Embedded Files
Faculty & Staff
Check out which books ESD's faculty and staff will be reading this summer!
Check out which books ESD's faculty and staff will be reading this summer!
Links to the ebook and audiobook versions are included if ESD has them. If not, check out your local public library or bookstore.
Michael Aguilera
Michael Aguilera
Senior Controller
Senior Controller
"Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed"
by Ben R. Rich & Leo Janos
I've always been fascinated with Area 51 and the Oxcart (precursor to the SR-71 Blackbird)
"Unguarded"
by Scottie Pippen, with Michael Arkush
I'm a huge 90s Chicago Bulls fan and there should be juicy stuff in this book.
eBook in Sora!Joumana Arraj
Joumana Arraj
Middle School French Teacher, Fifth Grade Advisor
Middle School French Teacher, Fifth Grade Advisor
"The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening"
by Ari Shapiro
I would love to discover more about the world through the eyes of a great reporter.
eBook in Sora!"Siena Saint James Is Not A Spy"
by Erica Abbett
It is so cool to read a book written by a colleague and friend.
eBook in Sora!
Kam Bakewell
Kam Bakewell
Director of The ESD Fund and Special Projects
Director of The ESD Fund and Special Projects
"The Covenant of Water"
by Abraham Verghese
I read Abraham Verghese's Cutting for Stone and it was one of my favorites. He is a great storyteller and has a beautiful writer. Cannot wait to read this one.
eBook in Sora!"West with Giraffes: A Novel"
by Lynda Rutledge
My mother read this book and said it is one the best books she has ever read so I am intrigued.
"American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis"
by Adam Hochschild
I love reading non-ficton and specifically history. I heard the author speak on a podcast and it sounded interesting.
eBook and Audiobook in Sora!
Ninotchka Beavers
Ninotchka Beavers
Upper School Spanish Teacher
Upper School Spanish Teacher
"La Mirada de Humilda"
by Alonso Sánchez Baute
This is the tail (see what I did there?) of the owner's life with his loyal Westie by his side. I am a dog lover and always say dogs are the best people. Pet owners know the significant roles our furry friends play in our lives. If we're lucky enough, they live long enough to bear witness to years and stages of personal growth and evolution with love, affection, humor and a total lack of judgement.
eBook in Sora!"Are You My Mother?"
by Alison Bechdel
My daughters recommended Alison Bechdel's graphic memoirs and I am hooked. She is a talented artist and a humorous and honest writer who invites you to reflect on your own relationships, family and the human experience as a whole.
eBook in Sora!"The Importance of Being Interested: Adventures in Scientific Curiosity"
by Robin Ince
I've never considered myself a "science-y" person but this book appealed to me because I am very curious and love learning random (and not-so-random) things about how the world works. I might become a science nerd yet!
eBook in Sora!
Cathy Civello
Cathy Civello
Upper School English Teacher
Upper School English Teacher
"Inside Story: A Novel"
by Martin Amis
I've read all of his novels except this one, his last, and have taught MONEY several times in my History of the Novel course. Martin Amis died last week. Set in London, his work satirizes the greed and corruption, as well as the profoundly human tendencies, of modern society. I consider him to be the Dickens of our time. If you liked GREAT EXPECTATIONS, you'll enjoy reading anything by Martin Amis.
eBook in Sora!
Erin Keller
Erin Keller
Upper School English Teacher
Upper School English Teacher
"The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate"
by Peter Wohlleben
A couple of years ago I read his book, The Secret Wisdom of Nature and found it accessible, fascinating, and insightful, so I wanted to read something else he had written. He has an uncanny ability to tell a compelling story about the natural world around us that we so often take for granted. And I always try to balance my fiction reading with nonfiction.
eBook in Sora!"The Opposite House"
by Helen Oyeyemi
I have read most of this author's books and find her style of Magical Realism to be engrossing. She is wonderfully lyrical and although I admit I sometimes get lost in the tangle of her tales, it's always been a worthwhile journey.
eBook in Sora!
Dane Larsen
Dane Larsen
Upper School Sculpture Teacher, Ninth and Tenth Grade Advisor, Visual Arts Department Chair
Upper School Sculpture Teacher, Ninth and Tenth Grade Advisor, Visual Arts Department Chair
"Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones"
by James Clear
It's our Dept. Chair summer read, I've already started it, and it's been great! He takes a research based approach to habit formation that I'm optimistic will do me some good.
eBook and Audiobook in Sora!"The Creative Act: A Way of Being"
by Rick Rubin
A quote from the book:
"No matter what tools you use to create, the true instrument is you. And through you, the universe that surrounds us all comes into focus."
Mary Jo Lyons
Mary Jo Lyons
Upper School Librarian, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Advisor
Upper School Librarian, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Advisor
"Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us"
by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
This summer, I plan on catching up on 2023 award winners and titles from various book lists, but "Your Brain on Art" has been on my summer TBR list since I first heard an interview with the author earlier this year. My father, siblings, and children are all artists and musicians, and I am excited to read more!
eBook and Audiobook in Sora!In addition, as in past summers, I totally plan to steal ideas from my colleagues' lists on this page!
Jill Quarles
Jill Quarles
Upper School Spanish Teacher, Ninth and Tenth Grade Advisor
Upper School Spanish Teacher, Ninth and Tenth Grade Advisor
"Olympus, Texas: A Novel"
by Stacy Swann
I was browsing in a bookstore and saw that this novel takes place in rural East Texas, where I grew up. East Texas is a unique region with a lot of cultural nuance, and it's unusual to find fiction that takes place there. I'm curious about how the author perceives and depicts a place that I know so well and that's so close to my heart.
eBook in Sora!"The Last Romantics"
by Tara Conklin
I always love a family saga!
eBook and Audiobook in Sora!"La Hija de la Fortuna"
by Isabel Allende
I have read other books by Isabel Allende, and I love her vivid characters. Her novels are set in many different countries and historical periods, so I can always learn something from reading them. I think its important for me, as a Spanish teacher, to continue reading in the language and to learn as much as I can about the many diverse cultures that use it.
eBook and Audiobook in Sora! (Spanish)eBook and Audiobook in Sora! (English)
Lauren Redmond
Lauren Redmond
Upper School Acting Teacher, Director of Performances, and Performing Arts Department Chair, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Advisor
Upper School Acting Teacher, Director of Performances, and Performing Arts Department Chair, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Advisor
"The Song of Achilles"
by Madeline Miller
I remember translating The Iliad when I took AP Latin IV at ESD (many years ago) and I've always enjoyed Homer's original story. I've heard amazing things about this retelling and the author (who also wrote Circe), so I figured I would give it a go!
eBook and Audiobook in Sora!"The Inheritance Games"
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I'm a huge fan games like Clue and movies like Knives Out and when I read the description for this book, it gave me those vibes. Riddles, intrigue, family secrets...sounds like a good time to me!
eBook in Sora!"Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones"
by James Clear
It's my Department Chair summer reading and it's been on my "to read" list for this past year. I can't wait to dig in.
eBook and Audiobook in Sora!
Matt Varvir
Matt Varvir
Upper School Science Teacher, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Advisor
Upper School Science Teacher, Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Advisor
"Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Novel"
by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
My partner heard of this book and immediately thought of me since I have an interest in both magical realism and modern East Asian fiction. I am not familiar with Kawaguchi's work, so I hope it is as intriguing as it seems.
eBook and Audiobook in Sora!"Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History"
by Dan Flores
While I am reading this for a book club I lead, I have always had a fascination with the American southwest. A chance to delve into some of the ecology and mythology surrounding this region is always welcome. (Also, coyotes are cool.)
eBook and Audiobook in Sora!"Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions"
by Batja Mesquita
An exploration of how emotions may be more nuanced and complicated than we are often led to believe. Apparently it is backed up by a large number of studies and Mesquita is a current researcher in the field of cultural psychology, so I am curious to see where it goes.
eBook in Sora!Report abuse