As we head into peak summer, our staff would like to share some recent reads that we found thought-provoking, engaging, and memorable. If you’re still looking for a great book to dive into, we highly recommend these.
Jon Remucal:
- The Big Burn by Timothy Egan – A recounting of the massive wildfire in Idaho/Montana at the start of the 20th Century and how it related to the founding of the USFS and the agency’s rapid evolution toward fire prevention.
- Fire Weather by John Vaillant – Recommended by Andrea Tuttle, this book tells the tale of the 2016 megafire in and around Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, placing it in the context of the development of petroleum extraction from neighboring oil sands sites and suggesting the fire is a harbinger for a future likely to see more and more enormous and damaging fires.
Amy Kessler:
- Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – It’s based in a fictional world within a matriarchal society where trees can connect us to the magic of the earth and comets deliver the magic of the sky. The book explores politics, societal expectations, and the balance of good and evil (or perhaps just opposing forces), plus dragons and some fierce women fighters.
McKenzie Smith:
- Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager – A fascinating dive into how German scientists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch developed synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, a breakthrough that helped feed the world, but also enabled modern warfare.
Jordan Mao:
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – This is a captivating story following four generations of a war-torn family from Korea and their immigration to Japan during WW2. It gave an interesting perspective on immigration and tragedy, but never lost hope.
Rachel Mooney:
- Will by Will Smith – Someone on a plane recommended it to me and it was good! The memoir shares a personal and profound insight into Will’s life, from his struggles to successes, with reflections on his identity, motivations, and willpower.
Judy Gallegos:
- Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R. F. Kuang – Ever wonder what happens when magic, translation, and British colonialism collide? Babel is it. It dives into power, identity, and how language can be both a weapon and a lifeline. It’s about finding your voice and standing up when the system is against you. If you like sci fi and themes of dark academia, you might start seeing words a little differently.
Edith Calderon:
- The Book of Delights by Ross Gay – This collection of essays about daily events/things/people that brought the author delight over the course of a year is meditative, poetic and often hilarious. The author makes a lot of observations about the natural world and highlights the idea that joy is a form of resistance.
