The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the Modern Human

Siddhartha Mukerjee

['Biology', 'Medical History']

Cancer researcher Siddhartha Mukerjee is at it again.

Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Fiction; Classics

The great American novel

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime

Sean Carroll

Physics; Quantum Mechanics

Sean Carroll is one of the best science communicators out there. This book is a distillation of his preferred interpretation of quantum physics, the 'Many Worlds' interpretation. In contrast to the conventional 'Copenhagen Interpretation', which hand-wavily claims that the Schrödinger equation collapses when an observer makes a measurement, the Many Worlds interpretation insists that the Schrödinger equation always holds - it's the entire universe that splits into separate copies. It's a trippy concept but Carroll, as always, does an expert job of making the most complex concepts in physics approachable.

Dirt: Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking

Bill Buford

Food; Cooking

This one's been collecting dust on my bookshelf for a few years. I read Buford's earlier book, Heat, which chronicled his journey leaving a perfectly good job as an editor at The New Yorker to work as a line cook in a fancy NYC restaurant, which led to an Italian sojourn making artisanal pasta, and a stint with an authentic Italian butcher. This time it's France & he has a family in tow. Bill Buford is a madman and I will read anything he writes.

Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce

Kent Nerburn

History; American Indigenous History

I did a book report on Chief Joseph in 6th grade. It was not on this book mostly because it was published when I was 18 years old. I picked this up on a whim at Letters Bookshop, my outstanding local bookstore. Chief Joseph holds a venerated place in the American public consciousness that perhaps only Sitting Bull can rival. I was wholly unaware of the details of the Nez Perce War and I'm looking forward to understanding the details of a man who we've built up as a hero over the years.

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, & Murder

David Grann

History; Shipwrecks

This book was handed to me by my best good buddy Kyle as we were leaving Copenhagen in the summer of 2023. He had just finished it and apparently doesn't have the same hoarding instinct that I do. I started it on the return journey to the States & was immediately engrossed. From the author of the fabulous Killers of the Flower Moon, this tells the story of the shipwreck of a British man-of-war off the southern coast of Chile. Miraculously two separate castaway parties washed ashore months apart on opposite sides of the South American landmass. Shipwreck, mutiny, murder. What's not to love?

City of Blows

Tim Blake Nelson

Novel; Hollywood

I scooped this one up at Magic City Books during a trip to Tulsa for the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships. I originally heard of the book while listening to TBN on Mark Maron's WTF podcast & reckoned 'twould be nice to snag a novel from a fellow Tulsan while in Tulsa. A sharp critique of the Hollywood making machine, I'm excited to dive into Timmy Blake's debut novel.

Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns, and the Future of Chasing Snow

Heather Hansman

Skiing; Adventure

The ski bum. How much is legend, how much is fact? What are the roots of the men (and they were mostly men) who scratched out a living on the periphery of ski towns just to experience the momentary surge of adrenaline that comes with ripping the perfect line on a powder day. Hansman talks to what seems like the last of a dying breed to discover the history, the stories, the secrets of the iconic ski bum. With the corporatization of the ski industry is there even a place for the ski bum anymore?

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

Siddhartha Mukherjee

Medicine; Science; Medical History

A disease as old as humanity, tumors have been found in fossilized remains of our ancestors that were walking the Earth thousands of years ago. In this epic work, Mukherjee guides the reader on a journey to the beginnings of our understanding of this disease (we meet Galen of course), the long standing attempt to find a cure, and the current state of cancer research. We make detours through Halstead's ill advised radical mastectomy, the advances, setbacks, and deadends of chemotherapy, and the retrospectively wasteful and premature War on Cancer. This is truly a masterpiece and a must read for the layman to understand the difficulties and complexities of dealing with a disease as obstinately pernicious as cancer.

Calypso

David Sedaris

Humor; Essays

You'd be hard pressed to find a funnier writer than David Sedaris. He makes the most mundane aspects of the modern human experience brutally hilarious with an acerbic wit and matter-of-fact delivery. From the highs and lows of a large Greek family, to the loss of a sibling, Sedaris brings his unique perspective and storytelling to even the darkest of topics. I nearly read this cover to cover on a flight. Do yourself a favor and grab it today.

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know

Adam Grant

Psychology; Personal Growth

Organizational psychologist Adam Grant explores commonly held beliefs and encourages readers to question them. While not revolutionary for all, his humorous and informal style makes it accessible and engaging.

Bourbon Empire: The Past & Future of America's Whiskey

Reid Mitenbuler

History; Booze

Mitenbuler dives into the real history of whiskey in America, debunking myths about its heritage and exploring both classic brands and the emerging craft market. A fascinating look at whiskey’s evolution.

The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made

Reid Mitenbuler

Biography; History; Film

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of *The Room*, one of the most infamous films in history. The author offers a humorous perspective on its eccentric creator and the chaotic film-making process.

On the Road

Jack Kerouac

Fiction; Roman à Clef; Beat

A classic novel that captures the essence of freedom and adventure through the protagonist’s journey across America, offering a reflection on wanderlust and self-discovery.

Slaughterhouse 5

Kurt Vonnegut

Fiction; Dark Comedy; Satire; History

An anti-war novel featuring time travel and alien encounters. Vonnegut uses humor and absurdity to reflect on the futility of war and the complexities of human existence.

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fiction

A story about nostalgia and the elusive American dream, set against the extravagance of 1920s New York, this novel continues to captivate readers with its themes of aspiration and loss.

1491

Charles C. Mann

History

A detailed examination of pre-Columbian societies in the Americas, challenging the myth of a pristine continent untouched by human influence, and revealing a complex environmental history.

First Principles

Thomas E. Ricks

History

An exploration of the classical influences on America’s Founding Fathers, particularly how Greek and Roman thought shaped their vision for the new republic.

Plain, Honest Men

Richard Beeman

History

A comprehensive look at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, revealing the intense debates and compromises that shaped the U.S. Constitution and the founding of the nation.

Impossible Owls

Brian Phillips

Essays

A collection of essays exploring overlooked corners of the world with a keen eye for storytelling, Phillips brings unique and mesmerizing perspectives on diverse experiences.