A Reader (2021) 

An American Sickness by Elisabeth Rosenthal (4/5 Stars) 

Our healthcare system in America is terrible. An American Sickness explains how we got here. This book can be frustrating and infuriating, but it also ends with a sense of hope. We created this system. We alone can undo the harm it has caused.  

Shortest Way Home by Pete Buttigieg (3/5 Stars)  

I am a lifelong Democrat. As our 2020 nomination process got underway, I watched with admiration and curiosity as Mayor Pete meteorically rose in popularity. Like lots of Democrats, I had countless questions about his background and qualifications for the job. With the election in the rearview mirror, I answered these lingering questions. With Shortest Way Home, we meet Mayor Pete, follow his life, learn about his political aspirations, and get a sense of his plans for the future. When I finished the book, one thing was abundantly clear to me. Mayor Pete may have not secured the nomination, but we have not heard the last of him.  

Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta (4/5 Stars) 

Every member of the LGBTQ+ community has a unique story about coming to terms with the truest version of themselves and their journey of inviting others to live with this truth. Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta is a story of Nigerian girl, living in the shadow of war and in a deeply religious community authoring her own story. Her path toward acceptance is heartbreaking and moving. This is a book I will never forget.

Not for Sale by David Batstone (3/5 Stars) 

In graduate school, I wrote my thesis on human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Cambodia. The experience of research, writing, and presenting that project profoundly changed me. Nine years later, I still want to learn more about the global sex trade and efforts to abolish slavery once and for all. Not for Sale is a story about David Batstone’s experiences with the global slave trade, the people he met along the way, and the organization he founded. David's words are not always uplifting, but they will change you.

The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells (5/5 Stars)  

The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells was the best and most important book I read in 2021. David pulls no punches and refuses to sugarcoat any statistic in his presentation of the facts concerning climate change. The peril we face can feel overwhelming when reading this book. The sheer volume of pain headed our way will make you want to put this book down, but I implore you to push forward. It will take a lot of changes to get to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Racecraft by Barbara J. Fields and Karen Fields (2/5 Stars) 

Of all the books I have read about diversity, equity, and inclusion since the murder of George Floyd, Racecraft may be my least favorite. I did not connect with the research presented, nor did I walk away with a concrete set of steps to take next. Oh, well! I will charge forward.  

We Are the Weather by Jonathan Safran Foer (4/5 Stars) 

Confused about concrete actions you can take to combat climate change? Me too. This uncertainty led me to We are the Weather. Jonathan Safran Foer writes openly and honestly about our refusal to change, why we must change, and simple steps we can take to get there. When I closed the book, I was more determined to do my part.

Everything Is F*cked by Mark Manson (3/5 Stars)  

Watching the news or lost in the mire of your favorite social media platform, you might feel like the world is worse than ever before. Based on all available data, you're wrong. Facts do not support your argument, but perception is reality. Everything Is F*cked by Mark Manson attempts to explain why we feel this way and what we can do to reframe our outlook.  

Fear by Bob Woodward (4/5 Stars)  

From the outside looking in, the Trump White House felt chaotic, and nationalistic. In reading Fear by veteran reporter Bob Woodward, we learn it was so much worse than we thought. From the brink of war to the infighting, Mr. Woodward uncovers the truth and exposes this administration’s greatest failings.  

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (5/5 Stars)  

As the United States withdrew from Afghanistan, ending its longest war, I sat with The Kite Runner. Khaled Hosseini paints an Afghanistan of tremendous beauty and pain. It is in this paradox we discover the truth. People are complicated. Traditions do not die easily. The truth will set us free. Ideology makes everything murky.  

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (4/5 Stars) 

I have a fear of dying and have since I was a little kid. I fear the pain and the unknown. With this in mind, I approached Being Mortal. When I finished the book, my fear of the unknown remained, but I felt at ease with dying. I now know how to die with dignity, grace, and quality.

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (4/5 Stars)  

There is a lengthy monologue at the end of Invisible Man that may be the best thing I have ever read, but it also encapsulates the struggle of black people in America. For much of this book, I failed to connect with its point, but when a black man is killed on the streets of New York, I realized it was telling a story that is still being written and far from finished. Once again, as I put this book down, I felt deeply moved and profoundly changed.  

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (4/5 Stars)  

I tend to avoid true crime stories. These sorts of books have never interested me much, but the buzz around this book was hard to ignore. As I dug into each chapter, I realized this is not just a story. It is an obsessive search for truth, a tireless pursuit of evidence, and a woman’s longing for justice. If more books in the true crime genre are like this one, I’ll be reading more of them in the years to come.  

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (4/5 Stars)  

I have never read a book quite like Never Let Me Go. For the first two-thirds of the book, I was royally confused. Sometimes I thought there must be something wrong with me. Why isn’t this clicking? Then, out of a clear blue sky, it reveals itself in a way that left me in awe and second guessing everything I read in the book before that moment. I will not spoil a single word of this book, but I recommend you give it a chance.  

Call Me by Your Name by Andre Aciman (5/5 Stars) 

Call Me by Your Name reaffirmed my love for the English language and the written word. Focused on a relationship between an adolescent boy and the summer house guest, this week is eloquently written. In every scene, the vivid descriptions transported me to another world and left me enraptured. This book will influence my writing for years to come.

Dawn of the New Everything by Jaron Lanier (3/5 Stars) 

The genesis of virtual reality is not a beginning I have given much thought. Still, I approached this book with a sense of curiosity and openness. My mission for this book was simple; learn about some of the work that has gone into creating modern tools, and perhaps it can open a to door to some of the thinking behind the tools shaping our world. Dawn of the New Everything did not meet my expectations, but I still found it insightful.  

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance (4/5 Stars)  

The stories held inside of Hillbilly Elegy are not contained to Appalachia. They are the stories of rural America. In these small, dying towns, there are manifestations of a changing world. On every street corner, you can see the economy changing, addiction thriving, radicalism growing, and portions of the country being left behind while bigger cities steal our attention. This book does not offer concrete solutions, but it starts a desperately needed conversation.  

Wonderlandscape by John Clayton (4/5 Stars)  

I love our National Parks. In fact, it is on my bucket list to visit all of them before I die. In late summer of 2020, I visited historic and storied Yellowstone for the first time. While it is not my favorite entry in the park system, I understand and respect its value. Wonderlandscape does a magnificent job of telling its history, impact, and relevance for a new generation.  

The Last Days of Hitler by Hugh R. Trevor-Roper (4/5 Stars)

Without an ounce of hesitation, I believe Adolph Hitler to be the most vile and evil human being to ever walk the face of the Earth. Yet, it this belief and his atrocities that make him so interesting. Over the years, I have read lots of book about the Holocaust and the Nazis, but I knew very little about the death of Hitler. The Last Days of Hitler takes all available data/reports and attempts to paint a picture of Hitler’s final days on Earth. It is a fascinating read that leaves even more questions to be pondered.

Be good to each other,  

Nathan  

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