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Book Recommendations
Get reading this summer with classic must-reads, titles from faculty authors, and favorites from across the Harvard community.
It is not often that someone comes along who can reinvent fairy tales and reclaim their magic.”“The School for Good and Evil” series by Soman Chainani
Recommended by Maria Tatar, research professor of Germanic languages and literatures and of folklore and mythology
It is a beautiful, evocative inter-generational saga of a family in Kerala, weaving together sociology, politics, and colonial history.”“Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese
Recommended by Tarun Khanna, director of the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
I devoured it in record time this spring and have been recommending it to others ever since.”“Journeys of the Mind: A Life in History” by Peter Brown
Recommended by Elizabeth Papp Kamali, professor of law
From the experts
Matthew Noe, lead collection and knowledge management librarian at Harvard Medical School Countway Library, shares why “Shubeik Lubeik” by Deena Mohamed should be on everyone’s summer reading list.
Heroes and villains
Literature is full of characters we love, and others we love to hate. Harvard faculty share their favorite literary heroes and villains—and some may surprise you.
Life lessons
Harvard faculty share some of the books they say left them transformed.
Meet the authors
Check out the latest titles from these Harvard authors.
Claire Messud
In her new novel, “This Strange Eventful History,” Claire Messud tackles generational identity shifts, following three generations of the Cassar family, from 1940 to 2010.
Archon Fung
“When Democracy Breaks,” edited by Archon Fung, explores examples of democratic breakdown in societies around the world, from ancient Athens to contemporary Venezuela.
Tiya Miles
A new biography by Tiya Miles, “Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People,” explores the development of Tubman’s worldview.
Matthew Ichihashi Potts
In “Forgiveness: An Alternative Account,” Matthew Ichihashi Potts explores the complex moral terrain of forgiveness.
Emiliana Vegas
Emiliana Vegas’ new book “Let’s Change the World: How to Work within International Development Organizations to Make a Difference” is coming out this fall.
Irvin Scott
“Leading with Heart and Soul” is based on Irvin Scott’s experiences as a parent, teacher, principal, superintendent, and senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Purposeful reading
Explore books written by experts who are tackling some of the biggest issues facing our society today.
Curated by the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project, these 15 new titles help us understand race and racism across healthcare, education, sports, and beyond.
This collection of must-reads showcases new ideas and efforts to build a more inclusive democracy in the U.S.
From stories about patients taking control of their health care to ideas for making the U.S. less lonely, these public health reads will educate and inspire.
As we enter election season, explore this mix of foundational texts and new thinking on how AI may impact democracy.
Here is a roundup of gender-focused books by Harvard affiliates published in the last two years.
For your to-read list
Check out even more recommendations from Harvard faculty, students, and staff.
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