September 2020 Reading List

September was a great month for reading! Of course, this sometimes came at the expense of doing actual work... But reading is a very productive form of procrastination for me and I love devouring a new novel. I also really enjoyed some of the non-fiction books I read, which is pretty out of the ordinary for me! Here's what I read this month:

Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

This is a novel presented in the form of a collection of reference letters that the (fictional) professor has written over the years. It was hilarious and touching, and I found myself rooting for the students and especially the prof. You hear about his messy divorce and subsequent romantic failures, a tragic incident involving his favorite student, and the ever-present beef between the Creative Writing and Economics departments. I found this book from a post on PhD in Clothes, and I look forward to reading the other books she recommended as well. Definitely pick up this book if you're interested in an inside look at academia while simultaneously laughing till you cry ;)

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

This book was also recommended by PhD in Clothes, and I LOVED it. It's a memoir by an environmental researcher & professor (bonus: she's from Minnesota!) that takes you from graduate school to the struggles of associate-professor-dom and finally lands gently at a research university in Hawaii. I liked hearing about all of Hope's experiences with finding funding, dealing with sexism (and being pregnant in the lab), and many beautifully-described field visits. It really pointed out that academia and science research isn't for the faint of heart, and that you really have to be intrinsically motivated to succeed in this field. At times touching, heartbreaking, inspiring, and infuriating, I would highly recommend this book if you like learning about trees, insanely strong women, or lifelong friendships between unlikely people. Also, I read every single article on her blog afterward, so if that's not a ringing endorsement I don't know what is.

Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg

I definitely also found this book from a list somewhere, but I don't remember which one. I am a voracious consumer of both books and book lists, so you'll have to forgive me. Anyways, another truly AMAZING book, and probably the most engaging and enjoyable non-fiction books I've ever read. The author does a really excellent job of presenting anecdotes and then explaining the science behind them, and how regular old people can apply this science to optimize their daily lives. I learned about an ER nurse whose years of experience saved a baby's life with just a glance, and a team of airline pilots who collectively overlooked a super loud stall alarm and killed everyone on board. I've implemented some of the concepts in my daily life already, such as using mental models to deal with unexpected circumstances and visualizing everything that can go wrong before it has a chance to. If you're into becoming better at life and learning some cool tidbits along the way, definitely try out this book.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

A contemporary romance novel that's well written and provided a lovely break in between some of the denser books on this list. 'Nuff said.

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

This is Tim Ferriss' personal notes from hundreds of podcast interviews he has conducted over the years. I've tried to get hooked on his podcast a few times, but it's way too long and rambling for my tastes. Also, I think Tim Ferriss is arrogant and annoying... But he's super smart and a fantastic interviewer, so I much prefer consuming his distilled wisdom in book format. The interviewees range from world-class martial artists and poker players to presidents, entrepreneurs, and authors. I think the questions that Tim asks his guests are fantastic and the tactics, routines, and habits mentioned were alternately insightful and insane. It's kind of cool to have an inside look into the brains of a ton of very admirable people, and I had a great time reading this book. If you're into self-help books but need an added layer of credibility, I would highly recommend this one. I wouldn't categorize it as self-help, but it's helpful :)

The Little Book of Fika by Lynda Balslev

Fika is the Swedish word for a daily coffee break, which has been elevated to an essential ritual in Scandanavian life. This one was short and sweet with delicious recipes peppered throughout and was a fun little look into how another country and culture treats breaktime. It made me think a little more deeply about how important breaks can be in the flow of your day, especially when they are accompanied by caffeine and yummy treats. Not a super impactful book, but it was fun and cute so I'm counting it as a win.

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball

Another memoir by a very cool woman, absolutely shocking. I may have a type... This book covered Kirstin's journey from freelance travel writer in NYC to full-time farmer in rural Vermont, and I (predictably) loved it. She didn't shy away from diving into the struggles that the farm posed for her marriage, way of thinking, and designer clothes. Her husband Mark sounds like a very singular guy that I definitely wouldn't be able to live with. I learned a lot about organic farming, and also loved her anecdotes about the farm horses (she and her husband don't own a tractor). It made me crave vegetables and milk straight from a cow and reminded me that cooking delicious food is a privilege that I should remember to treasure. If you too are slightly obsessed with the idea of moving to a farm, this book shows the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Also...

I finished a book I had started...over a year ago when I was in England. Surprisingly, I remembered most of it, and the conclusion was very satisfying. I'm adding it to this month's list because hey, I DID read it in September.

Slow Horses by Mick Herron

A spy novel set in London, reading this book again brought me back to the sights, sounds, and smells of my trip (last summer...). Admittedly, the beginning was a bit slow, which is why it's taken me so long to actually read the rest of the story. However, I really enjoyed the conclusion and the characters really came into their own in the last half. I don't think it was predictable at all, and I even considered reading the second book in the series. It's not available at my library yet so...maybe next year ;)

In Progress:

Finish by Jon Acuff

Also recommended by PhD in Clothes, this book has helped me feel much better about my scholarly progress. It's all about setting realistic goals and setting yourself up for success, which I apparently needed to be reminded of. I'm excited to finish it and apply some of the concepts more concretely to my life.

El Sobrino del Mago by CS Lewis

Yes, this is the first Chronicles of Narnia book...in SPANISH! I just found out that my lab group periodically has meetings in Spanish with our collaborators in Peru, and I wanted to brush up on my skills. They're pretty rusty, so I only understand what's going on every other page or so, but it's more fun than flashcards. Hopefully, I'll have finished it by my October book post!

If you have any recommendations for me, please leave a comment! I'm always up for a good book :)