follow The Growth Kit on Instagram. Subscribe to your favorite podcast player (Spotify, Apple). And please leave a review!
🥇 Best of the Month
“In a blink of an eye, we’ll all be gone. 100 years compared to infinity is nothing. I talk to my sister all the time and say, ‘Girl, you better start having some fun. We’re gonna be gone in a minute. You’re gonna look back and say, “Shit, I should have been laughing, and now I’m dead,”’
—Jamie Foxx
🎧 Podcast: The D-Day Series by Noiser. So good.
📖 Book: See the reading list above.
🎁 Product: IQ Bars
❓ Question of the Month
Q: Is TRT worth it?
A: For some men, absolutely. For others, not yet.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has become increasingly popular as awareness of low testosterone grows. The appeal makes sense too. Low testosterone can contribute to fatigue, reduced libido, loss of muscle mass, low mood, poorer recovery, and reduced quality of life. Multiple randomized trials, including the Testosterone Trials, have found that TRT can improve sexual function, mood, bone density, and anemia in men with clinically low testosterone.
The key phrase is clinically low testosterone.
Many men jump straight to TRT when the real issue may be poor sleep, excess body fat, chronic stress, sleep apnea, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol intake, or certain medications. Those same factors can lower testosterone and negatively affect overall health. Addressing them often improves testosterone naturally while producing benefits that no prescription can replicate.
There are legitimate pros and cons.
Potential Pros
Increased libido and sexual function
Improved mood and well-being
Greater ability to build and maintain muscle
Increased bone density
Improved anemia in some men
Potential Cons
Reduced fertility and sperm production
Need for ongoing monitoring and lab work
Possible acne, fluid retention, or elevated red blood cell counts
Cost and long-term commitment
Doesn't fix poor sleep, stress, nutrition, or inactivity
Overall, TRT has a place, and I'm definitely open to considering it as I get older if my symptoms and lab values justify it. But I'm not there yet. Right now, I'd rather focus on the biggest levers first: sleep, strength training, maintaining a healthy body composition, managing stress, and getting enough sunlight and movement. If those boxes are checked and testosterone remains low, TRT becomes a much more reasonable conversation.
⏱️ Brutal by Design
Tempo Torment
This was my Sunday workout while the kids played with a pool and water toys around me.
Purpose: Full-body burn (and lots of shoulders)
Equipment: Battle rope, slam ball, kettlebells
Workout (5 rounds):
Slam ball slams x15
Batlle rope 2x30 seconds
Farmer’s walk x1 min
Upright row x15
Tip: Don’t rush the lowering phase—control = adaptation
Optional Misery: Add a weighted vest. I used the Strata Weight Vest with 10# plates on the front and the back for the first half but had to take it off for the second half.
💡 Things I’ve Learned
🧠 Mind
Weight Loss, Better Health, Higher Suicide Risk?
A study of nearly 39,000 veterans found that patients who underwent bariatric surgery had a 21% higher risk of suicidal thoughts and a 62% higher risk of suicide attempts over five years compared to similar patients who did not have surgery. Researchers aren't sure exactly why, but factors such as pre-existing mental health conditions, medication changes, substance use, and unmet expectations may play a role. Then there’s the thought that food is often used as a coping mechanism. What will happen with GLP-1’s?
Do this: If bariatric surgery is on your radar, build a mental health plan before you build a meal plan.
The Hidden Risk of New Car Smell
That "new car smell" comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from interior materials. In a 2024 study, formaldehyde levels in new cars on hot days sometimes exceeded twice the Chinese safety limit, while acetaldehyde levels nearly tripled the recommended limit. The hotter the interior surfaces became, the higher the chemical levels climbed.
Do this: Crack the windows, use outside air ventilation, and avoid leaving a new car sealed up in the sun whenever possible.
IQ & Violence
A study of adults found a strong inverse relationship between IQ and self-reported violent behavior. Violence rates fell from 16.3% among those with IQs of 70–79 to just 2.9% among those with IQs of 120–129. This doesn't mean intelligence determines behavior, but it suggests that factors associated with higher cognitive ability, such as impulse control, planning, and decision-making, may reduce the likelihood of violent actions.
Do this: Invest in lifelong brain health through exercise, sleep, learning, and social engagement. Also, limit or avoid concussion/TBI-causing situations such as boxing and football.
💪 Body
Athletes With Weaker Cores Get Hurt More Often
A systematic review found that several aspects of core stability, including strength, proprioception, and neuromuscular control, were associated with a higher risk of lower extremity injuries in athletes. Athletes with poorer core function appeared more likely to develop issues involving the hip, knee, ankle, and lower leg.
Do this: The “core is from the nipple line to just above the knees on the front, back, and sides. Exercises that challenge your balance or one side of the body at a time are great ones to start with.
The Biggest Sauna Review Yet
A massive new review concluded that regular heat therapy can improve cardiovascular health, blood pressure, metabolic function, and inflammation, particularly in people with elevated health risks. Some of the strongest data found that people using a sauna 4-7 times per week for about 20 minutes had the lowest risk of cardiovascular events. Researchers believe many of these benefits stem from heat shock proteins, improved blood flow, and adaptations that mimic some effects of aerobic exercise.
Do this: It doesn’t have to be a sauna, but you should find a way to get hot to reap these rewards: shower, hot tub, sauna blanket, etc. I’m obsessed with my new sauna, but I recognize this is a luxury. So, anything that gets you sweaty will have a positive effect.
Not All Exercise Minutes Are Equal
A study of more than 73,000 adults found that about 10 minutes of vigorous activity per day was associated with a 40% lower risk of death from all causes. To achieve a similar benefit, participants needed roughly 30 minutes of moderate activity or far more light activity.
Do this: Add a few short bursts of hard effort each week. Even 1-4 minute intervals (think bike sprints, jump squats, or stair climbs) can go a long way.
🎯 Dad
AAP Updates Its Recess Guidance After 13 Years
For the first time since its original 2013 statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its guidance on recess, and the message is clear: recess is essential, not optional. The revised policy cites new research showing that recess supports learning, attention, memory, stress management, physical activity, and social development. It also highlights the importance of child-directed play and argues that recess should not be withheld for academic or disciplinary reasons.
Do this: While they don’t provide a specific number of minutes, they do suggest multiple bouts of recess during the day. If your child's school has shortened recess, frequently withholds it, or lacks daily recess altogether, talk to the school and advocate for change.
A Small Win for America's Diet
CDC data show that both kids and adults are getting fewer calories from fast food than they did a decade ago. Among children and teens, fast food calories dropped from nearly 14% of daily intake in 2013–2014 to 11.4% in 2021–2023. Adult consumption fell from about 14% to 11.7%. It's not a massive change, but it's encouraging to see the trend moving in the right direction.
Do this: Focus on progress, not perfection. Even replacing a few fast food meals each month with home-cooked alternatives can add up over time.
Fatherhood Has Changed Dramatically
New data show that Millennial fathers spend more than double the amount of time with their children compared to previous generations. The increase appears driven by changing family roles, greater involvement in parenting, and a shift in what society considers a "good dad." The result is more time pressure, but also more meaning and connection.
Do this: I repeatedly remind myself that I’ll miss these days with my young kids and will never get them back. Embrace it.
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