Summer Reading

For most educators, summer vacation has ended. Midway during summer, I looked over at my nightstand and realized that I had checked out way too many books from the library. There was no way I would be able to read all of these books before school started in August!

Alas! It is the end of September and I still have a stack of unread books next to my bed.

Is this really a bad thing?

I love surrounding myself with books. Since I can’t afford to purchase all of the books that I want to read (I am a teacher, after all!) I place books on hold from my local public library. As they become available to check out, I pick them up. Sometimes I’m surprised by what comes in because I forgot that I had placed it on hold weeks earlier.

The result is a wonderful stack of books that I would like to read at some point. There is no particular order and no set time frame. I let myself be drawn to a particular book or sometimes I feel led to a random book in the pile. I don’t have a strict reading schedule. I let serendipity guide my book selection.

Austin Kleon differentiates between books with centripetal versus centrifugal force.

Some books have a centripetal force — they suck you in from other books.

Some books have a centrifugal force — they spin you out to other books.

I highly recommend you read his original blog post (and subscribe to his newsletter). He does a much better job explaining these forces, using specific books he has read as examples.

I thought I would commemorate the first day of fall with sharing some books I read over the summer (for a more up-to-date list of what I am currently reading, check out my Goodreads bookshelves).

Here is a list of the books I read this summer.

Wars of the Roses series by Conn Iggulden

The War of the Roses was series of conflicts in England that lasted from 1455–1487. These thirty years of warfare were probably more destructive to England than the Hundred Years War. It took me a while to get into Stormbird. But, after binge-watching The Last Kingdom on Netflix, I became fascinated with the early years of the British Empire, specifically the political intrigue and in-fighting. Once I got 50 pages into Stormbird, I could not put this series down!

Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

This was such a fascinating book! I love historical fiction, but was unfamiliar with historical fantasy. Reviewer John Folk-Williams describes it as “part bildungsroman, part disquisition on language, part adventure of anti-colonialism and empire building, part love of Oxford and privilege, part alternate history of early industrialization, part story of deep friendships, part analysis of racism and power, and more besides.” Spot on!

I love language and word etymology. I love the stories and histories of words. Babel takes these histories and uses them to create a not-so unrealistic universe where words enchant silver bars, making the British Empire unparalleled in power and ruthless in colonization. The characters are incredible and realistic and heroic. You will not be disappointed!

Gay Like Me: A Father Writes to His Son by Richie Jackson

I picked up this short book to help me be a better parent to my son and a better teacher for my LGBTQIA+ students. Jackson writes this as a letter to his son, which is a style that I have adored since reading Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me. This is not a book to enjoy, but to learn from. It is poignant and real and I’m glad that I read it.

Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross

I have talked to myself since I was a young child. I blame my mother. I remember listening to her have full conversations with herself in the mirror. In Chatter, Ethan Kross uses stories to explain what self-talk (especially negative self-talk) does to our brains. Instead of trying to quiet my mind through mindful meditation, I understand now how my brain works. I am learning from my introspective chatter.

If This isn’t Nice, What is?: Advice for the Young by Kurt Vonnegut

I said that this is a list of books I read this summer. I made no promises that I would love all of them. I know that Kurt Vonnegut is idolized as a literary genius. I realize that this collection of commencement speeches may not be the best representation of his work. I should probably read Slaughterhouse-Five like everyone else pretends to have read. I had high hopes for this book and I was disappointed and even a bit offended.

Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life by Zena Hitz

I read Lost in Thought in preparation for a learning experience I am designing for my fifth-grade students. I have noticed throughout my career that students don’t think deeply much any more. It’s not completely their fault; between social media, video games, and the shallow nature of public schools. Teachers don’t have the ability to spend time letting students think deeply about big concepts. Lost is Thought is a wonderful book written by an intellectual thinker who extols the virtues of spending time in deep thought.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I really enjoyed this book! Imagine a purgatory that doesn’t hold the souls of sinners, but instead the infinite possibilities of every choice you will ever make in your life. Each choice lies in a neatly bound book on library shelves that go on forever. I think it is natural for all of us to wonder what if? Nora Seed actually gets to live out each what if scenario and it is a lot of fun to go along for the ride!

Being White Today: A Roadmap for a Positive Antiracist Life by Shelly Tochluk

A white colleague recommended this book to me. We decided to read it as part of a white, anti-racist affinity group. Our discussions were vulnerable, insightful and I believe helped us all grow. The authors follows Dr. Helms’ Stages of White Identity Development (1990) I highly recommend this book as a guide for your own racial development.

How to Think Like Shakespeare: Lessons from a Renaissance Education by Scott Newstok

I stumbled upon How to Think Like Shakespeare while I was reading Hitz’s Lost in Thought. What I loved about Newstok’s writing is that he takes a more playful approach to strengthening our mental capacities. I always appreciate it when an author challenges conventional wisdom. Newstok shows how creativity can develop through imitation, autonomy through tradition, innovation through constraint, and freedom through discipline.

The Death of Vivek Ojo: A Novel by Akwaeke Emezi

I’m still thinking about The Death of Vivel Ojo. It is a tragic story that is beautifully written. Vivek’s family lives in a small town in Nigeria. The book opens with his mother discovering Vivek’s body , wrapped in a colorful cloth, lying on her porch. The rest of the book is told through multiple perspectives about the life and death of Vivek Ojo. I could not stop reading.

Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom by bell hooks

I fell in love with bell hooks after reading Teaching to Transgress piecemal in my teacher preparatory courses. Since then, I have always wanted to read this book in its entirety. This summer, took that opportunity, and I am so happy that I did. This is a collection of narratives that all teachers should be required to read. bell hooks helps educators understand how race and culture intersect in public education. She stresses the importance of building relationships with each of your students in order to help transform the biased cultural and societal norms present in public education.

The Razor’s Edge by Somerset W. Maugham

After reading Teaching to Transgress I wanted something I could get lost in. Maugham is perfect for that. The Razor’s Edge, although not his most famous work, is my favorite. I felt connect to Larry Darrell as he traveled the globe in search of spiritual enlightenment. Maugham’s dialogue is sharp and is a great balm for the materialism present in The Great Gatsby.

How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy, and the Racial Divide by Crystal Fleming

I’ve been following Dr. Fleming on social media for a couple of years. Her posts are both hilarious and biting commentary on systemic racism, both in the US and in Europe. How to Be Less Stupid About Race was a great book to read before going back to school in August. Fleming writes clearly about the ridiculousness of our society’s misconceptions about race.

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

To me, Rick Rubin is like Matthew McConaughey: folk philosophers of our generation. Rick Rubin, however has a few more years on McConaughey, and shares his aged wisdom in this excellent book. The Creative Act can either be a quick read, with its short nuggets of wisdom or an incredibly long read, with its deep messages of creativity and transcendence. Either way, this book is a beautiful physical book: the binding, the cover, the material. I would buy this book just to hold it in your hands!

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell

My wife started reading this book first and asked me to read it along with her. I wanted to enjoy this book more, especially considering the clickbait title. However, I found the book to be hard to relate to. Odell does have some solid ideas, however, her writing is verbose and overly academic. I do appreciate how she acknowledges her white privilege in being able to unplug and sit in public gardens, and watch birds. Unfortunately, most of us have to work, and even though that keeps the capitalism wheels turning, I would have loved some more practical advice for minimizing our connection to technology while still earning a living.

Whether you are just starting school, or you’ve been back for a number of weeks like me, I hope you get a chance to read something for fun, something to help you grow (personally or professionally) and something that moves you.

If you are looking for advice on how to read more books during the year, I recommend reading this short blog post by Austin Kleon.

Enjoy your school year and stay tuned for some more blog post. I designed a few learning experiences over the summer and am now testing them out with my fifth-grade students. I’m excited to share with you all how they go!

— Adrian