UF College of Medicine community shares summer reads
What’s on students, faculty and staff bookshelves this season.
June 9, 2023 — Whether you’ll be admiring a colorful sunset on a sandy beach, hopping on a plane for an international adventure or curling up in your cozy backyard hammock for a staycation this season, packing for the perfect getaway starts with adding a good book to your carry-on.
Check out this list of 20 page-turning reads recommended by the UF College of Medicine community that span fiction, nonfiction, history, humor, health and more to keep you fully booked this summer.
Fiction classics
1. “A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole (fiction, classics, humor)
Ignatius J. Reilly partakes in a series of adventures through the working world alongside remarkable secondary characters. Toole provides a humorous yet insightful critique of American culture and societal norms.
“In the juxtaposition of disparate charter flaws, ambitious but misdirected intellectual efforts and declining physical presence, the protagonist is a surreal composite among those who inhabit — and enliven — the French Quarter.”
— Colleen Koch, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., dean of the College of Medicine
2. “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho (fiction, classics, fantasy)
In this inspiring story of self-discovery, Santiago embarks on a quest into the unknown to search for worldly treasure but instead ends up discovering riches he never dreamed of.
“‘The Alchemist’ is a book that inspires you to pursue your dreams despite seemingly impossible obstacles and shares a deep wisdom about what life, love and self-growth should be all about.”
— Amanda Acevedo, first-year medical student
3. “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy (classics, fiction, historical fiction)
Based on Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812, this story follows the lives of an illegitimate son of a count, a disillusioned prince and a coming-of-age woman. As their stories unravel, each character’s interconnectedness is shown through philosophical reflection and historical analysis.
“It’s a masterpiece for a reason! Leo Tolstoy is arguably one of the best writers in history, and this book showcases why that is. Upon reading it, you’ll fall in love with the characters because they communicate feelings and desires that resonate even with 21st century readers. Tolstoy will keep you so hooked to the story that you won’t even know that you’ve finished the book.”
— Virendrasinh Chudasama, UF undergraduate biology student minoring in history
4. “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison (fiction, classics, historical fiction)
Pecola Breedlove longs for blue eyes because she believes they will bring her acceptance and joy in a world that values blond, blue-eyed American children. This novel explores the devastating impacts of societal standards of beauty and themes of identity.
“I absolutely fell in love with this story not only because of each beautifully written page, but also because of the intense emotions those pages elicited in me. Through the eyes of the characters, the author exposes the startling realities of racism resulting in self-destruction. Her words challenge the societal standard of self-worth and acceptance that we instill in ethnic children by delving into the depths of human longing, exposing the complexities of identity, beauty and societal expectations. I could not recommend this enough, but it is definitely not a light read.”
— Recommendation by Michaela Rechdan, second-year medical student
Fiction books about animals
5. “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy (fiction, graphic novels, poetry)
This heartwarming illustrated book describes how four unlikely friends discover some of life’s most important lessons while unraveling themes of friendship, empathy and self-acceptance.
“A beautiful story of friendship, hope and finding true meaning in life!”
— Colleen Koch, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., dean of the College of Medicine
6. “Horse: A Novel” by Geraldine Brooks (historical fiction, literary fiction, animals)
Pulitzer Prize-winner Geraldine Brooks uses perspectives from six characters to explore the tale of one important racehorse and the ever-present challenges of America’s past.
“This historical novel explores the history of American education and the art scene over two centuries.”
— Azra Bihorac, M.D., M.S., senior associate dean for research affairs
Contemporary fiction books
7. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han (romance, young adult, contemporary)
Lara Jean secretly writes love letters to the boys she has had crushes on but never intends to send them. Private feelings turn into public knowledge when the letters are mailed accidentally, and Lara Jean must come face-to-face with the realities of growing up.
— Recommended by Alyssa Kelleher, second-year undergraduate psychology student
8. “The Hunting Party” by Lucy Foley (mystery, thriller, fiction)
This gripping psychological thriller told from multiple perspectives involves a group of old friends who gather for a New Year’s celebration at a luxury lodge. When a murder takes place among them, however, their holiday takes a sharp turn.
“If you love mystery and the unreliable narrator genre, this book is for you!”
— Samantha Golden, second-year PA student
Nonfiction books about business and leadership
9. “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. (psychology, nonfiction, self-help)
A Stanford University psychologist explains the power of fixed versus growth mindsets and their abilities to foster human talent and outstanding accomplishment.
“Dr. Dweck presents her research on the power of the growth mindset and sustained effort in maximizing personal potential. I highly recommend this book to my peers and colleagues to consider how we approach challenges and handle failures. Success is learning and improving, not just winning.”
— Angela Arata, fourth-year medical student
10. “Without a Doubt: How to Go from Underrated to Unbeatable” by Surbhi Sarna (business, leadership, personal development)
By way of personal experience, Sarna shares practical strategies and mindset alterations that aim to revolutionize achievement, while encouraging human resilience and empowerment.
“Surbhi Sarna is a very accredited author in the space of medicine and walks you through how she started a biotech company with good intentions and high yield in the modern world of medicine. I look up to people with her story and am very grateful she shares it with the world.”
— Nicolas Ruiz, undergraduate microbiology student
11. “Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell (nonfiction, psychology, business)
When asking what makes high achievers different, Gladwell challenges the standards of remarkable success by attributing them to factors that lie outside of individual talent and hard work.
“I recommend this book because it offers a different perspective on success and achievements. We sometimes think exceptional people are the outliers for being extraordinary and forget that there might be external factors or sometimes even some luck in timing that creates environments for achievement. Also, I learn random fun facts about hockey, Bill Gates, the Beatles, etc.”
— Tran Ngo, second-year MD-PhD student
Nonfiction self-help books
12. “Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity” by Peter Attia, M.D., and Bill Gifford (health, nonfiction, science)
A longevity expert and a veteran journalist bring readers an operating manual for a new approach to preventing illness and prolonging health. In this New York Times bestseller, readers discover a different road map to a life that allows them to create the best plan for themselves.
“This is a nonfiction book about longevity and healthy living, exploring strategies that anyone can use to live a longer and healthier life.”
— Azra Bihorac, M.D., M.S., senior associate dean for research affairs
13. “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma” by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. (nonfiction, psychology, self-help)
An inspiring story of a group of therapists and scientists who shed light on various innovative therapeutic branches of the healing process that aim to help people regain ownership of their bodies.
“I don’t recall how I stumbled upon this book years ago, but since then, I’ve read it twice and have nearly every page annotated. I recommend this book to my students and colleagues. It serves as a humbling reminder that the body, as well as the mind, are equally important on a patient’s journey to recovery.”
— Meghan Hollen Risse, M.A., CCC-SLP, UF Health speech-language pathologist
14. “Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (nonfiction, philosophy, business)
What if instead of fearing uncertainty, humans strove for it? This book challenges conventional wisdom by introducing antifragility, a concept that emphasizes embracing volatility in an unpredictable world.
“It’s an incredible book about not just surviving through chaos, disorder, trauma or challenge, but actually becoming stronger. It’s got examples from math and science, to philosophy, to even working out and eating habits. I think there are a lot of parallels to the type of research I conduct in spinal cord injury and respiratory neurophysiology but also to the great principles of life, self-development and health.”
— Erica A. Dale, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of psychology and aging
Memoirs
15. “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi, M.D. (nonfiction, memoir, biography)
This memoir chronicles Kalanithi’s struggles as a patient who was once a promising neurosurgeon as he reflects on the purpose of his work as a doctor and distinguishes what makes life worthwhile.
— Recommendation by Udochukwu “Yudee” Amanamba, first-year medical student
16. “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion (nonfiction, memoir, biography)
Following the sudden death of her husband, famed writer Didion experiences an emotional journey of grief and mourning, which results in her coming to terms with death and sharing introspective reflection on life.
“The precision and vulnerability in her writing force us to feel her pain as if we were right there next to her. This book is a page-turner because you feel as though you’re keeping her company on this journey and you’re wondering if she’ll ever find hope again. If there’s any book that perfectly captures the complexity of battling with grief while searching for happiness, it’s this one.”
— Annika Liu, first-year medical student
Nonfiction books about medicine
17. “The Chronicles of Women in White Coats” by Amber Robins, M.D., M.B.A. (nonfiction, medical)
In a series of personal narratives, Robins shares a variety of inspiring stories that highlight achievements made by women in medicine and explore themes of gender bias, mentorship, success and motivation.
“This collection of short stories by female physicians is relatable, inspiring and gives insight into the unique obstacles experienced by women in medicine. I am reading this book as a future woman in medicine and recommend it to my peers.”
— Angela Arata, fourth-year medical student
18. “The Heart Healers: The Misfits, Mavericks and Rebels who Created the Greatest Medical Breakthrough of Our Lives” by James Forrester, M.D. (medicine, science, history)
With contributions from pioneering doctors, scientists and innovators, this book explores the history of cardiovascular medicine and reveals how far physicians have come from the days when heart disease meant a death sentence.
“In medical school, I’ve constantly found myself asking ‘Who on Earth could have thought of this?’ when it comes to medical discoveries and procedures. This book answers that question and focuses on the humanity of people who made amazing contributions to medicine. It’s a great introduction to the history of medicine.”
— Cecelia Miller, first-year medical student
19. “Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation” by Linda Villarosa (nonfiction, race, history)
This book dives into the deep-rooted impact of systemic racism found within the American health care system that contributes to health disparities within marginalized communities.
“I thought it was particularly shocking that despite the overwhelming evidence that the health disparities that people of color face in America are due solely to systemic racism, pseudoscience and myths invented during U.S. slavery about differences in biology between races are still used today to explain these disparities.”
— Patrick Haley, third-year medical student
20. “Scales to Scalpels: Doctors Who Practice the Healing Arts of Music and Medicine: The Story of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra” by Lisa Wong, M.D., with Robert Viagas (music, nonfiction, medical)
Learn how the Longwood Symphony Orchestra, founded by a group of talented Boston-area physicians and health professionals, use their musical acuity to influence how they practice the arts of music and medicine.
“As someone who came to medical school with a background in piano and organ performance, I was interested in understanding more about how my musical ‘self’ would merge with my identity as a budding physician-in-training. I think it’s common to hear that medicine is just as much an art as it is a science, and Dr. Wong’s book does an incredible job of exploring why that relationship exists, both in and out of patient care settings.”
— Jakob S. Hamilton, M.S., third-year medical student
