These are the most surprising books I've read in the first half of 2026.

10. Where God Was Born, by Bruce Feiler

9. The Death of Evolution: Restoring Faith and Wonder in a World of Doubt, by Jim Nelson Black

8. The Grave of John Wesley Hardin: Three Essays on Grassroots History, by C.L. Sonnichsen

7. The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid: A Faithful and Interesting Narrative, by Pat F. Garrett, Sheriff of Lincoln Co., N.M., By Whom He Was Finally Hunted Down & Captured By Killing Him

6. The Nazi and the Psychopath, by Jack El-Hai

5. The Lone Ranger at the Haunted Gulch, by Fran Striker

4. When the Irish Invaded Canada, by Christopher Klein

3. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, by Donald Miller

2. Box Socials, by W.P. Kinsella

1. Humpty Dumpty After the Fall, by Vuthy Kuon

Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705

Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.