Recommended reading curated by CMU Libraries’ employees
Looking for something new to read this summer? Consider one of these favorites suggested by employees of the CMU Libraries.
Almost Black: The True Story of How I Got into Medical School by Pretending to Be Black by Vijay Jojo Chokal-Ingam and Matthew Scott Hansen. Non-fiction.
The book is about how Vijay Jojo Chokal-Ingam (the author) got into medical school by pretending to be black.
“This book provides an interesting angle to review the social issues which are more complex than it appears.”
Recommended by Rui, Library Research & Instruction Services
The BeeKeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. Fiction.
This book is heartbreakingly beautiful and connects the reader deeply to the humanity wrapped inside the casualties of war-torn areas and invites the reader to bear witness to the human impulse to survive and thrive, despite enormous and ever-compounding obstacles.
“I chose this book because it feels important to refer to right now, as it humanizes the arduous struggles of refugees and offers deeper understanding of the enormous challenges that individuals and families must surmount when forced to flee their homes and seek safety in a new country, while also depicting enduring hope.”
Recommended by Denise F., Business Services
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams. Non-fiction.
Through religion, philosophy, neuroscience, and personal experiences, this book discusses how joy is not sought out but built into life.
“Simply reading this book brings me joy. I love the stories, the practical ideas on how to create a sustaining state of joy, and the science behind it.”
Recommended by Lisa, Acquisitions and Resource Management
Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay. Poetry.
Joy, joy, joy.
“I read Ross Gay’s wonderful, shimmering poetry, full of the glory of nature and human connection, as a bulwark against our troubled world.”
Recommended by Carrie, Clarke Historical Library
Fairy Tale: A Novel by Stephen King. Dark Fantasy.
After seventeen-year-old Charlie Reade befriends a reclusive neighbor and his dog Radar, he finds himself put into the role of a fairy tale hero, with the lives of those he loves hanging in the balance in the struggle between good and evil.
“As a longtime fan of Stephen King’s horror storytelling, his world-building in the Dark Tower saga, and the fantasy genre more broadly, this book is a wonderful fusion of all the elements that make each of them great, and I could not put this book down.”
Recommended by Rebecca, Library Research & Instruction Services
Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Non-fiction.
Written during the 1950s while vacationing on an island, Lindbergh reflects on life stages, expectations, relationships, solitude, and simplicity.
“When I was a young teacher, a colleague of mine recommended this book. I love the metaphor of seashells representing life’s stages and the gentle, contemplative prose. I re-read the book periodically to see how I have changed and what new insights occur.”
Recommended by Kathy, The Dean’s Office
Heart of a Lion: A Lone Cat’s Walk Across America by William Stolzenburg. Non-fiction.
Stolzenburg retraces the heroic, two-year, more than 2,000-mile journey of a mountain lion from its birthplace in the hostile Black Hills of South Dakota, across the Great Plains and the Mississippi River, through Midwest metropolises and remote northern forests, to his tragic end in Connecticut, a story of one resilient creature pitting instinct against a human society divided over his very existence.
“I chose to read this book after attending a webinar where the author spoke of the war against mountain lions across the western United States.”
Recommended by Thad, Library Research & Instruction Services
James by Percival Everett. Fiction.
This novel is a brilliant rewriting of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain’s classic, but written from Jim’s – the slave’s – perspective.
“I chose this novel because it made sense to me that Jim also has a perspective on the story and his viewpoint is equally significant.”
Recommended by Aparna, Library Research & Instruction Services
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel. Non-fiction.
This book goes through various approaches to determining moral and immoral actions and how to apply those actions in one's own life.
“I chose this book because I feel like being able to reflect on others' way of thinking (and ideas of morality) is especially important currently.”
Recommended by Lee, Library Research & Instruction Services
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Historical Fiction.
This book describes the lives of the fictional Price family as they move from Georgia to the Belgian Congo for mission work purposes and how this trip ends up shaping each family member's lives in unique ways.
“I chose this book because I feel that this work is unparalleled in terms of its narrative storytelling and reflection upon the different characters' perspectives while also representing a superb example of historical fiction.”
Recommended by Lee, Library Research & Instruction Services
A Rum Affair: A True Story of Botanical Fraud by Karl Sabbagh. Non-fiction.
On a remote Scottish island, a respected botanist’s findings are disputed by a determined (yet curiously respectful) amateur.
“The topic caught my eye: who knew the world of mid-century British botany was so rife with chicanery and intrigue?”
Recommended by Tim, The Dean’s Office
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow. Fantasy.
This book follows the story of young January Scaller, who discovers magical doors to other worlds — and the power of stories to reshape reality and reclaim her own destiny.
“I enjoyed this book because of its strong and vivid characters, and the celebration of storytelling and the power of words.”
Recommended by Katie, Library Research & Instruction Services
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. Science Fiction.
Hilarious time travel in Victorian England, featuring likeable characters, word play, and unexpected cameos of literary and historical figures.
“I laughed out loud reading this comedy of manners novel about graduate students in the Oxford University Time Travel Department of 2057 that attempt to locate a certain piece of Coventry Cathedral, destroyed by German bombs during WWII, by traveling back in time to the 1880s.”
Recommended by Carrie, Clarke Historical Library
The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America’s Enemies by Jason Fagone. Biography.
This is the story of Elizabeth Smith Friedman who, along with her husband William, was one of the leading American codebreakers from WWI through WW2.
“This book is a love story wrapped within a gripping tale about our national security in the early half of the twentieth century.”
Recommended by Stephanie, LRIS Library Research & Instruction Services