You Should Read....: 2020 Nonfiction

Summer Pappachen, Class of 2020
If you want to know more about indigenous and native women’s experiences, voices, political struggles, this is a perfect book. Shorty poems, readings, art, and photography by native women. Very powerful!

Wes Wilson, Archives
A fascinating look at the development of the baseball park in America and along the way, a history of the sport from the point of view of the owners and fans. As an architectural critic, Goldberger covers the development of the stadium as "rus in urbe," a small piece of the countryside transplanted to a
downtown site. He takes the reader from baseball's early entertainment days to concrete doughnuts such as Cincinnati's Riverfront stadium, then the retro-design phase ushered in by Baltimore's Camden Yards, bringing us full circle to the most recent urban entertainment complex phase exemplified by Houston's Minute Maid Park. Along the way, Goldberger acquaints us with many of baseball’s characters such as saloon owner, Chris von der Ahe, who envisioned his baseball park in St. Louis as a way to sell more beer. Even though we may not get to see actual baseball games this season, we can at least read this book about the sport and imagine better days to come.

Kaleb Anderson, Class of 2020
Holland identifies how desire and sexuality are interconnected to how whites interact, microagress, and systematically oppress black bodies. They argue that an everyday racist scene focuses relentlessly upon the individual, seemingly to the exclusion of such leitmotifs of antiracist struggle, structure, and case. I recommend this book because of its multidisciplinary approach to understanding and grappling with issues of race, difference, and the erotic.

Liv Dickinson
Class of 2020
This book really changed the way I approached learning and studying. Brown highlights the flaws of common study habits that we have coming out of high school and provides alternative methods that are more effective. For example, Brown cautions against relying on highlighting, rereading, and cramming because this creates an illusion of mastery. Instead, he introduces complex learning strategies such as interleaving and self-testing. While this book is based in cognitive psychology, Brown teaches it in an approachable and engaging way. I would recommend this to anyone who finds that their current study routine isn’t as effective as they would like as well as anyone who is interested in cognitive psychology.

Caleigh Ranjo, Class of 2021
An uncensored autobiography of Lena Dunham’s life path to self-discoveries. From awkward sex stories to experimenting with drugs to the moment she realized she was raped in college - it’s highly entertaining, comedic, and painfully true. I’d recommend this book to every college student, especially women. It’s a very easy read (so it won’t feel like extra reading on top of homework) and has some valuable advice on how to be true to yourself, try new things, and learn from (Lena’s and) your mistakes.

Patricia Schuelke, Class of 2020
This book made me think about everyday objects differently. It's about the history of refrigerators, which you may not realize influenced the way we eat and live in really interesting ways. I loved it. It's a great little book to read as a break from studying (unless you have to study refrigerators I guess).

Kevin Howley
Communication & Theatre
Bringing insights from the Slow Movement to bear on the corporatized university, Berg and Seeber advocate deliberation and deep reflection over a culture of speed that demands rash and short-sighted decision making. “We need time to think, and so do our students. Time for reflection and open-ended inquiry is not a luxury but is crucial to what we do.” A welcome intervention, this slim but incisive volume shatters the illusion of productivity manifest in a vicious circle of busy work, and offers practical solutions for not only surviving, but thriving in modern academia.

Recommended by Suman Balasubramanian, Mathematics:

The original reviewers of the book describe it as follows : "A truly funny book from one of the best scientists and researchers of the twentieth century, Nobel Prize winner, Richard Feynman. In his funny and irreverent style, he recounts his outrageous adventures, from discussing atomic physics with Einstein, to ideas on gambling with Nick the Greek. A truly enjoyable read from one of the most brilliant minds." (Source: Review from book jacket)

No matter how many years have passed, I still love reading about Professor Feynman's insane love of physics and his passion for the subject that has shaped his entire life. A rare but funny insight into one of the greatest teachers of physics of all time. A truly wonderful read.