A Summer Reading List for Curious Minds

An article in The Atlantic recently caught my attention: The Elite College Students who Can’t Read Books. At first glance, it’s tempting to point fingers at social media and the monopolization of our attention via constant exposure to content. But many students arrive at college never having to read a full book: between relaxed reading requirements and increasingly intelligent AI summaries, students today are able to engage in sophisticated classroom discussions without ever fully engaging and interpreting the texts. 

So why read, especially in this day and age?

In a world where our access to information is curated via algorithm—our ability to stumble onto new or unexpected information has been significantly curtailed. Wandering through the shelves of your local library remains one of the last bastions of what seems to be true discovery—where you can jump between various worlds. Furthermore, reading books teaches patience, empathy, and critical thinking in ways few other mediums can. 

Summer is the perfect time to reclaim the joys of reading—helping you discover who you are and how you relate to the wider world in ways that schools and curated experiences can’t hope to capture. Below is a list of books and articles that I’ve personally enjoyed reading, centered on education, environmentalism, and modern society. 

Worth a Read:

The Places in Between — Rory Stewart

Stewart, a former member of the British Parliament, recounts his walk across Afghanistan in 2002. His combination of travel writing and cross-cultural exposure speaks volumes about the importance of human connection and first-hand experience.

The Education of an Idealist — Samantha Power

Power traces her journey from immigrant to becoming the US Ambassador to the UN under Former President Obama. She details her experience as a war correspondent and the real-world impact of foreign policy decisions. I particularly enjoyed her accounts of working with Obama. 

Educated — Tara Westover

Westover’s memoir shows a unique perspective on growing up in a hyper-conservative Mormon household in rural Idaho, where her parents shunned conventional education. This book provides some fantastic perspective for the education you receive in the Bay Area, and also provides key insights into the challenges surrounding mental health, identity, family relationships, and self-determination.

The Overstory — Richard Powers

This is probably my favorite book out of this list. It is written in such a unique format—combining the lives of nine unique characters as they navigate their relationship with the natural world. If you find yourself wondering what it’s like to be so passionate and dedicated to a cause—this is the book for you. 

The Three-Body Problem (Trilogy) — Liu Cixin

This is the first science fiction book that I’ve read in a while, frankly inspired by the Netflix adaptation of the books (which poorly capture the genius of these books). This is a great series for anyone interested in physics, the outlook of humanity, storytelling, and philosophy. 

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World — Jack Weatherford

I read this book after spending time traveling through the steppes of Central Asia. It is a wonderful dive into how practices and customs of today stemmed from the conquest of the Mongol Empire, and the degree of cultural exchange that occurred centuries before the onslaught of globalization.

Victims of Progress — John Bodley

This is an anthropological critique of international development and what many of us consider to be “progress.” It centers the perspectives of indigenous cultures and the consequences of modernization. If this interests you, I also highly recommend Ivan Illich’s speech titled, To Hell with Good Intentions.  

Naked Economics and Naked Money — Charles Wheelan

I have few regrets in life, but one of them may very well be that I didn’t take a course with Professor Wheelan during my undergraduate years. These books are a fantastic introduction to economic concepts and are staples for anyone interested in business and policy. 

Braiding Sweetgrass — Robin Kimmerer

Kimmerer blends her own reflections on indigenous identity and wisdom to provide an alternative approach to the conventional narratives of science and nature. With the challenges brought forth by climate change and existing land-use extractivism, this book is for anyone interested in regenerative practices, cultural erosion, and stewardship.

Civilized to Death — Christopher Ryan

This was actually the book that sparked my desire to take a gap year—as it provokes reflection on the challenges we face in our modern lives. Many of the problems that we try to solve are ones that are a very product of our own civilization. This book is radical in a way that, when I brought it up to my friends working in AI, they quickly shunned my ideas. I think it provokes some key questions on what exactly we’re all working toward.

Excellent Sheep — William Deresiewicz

The title is pretty self explanatory—and relevant to all of you as high-achieving students. This was the most transformative book that I read—shortly after my college graduation during the Covid-19 pandemic. I wish I had come across it sooner, as it may have radically changed the way I went about my undergraduate studies. 

Additional Essays on Higher Education:

Lost in the Meritocracy — Walter Kirn

This is a fantastic read that paints a stark and biting critique on the realities of elite institutions. It may be less suitable for younger readers due to its mature themes, but is a valuable reflection on what it is you’re working toward. 

The Ivy Leagues are Overrated and The Disadvantages of an Elite Education— William Deresiewicz 

Articles by the author of Excellent Sheep—detailing personal accounts on how top-tier universities produce environments that are actually less conducive to growth and development than expected. It invites students and parents to rethink what the goal of college really is.

When Success Leads to Failure — Jessica Lahey

An article about the detriments of constant pressure and success—and how it shapes students to fear failure and stop taking risks. I recommend this for both parents and students that are navigating the pressures of college admissions. 

Final Thoughts

As you wrap up the semester, in between any summer programs or other experiences you have scheduled—try to carve out some time for a book or two. Not only does reading help you build new worldviews and spark new curiosities, navigating the complexities of the worlds they pose can also help you become a more thoughtful, engaged, and self-aware person.

So find a quiet corner, put your phone in a different room, and get lost in the pages. That’s where real learning begins. 

By mentor Kevin, a Yale graduate who grew up in the Bay Area.

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