Summer reading tips

Still looking for a good read as summer winds down? How about following in the footsteps of some Birmingham-Southern faculty and staff? Here’s what’s on a few of their reading lists:

Dr. Tynes Cowan ’85 English
“I’m reading Isaac Asimov’s robot stories this summer, but in light of Ray Bradbury’s recent passing, perhaps I’ll switch to his science fiction. I’m also reading Occupying Wall Street: The Inside Story of an Action that changed America by ‘Writers for the 99 percent,’ a group of authors and researchers active in supporting the Occupy movement.”

Dr. Scott Dorman, chemistry
“I’ve just started the vampire novel Let the Right One In by John Lindqvist. It’s far superior to either of the movies which were made from it. I’ve also picked up The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje, author of The English Patient, which I truly loved.” The Righteous Mind,

Dr. Heather Meggers-Wright, psychology
“I’m reading Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson right now and just finished The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman. I plan to catch up on the DiscWorld books I haven't read yet, a comic fantasy book series by Terry Pratchett. On my ‘serious’ list, I have The Righteous Mind, Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt. I love summer reading, and I usually limit myself to books that serve no other purpose than entertainment and escapism because during the academic year I usually feel guilty if I’m not reading something for class or research purposes.”

Dr. Fred Ashe, English
“I’m currently reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan; The Missing Ring by Keith Dunnavant, a poorly written but very enjoyable book about Alabama football’s 1966 season; and Anthem, by Ayn Rand, which is on my ninth grader’s summer book list. I hope to read The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace—I worked through his Infinite Jest last summer and a student gave me this one in the spring—and William Faulkner’s Snopes Trilogy, which I plan to teach in January. Also on my list: Come In and Cover Me by a super-hot newish novelist Gin Phillips ’97 (who also happens to be his wife); I’ve only read it in draft form.” Come In and Cover Me

Dr. Guy Hubbs, college archivist
“Right now, I’m reading The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt. Next up on my list is the new book Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010 by Charles Murray, and Pragmatism: A Reader by Louis Menand.” The Art of Fielding

Dr. Jane Archer, English
“If you want to read a zombie apocalypse novel written in excellent prose, try Zone One by Colson Whitehead. Also, it’s baseball season! Read The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach.”

Anne Ledvina, associate director, Sklenar Center for International Programs
“I have begun a very interesting book given to me by BSC’s Fulbright fellow from Egypt entitled I Am Happier to Know You: A Portrait of Egypt, Her People, Faith and Culture, Viewed through the Heart of a Western Woman by Jeanne Eck. It is a compelling story that might inspire me to pack up my family and take off to live in a new culture.”

Dr. Natalie Davis, political science
“On the ‘for work’ list: Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson; Coming Apart by Charles Murray; It’s Worse Than You Think by Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein; and The Righteous Mind by John Haidt. On the ‘fiction for fun’ list, I’ve got The Age of Doubt, an Italian detective procedural by Andrea Camilleri, and Gin Phillips’ new novel, Come In and Cover Me.”