News of note for readers: August 6, 2026

Catch up quick with the bookish news of the past few days ... or take a deeper dive into each story. Your choice! 

• Read or listen to an excerpt of The Most Dangerous Games, co-written by bestselling author James Patterson and the YouTube star MrBeast; the book comes out September 1 (People).

• You can also read an excerpt from Robert de la Chevotière's The Twelfth House, which comes out August 25 (Reactor).

• Well, August 4, 2026, has passed, and the prediction for that date made in Ray Bradbury's short story "There Will Come Soft Rains" did not come to pass (NPR).

• Jason Arday, the University of Cambridge professor whose upcoming memoir has called more attention to his career, has resigned from his job; so far, it appears that the publisher of Great and Unfortunate Things has no plans to change the book's August 11 release date (The New York Times).

• Singer Barbra Streisand is releasing her first children's book; And By the Way..., inspired by her love for her grandchildren, comes out March 30 (People).

• Ursula Hegi, author of novels including the bestselling Oprah's Book Club pick Stones From the River, died July 27 at age eighty (The New York Times).