Okay, I admit it: It’s a bit of a strange time to be recommending different books for people to read when it turns out Americans have stopped reading. But this is the world in which we live. And, also, I love books because they’re awesome. Chances are I’m preaching to the choir here, but just think about the benefits:
- Reading reduces stress and encourages cognitive development
- It helps us sleep, increases empathy (which we need more of)
- Reading improves our communication skills
- And reading might even help us live longer
So yeah, reading is awesome.
Even though the summer break is about half done here in the South (I know), there are still plenty of opportunities for downtime, whether with a long weekend or a leisurely Saturday afternoon. With that in mind, here are a handful of “lighter” books that I would recommend reading in whatever downtime you have to enjoy.
The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri
Set in 1941, this is the story of two Iranian orphans making a journey to join a nomadic tribe on its annual trek to the mountains. With their father’s chalkboard and a satchel of textbooks, Babak, hopes to prove his usefulness to the group as a teacher. Along the way they meet a young Jewish boy, with a Nazi spy in pursuit. This is a terrific read for both you and your entire family—highly recommended.
The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson
This book is a deep dive into the first sentence of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Word by word, Isaacson reminds readers of just how radical the values at the heart of this statement were at the time of their writing—the values that underpin the concept of “America”—and how they continue to be revolutionary today.
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely
The inspiration for the recent Supergirl film, this book is also heavily inspired by the Charles Portis novel True Grit, along with its own film adaptations. Tom King does a masterful job of using its basic set up—a reluctant hero and companion embarking on a quest to hunt down a killer—in order to explore the psychological weight Kara Zor El carries. And Bilquis (pronounced Bilks) Evely’s art is breathtaking. Well worth your time.
You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior
Many of us think about calling extremely narrowly. In Christian circles, “calling” usually is only ever discussed in the context of pastoral ministry. Outside of that context, we might use the word in relation to our jobs. But Prior encourages us to think about calling in the sense of how we are to live in light of what is good, beautiful, and true, and out of love for God and neighbor.
These are just a few of the books I could recommend. I could even suggest a few headier ones (like Flood and Fury by Matthew J. Lynch, but I’ll save that for another time). But honestly, because I’ve been doing so much reading for school and writing projects, I’ve also needed some “lighter” material for myself. So, if you’re looking for a few meaningful reads you can finish relatively quickly, these are the ones I’d recommend.
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash
