UF College of Medicine community recommends summer reads
Bury your nose in one of these books on your summer getaway.
July 5, 2022 — Summer summons travels, beach days and relaxation — activities best accompanied by a book.
On World Book Day, April 23, the UF College of Medicine Instagram account, @ufmedicine, prompted followers to share what they were reading. The college community replied with the titles that occupied their free time.
Here is a list of books that could join you poolside, beachfront or thousands of feet in the air, recommended by fellow students, staff and alumni.
Nonfiction
Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning"
“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl
This 1946 memoir chronicles the author’s experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II while providing the reader with lessons for spiritual survival. Author and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl argues individuals can choose how to cope with suffering, find meaning and move forward.
Recommended by Rose Gorora, a student in the UF Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Program.
Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love"
“Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia” by Elizabeth
Before writing her 2006 memoir, Elizabeth Gilbert felt the unrelenting need for change. She discarded her belongings, quit her job and took a yearlong journey across the globe. She learned the art of pleasure in Rome, the art of devotion in India and the art of balance in Bali. This novel recounts not just her travels but also her path to self-discovery.
Recommended by Albis Acosta, M.D. ’92.
Wade Davis' "Into the Silence"
“Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest” by Wade Davis
Wade Davis brings the story of British adventurers who survived World War I and risked their lives to climb Mount Everest to life in this 2011 book. A group of 26 men touched by war failed to fear death, only focused on how they lived.
Recommended by Micaela Cuneo, M.D. ’22.
Fiction
“The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller
Madeline Miller's "The Song of Achilles"
Madeline Miller’s 2011 novel is an adaptation of Homer’s “Iliad” told from the perspective of Patroclus, a young Greek prince. The story follows the prince’s relationship with Achilles after his exile to the court of King Peleus. Achilles and Patroclus develop a deep bond, which Achilles’ mother, a cruel sea goddess, despises. Set in Greece’s age of heroes, the novel recounts the Trojan War in a love story and battle between gods and kings.
Recommended by Bradley Collins, M.D. ’19.
“Honey Girl” by Morgan Rogers
One of the more recently published books on the list, Morgan Rogers’ 2021 romance novel provides humor and life lessons to its readers. Grace Porter, a 22-year-old woman who just earned a Ph.D. in astronomy, strays from her normal routine to take a girls’ trip to Las Vegas. She drunkenly marries a woman she does not know but flees her Portland home for a summer in New York with her new wife. Through her story, she discovers the need to heal family scars.
Frank Herbert's "Dune"
“Dune” by Frank Herbert
This science fiction novel transports readers to the desert planet of Arrakis. Here, Paul Atreides, an heir to a noble family, must rule over an inhospitable world where the only valuable item is melange, a drug that can extend life and enhance consciousness. The destruction of his family leads him on his path toward destiny.
Recommended by Natalia Beadle, a third-year medical student.
“The Idiot” by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote this novel after completing “Crime and Punishment” both are considered classics. This 19th-century novel recounts the story of Prince Myshkin, a saintly man who is thrown into a society that cares more about wealth and power than Christian ideals. Myshkin winds up in the center of a love triangle between a notorious woman and a young girl, leading to extortion and murder.
“The Heart’s Invisible Furies” by John Boyne
John Boyne’s 2017 historical fiction novel presents the life of Cyril Avery, a man born out of wedlock to a teenage girl who was cast from her rural Irish community. Avery was adopted by a Dublin couple. The book tells a story of Ireland from the 1940s through today from the eyes of one ordinary citizen.
Recommended by Sara Kennedy, M.D. ’22.
Miscellaneous
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear
James Clear's "Atomic Habits"
This self-help book teaches readers how to make time for new habits, overcome lack of motivation, design success-generating environments and get back on track. James Clear compiles concepts from biology, psychology and neuroscience to craft a guide for forming good habits. He includes true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders and lifesaving physicians who have applied these small habits to master their craft.
Recommended by Katelyn Carty, M.D. ’22.
“Life of the Beloved” by Henri Nouwen
Henri J.M. Nouwen poses the question of how an individual can live a spiritual life in a secular culture. This book was written by Nouwen for a Jewish friend but has become the author’s legacy to Christians worldwide.
Recommended by Elias Bouyounes, an anesthesia technician at UF Health.
