When I finish one book and am deciding what to read next, there usually isn’t always rhyme or reason to what I pick. Sometimes I’ll read one great book and get inspired to read several more about the same subject. Other times I am eager to follow a recommendation from someone I respect.
Lately, however, I find myself searching for books about the complicated relationship between humanity and nature. maybe it’s because everyone’s life has been altered by a virus. Or maybe it’s because I spent a lot of time this year talking about what we need to do to avert climate disaster.
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Whatever the reason, most of the books on my summer reading list this year deal with what happens when people come into conflict with the world around them. I’ve included a look at how researchers are trying to undo the damage done to the planet by humans, a deep dive into how your body keeps you safe from microscopic invaders, the memoir of a president dealing with the aftermath of a oil and a novel about a group of ordinary people fighting to save the trees. (There’s also a fascinating look at the fall of one of America’s biggest companies.)
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I hope at least one of these books piques your interest this summer.
lights out: pride, deception and the fall of general electric, of thomas gryta and ted man. How could a company as large and successful as GE fail? I’ve been thinking about that question for several years, and lights out finally gave me many of the answers I was looking for. The authors bring you an unflinching look at the mistakes and missteps made by GE’s leadership. If you’re in any kind of leadership role, whether it’s in a company, nonprofit, or elsewhere, there’s a lot you can learn here.
Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future, by Elizabeth Kolbert. Kolbert’s latest is the easiest examination of “humanity versus nature” on this list. she describes it as “a book about people trying to solve problems caused by people trying to solve problems.” she writes about various ways that people intervene in nature, including gene drives and geoengineering, two topics that particularly interest me. Like all of her books, it’s an enjoyable read.
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a promised land, of barack obama. I’m almost always interested in books about American presidents, and I especially love the promised land. The memoir covers his early career up to the mission that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. President Obama is unusually honest about his experience in the White House, including how isolated it is to be the person who ultimately calls the shots. is a fascinating look at what it’s like to lead a country through difficult times.
the top story, by richard powers. This is one of the most unusual novels I have read in years. the top story follows the lives of nine people and examines their connection to trees. some of the characters bond throughout the book, while others are left alone. Despite the book taking a rather extreme view of the need to protect forests, I was moved by each character’s passion for their cause and left the book eager to learn more about trees.
An Elegant Defense: The Remarkable New Science of the Immune System: A Story in Four Lives, by matt richtel. Richtel wrote his book before the pandemic, but this exploration of the human immune system is nonetheless valuable reading that will help you understand what it takes to stop covid-19. he keeps the subject matter accessible by focusing on four patients, each of whom is forced to control their immune systems in one way or another. his stories give a super interesting look at the science of immunity.
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