2026 Nonfiction Reader Challenge

 

The Nonfiction Reader Challenge has been hosted since 2021 by self-described “book addict” Shelleyrae at her blog, Book’d Out (https://bookdout.wordpress.com/). And 2021 was the year I first learned about this challenge (actually, December 2020). Joining the competition and starting this blog was a welcome distraction for me during the isolation of the Covid pandemic. And I found that I also enjoyed feeling challenged as well as communicating with other readers around the world who joined. So, for the 6^th time, I’m taking on this challenge.

As always, the stated goal is to encourage participants to read nonfiction during the year. Each year, there are 12 topic categories, and those who accept the challenge choose a goal to complete by 31 December.

This year’s goals are:

Nonfiction Nipper: Read & review 3 books, from any 3 listed categories

Nonfiction Nibbler: Read & review 6 books, from any 6 listed categories

Nonfiction Nosher: Read & review 12 books, one for each category

Nonfiction Grazer: Read & review any nonfiction book. Set your own goal, or none at all, just share the nonfiction you read through the year.

Last year I aimed to become a Nonfiction Nosher, because I already had enough books on my TBR pile for most of the categories, but I ended the year as a Nibbler since I read fewer books than usual. I’m not sure why – maybe because of the type of traveling I did or because many of the books I read were either very long or “academically rigorous.” I’m still reading one of the books I started for “History,” so at least I have my first book for this year.

The categories this year are:

• History
• Memoir/Biography
• True Crime
• Science
• Health
• Food
• South East Asia
• Humour (Humor)
• Lost or Found
• Television
• Subculture
• Published in 2026

The first five categories are on the list almost every year, which is not too much of a challenge for me since I usually choose nonfiction in those categories. But I like being nudged out of my comfort zone with categories I’m not familiar with.

Each year (so far) there is always the “Published in [year]” category. Last year the book I wanted to read for that category was Matriarcha: Human Evolution Re-Imagined, which was expected out in April. It is being written by Rebecca Wragg-Sykes, the archaeologist who wrote my favorite Neanderthal book (see my review in the 24 February 2022 post). Unfortunately, the publication date has been postponed, so I hope that I’ll be reading it this year.

For information about how to join the challenge, go to https://bookdout.wordpress.com/2026-nonfiction-reader-challenge-host/