With an office full of English majors, we can’t help but get excited about one of our favorite parts of summer– summer reading lists! And no, we’re not talking about those required texts your English or AP teachers email to you on the last day of school. There’s a whole world of non-fiction titles out there that are sure to spark your curiosity, whether you’re interested in sports, psychology, history or even data analytics. Not only can these non-fiction titles open your eyes to new topics, but they can also be a big help when it comes time for college applications. You might just find yourself having to write an essay about a meaningful book you’ve discovered or discuss a recent text you’ve read during an admissions interview. So take a few hours this summer to dive into a great non-fiction text while you lounge by the pool.
Don't Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life- Seth Stephens Davidowitz
We mentioned this first selection in our blog last week. If you’re a data enthusiast, you’ll love Seth Stephens Davidowitz’s take on the decisions we make everyday, both big and small. Instead of relying on our instincts, Davidowitz, an economist and former Google data scientist, argues that we should use the data that’s all around us. After all, numbers don’t lie! In fact, they can guide us toward better lives if we’re willing to stop and look at the charts.
The Nineties: A Book- Chuck Klosterman
The 90s are back, and Chuck Klosterman is ready to take a closer look at this pivotal decade. His book provides just the right amount of nostalgia for crop tops, Nirvana, and Blockbuster while also analyzing the culture, history, and politics that informed the 90s. We know it’s not easy to sum up ten years into just one book, but Klosterman does a great job of tracing the most important moments that came to define the period.
The Great Stewardess Rebellion: How Women Launched a Workplace Revolution at 30,000 Feet- Nell McShane Wulfhart
In the 1960s, the demand for flight attendants soared. Thousands of women applied to be “stews” in search of exciting, jet setting lifestyles. However, it wasn’t the glamorous career it appeared to be. There were weight limits, strict (and uncomfortable) fashion guidelines, and restrictions on marriage, children, and retirement age. In The Great Stewardess Rebellion, Nell McShane Wulhart looks behind the scenes at the “stews” who fought for their working rights, and in doing so, created a bigger revolution than they ever thought possible.
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know- Adam Grant
The more you know, the better, right? Well, not according to Adam Grant. In Think Again, Grant takes a close look at the behaviors and thoughts that often leave us cognitively trapped. In place of these limiting ideas, Grant encourages all of us to unlearn our old information and embrace the joys of being wrong. This book is sure to turn your thoughts upside down and leave you seeing the world in a new way.
Sweat: A History of Exercise- Bill Hayes
Step aerobics, Crossfit, Tae-Bo— it seems like a new exercise trend emerges each year. But what makes a certain exercise so popular? How has physical activity evolved over time, and why? Bill Hayes attempts to answer these questions in Sweat by tracing the history of physical movement, from jogs to sprints to vinyasa yoga. This book won’t exactly make you break a sweat, but it will leave you feeling motivated and ready to move.
Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion from the New Look to Millennial Pink- Veronique Hyland
Do we wear the clothes, or do the clothes wear us? In Dress Code, Veronique Hyland examines the important role fashion plays in our world and its impact on everything from economics to politics to gender roles. She also takes a close look at the way clothing influences our identity and how social media is changing the way we dress and think of ourselves. This book is sure to make you think a bit deeper the next time you choose an outfit.
The Complete Cookbook for Teen Chefs: 70+ Teen-Tested and Teen-Approved Recipes to Cook, Eat and Share - America’s Test Kitchen Kids
Okay, so we know there are thousands of cookbooks and websites out there, but The Complete Cookbook for Teen Chefs is different. The recipes are divided by difficulty level, and instructions are super easy. Along the way, readers learn basic skills, like how to properly slice a potato. What we love most, though, are the helpful hints and shortcuts for each recipe that are sure to make you look like a professional chef with minimal effort. Not only is this book a fun way to explore foods from across the globe; it’s a fantastic starter kit for young adults in need of kitchen survival skills.
The Watermen: The Birth of American Swimming and One Young Man's Fight to Capture Olympic Gold- Michael Lonyd
The Watermen won’t be released for a few more weeks, but we can’t wait! In the early 1900s, swimming was nothing more than something to do on a hot summer day- that is until teenager Charles Daniels dove into the scene. In this book, you’ll see how one young man helped to create one of the world's most popular Olympic sports while winning against all odds. This is a great read for anyone who appreciates a classic underdog story.