For many pipe and cigar smokers, whether intentionally or by delightful accident, reading and pipe smoking pairings are made. Some like to pair genres with certain tobacco styles, dive into an old favorite book with a classic tobacco, or try something new with a fresh book in hand. The two activities blend nicely on relaxing and leisurely days, perhaps especially on cold winter days. As in years past, a few faces behind Smokingpipes have provided their recent reads and smokes for your reading pleasure.

Andy Wike

I've been reading Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. It's a nonfiction exploration of fungi — particularly how they evolved, how they contribute to the success of all life forms, as well as some of the more interesting species with crazy talents (like the ability to control the mind and body of creatures like ants — look up zombie ants — to ensure the dispersion of their spores). It covers lots of really interesting topics and theories, from the infancy of mycology as a field of study to the possibility that human consciousness may have evolved in part due to early consumption of mushrooms by our ancestors.

I've always found fungi fascinating, particularly in how they seem to embody characteristics of both plant and animal life in some ways but seem completely unique in others. Entangled Life offers a good overview of the various developments, challenges, and discoveries in the world of mycology while taking a more journalistic approach (rather than more clinical and text book-like). It reads like a mix of David Attenborough and Anthony Bourdain, and does a good job balancing explanation of theory and major areas of study with more personal anecdotes from the author's travels and experiences.

While reading this book, I've been really enjoying Cornell & Diehl's Small Batch: Fires on the Levee, the latest addition to C&D's Small Batch line, as well as HU's Dark Moor. The blends are obviously very different from one another, but both are richer Virginia blends with Perique and other condimental leaf added — offering a deep sweetness with a little spice that fits well with this time of year. I do pair particular tobaccos or cigars with specific books, but mostly I tend to reach for whatever I've been into lately. When it comes to smoking while reading, I try to go for blends with high flavor and nuanced complexity ceilings if sipped slowly and contemplated, but also effortlessly fade into the background if needed. Typically for me, that means Virginia blends with a little Perique or Dark-Fired added.

I've been reaching for my Peterson System pipes while reading. I find that shapes like the 317 or 314 are easy to clench, and the System reservoir helps to control distracting gurgle and excess moisture without fiddling too much with it. Otherwise, my rotation changes — I tend to have four or five favorite pipes at any given time — and I tend to just pick whichever pipe is rested and ready to go.

Steve Mawby

I've been reading Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud by Peter Watson. It's a history and philosophy book that looks at the chronology of major ideas and innovations in human history from a wide lens. It starts in pre-human inventions like the domestication of fire and then into cave painting, religion, agriculture, writing, money, and on. It runs up to the start of the 20th century and attempts to provide a sweeping overview of everything that humankind has accomplished in the last couple million years.

I originally picked up this book maybe 20 years ago, but never made much headway on it for whatever reason. I've read other books by the same author over the years, and have always been impressed with his writing style and the way he manages to cover an incredible range of topics with clarity and depth. Recently, I finished reading The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow, which got me thinking about revisiting this book.

I've been smoking a lot of cigars recently, so I've been pairing the book with things like Curivari Socrates and Blackbird Superb Lancero. I'll likely shift back to more pipe smoking soon, and my smoking preferences will probably still be my usual go-to blends like Capstan Flake Blue, Solani Aged Burley Flake 656, Orlik Golden Sliced, and others. I don't typically pair blends with books intentionally. I smoke what I smoke and I read what I read. Sometimes the book is more engrossing than the smoke, in which case I read faster and smoke slower, and sometimes the blend is more compelling, in which case I do the reverse.

Rose Kiser

I'm reading Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, Tears of a Clone by Brian Parker, and Metal from Heaven by August Clarke.

Hogfather is a satirical fantasy by Sir Terry Pratchett about a santa-like figure (the titular hogfather) and his mysterious absence. Death, naturally, decides to fill in for the hogfather while his granddaughter tries to find and rescue him. I did a terrible job selling this book, but it's worth a read. I selected this book to read now because it's appropriately festive and lighthearted for the season. I've found myself re-reading it during the holidays for the past several years. Discworld captures my imagination, and while the holidays tend to be rough for me, it provides some needed laughs. While reading this book, I enjoy smoking Golden Days of Yore by C&D. It has some nice age on it and is a delightfully festive smoke this time of year. We Three Kings by C&D sneaks in there as well, though I'm focused on aging a few tins of that for my future holidays.

Tears of a Clone is a cyberpunk noir. Detective Zach Forrest uncovers three dead clones crammed in a trash compactor. When the police want nothing to do with the case, he takes matters into his own hands and forms an uneasy alliance with crime kingpin Tommy Voodoo to get information and uncover a corporate conspiracy way above his pay grade. I've been a noir fan since I read The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler in high school, and I'm always down for a hard-boiled detective in over their head. I read the first Easytown novel in October and thought it was a fun enough romp. It scratched my noir itch, and now I'm itching again. With this novel, I enjoy smoking Maltese Falcon by G.L. Pease. I'm a big English fan, and it's a very easy, all-day smoke for me. Plenty of depth while the mystery unravels.

Metal from Heaven is a revenge fantasy novel with an industrial edge. It's a bit harder to explain but basically the main character Marney Honeycutt is out for revenge against the man who killed her family and best friend through a game of political intrigue. It's a book that's right up my alley and was recommended to me by one of my best friends. While reading it, I've been smoking Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Fathers, Friends & Fire Batch 002 Virginia Perique Flake. I don't have a lot of thematic logic for this one but the F, F & F line of tobacco feels slept on, and this Virginia/Perique blend hooked me from the start. It's an exceptionally well-rounded flake with naturally sweet smoke with subtle notes of stone fruit. It pairs well with a glass of brandy by my "fire" (the space heater).

I try to pair tobacco with particular reads. I like to think about what the book's theme is and make a little tasting companion for it. I'll pick a tobacco, a drink, and a little snack to go with the evening of reading. An example might be reading Sherlock Holmes while enjoying a cup of Earl Grey, Drucquer & Sons Rule Britannia (another English I feel is slept on), and a few Jaffa cakes.

For the holidays, I have a tradition of picking up a Savinelli St. Nicholas 320 KS. I think I've been using my 2019 pipe the most lately while reading.

Alan Britt

I'm reading Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs by Camilla Townsend. It's a historical book that looks into the history of the Aztec Empire based directly on translated indigenous writings, rather than the Spaniards' account, which historically has been the only side of the story told. I mostly read nonfiction, either historical or scientific, and as of late, I've had a slight obsession with the rise and fall of historical empires. I became curious about the Aztec empire specifically while researching the history of tobacco. As I read about how engrained tobacco use was in Mesoamerican history, I really became enamored by their spiritual use of the crop, and down the rabbit hole I went.

It only feels right to smoke a cigar with a rich Mexican-grown wrapper while reading this — a RoMa Craft Neanderthal, specifically in the SGP size. There's magic in the soil in the San Andrés Valley, so I understand why spiritual use of the crop was so prominent for centuries. I'm trying to read more often. While reading, I will always reach for a Nosewarmer pipe. They're superior for literally any occasion, and if you think otherwise, you're wrong.

Tony Saintiague

I'm reading a nonfiction book called Some Future Day by Marc Beckman. It's a novel about the rise of Artificial Intelligence and how it is likely to impact all aspects of society. It was a recommendation from a fellow Laudisian, Richard Platt in Shipping. I am most likely smoking G.L. Pease Cairo while reading; it's one of my favorite blends and it's suitable for any occasion. I don't really pair tobacco with reading. Usually I'm smoking whatever I have close at hand. This tends to be Cairo, but you will often find a tin of Solani 633, G.L. Pease Haddo's Delight, or C&D Carolina Red Flake around me as well.

I like to smoke smaller, clenched pipes so I can keep my hands free while reading. I have a couple of Peter Heeschen and Adam Davidson pipes that are particularly well suited for the task. I also love the Junior series from Peterson; Those pipes are easily clenched and great when you need to keep your hands free.

Ben Price

I'm reading Good to Great by Jim Collins. It's a research study that identifies businesses and certain metrics that were performing average, then jumped to being a top performer in their industry, and how they made that leap. I chose this book to read now because I believe that education never stops; I strive to grow every single day.

I am most likely smoking a bowl of Saint Espresso from Warped while drinking some coffee while reading this book. My selection typically depends on the time of day and my environment when it comes to reading and smoking. I crave being cozy, so I make sure that my tobacco selection reflects that. Currently, I've been utilizing my oversized Ser Jacopo Maxima Maxima Maxima Maxima because it's massive, and one bowl will get me through a quarter of the book.

Tyler Caldwell

I'm currently reading Butter by Asako Yuzuki. It's a mystery and thriller novel about a journalist who investigates a woman who is suspected of being a serial killer; The woman lures in men with her cooking. I've owned the book for nearly a year and am just now getting around to reading it.

My go-to cigar to smoke while reading is usually something on the lighter side, and something that I don't have to pay close attention to. Lately, that cigar for me has been a Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Original, preferably in the Robusto vitola. I can't say I often pair what I read with what I smoke; I typically choose my cigar the same way I would choose my reading material — whatever I have time for in a moment of solitude. If I'm smoking a pipe while reading, I typically go with my Moonshine Cannonball. I enjoy a slow burner to go with a page turner.

Thank you for reading! Be sure to let us know in the comments what you've been reading and smoking lately as we enjoy the holidays and the winter season in preparation for a fresh, new year in 2026. Happy Holidays!