Our book and podcast recommendations for 2023
With 2023 just around the corner, we asked Penn GSE faculty and staff for some New Year recommendations — books they're currently reading, books they want to read, and even, for the first time ever, what podcasts they just can't get enough of! Here are more than two dozen suggestions, broken down into Fiction, Nonfiction, and Podcasts categories.
Incognegro: A Graphic Mystery
by Mat Johnson
Recommended by Charles Washington: One of my favorite books, based on real-life experiences for former NAACP leader Walter White, about a man who used his ability to "pass" as Caucasian to function as an investigative reporter in the Jim Crow south. A thrilling ride that deals with a multitude of modern issues.
Themes: Historical & Biographical Fiction Graphic Novels, Literary Graphic Novels, Mystery Graphic Novels
The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family
by Joshua Cohen
Recommended by Eric Kaplan: A fictionalized version of a professor, at a small, rural liberal arts college, who is tasked with hosting Benzion Netanyahu, (Benjamin's father), an exiled Israeli history scholar. The novel is compact, exceptionally well written, funny and won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Themes: Jewish Literature & Fiction, Biographical Fiction, Literary Fiction
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara
Recommended by Laura Tepper: I read this book a couple years ago, but I have never stopped thinking about it. It is a modern (and at times, tragic) tale of friendship that spans decades, but the absolutely artful writing makes even the saddest parts so beautiful.
Themes: Family Saga Fiction, Coming of Age Fiction, Literary Fiction
Vanished: Stories
by Karin Lin-Greenberg
Recommended by Laura Tepper: This collection of short stories are all centered around women and girls in upstate New York who have someone or something that has vanished. There's a string of humor that runs through many of the stories, but the empathy for each character, even the ones that aren't always easy to love, is what I really enjoyed.
Themes: Short Stories Anthologies, Short Stories, American Literature
Clues From The Canines: A Lily Dreyfus Mystery
by Darlene Dziomba
Recommended by Lourdes Brolly: Darlene is a current UPenn Employee. I was in a workshop when she said she was organizing herself to do this. I'm very proud of her.
Themes: Fiction Satire, Traditional Detective Mysteries, Women Sleuths
Stoner
by John Williams
Recommended by Michael Johanek: A modern classic and a quietly powerful novel!
Themes: Contemporary Literature & Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction
The Midnight Library
by Matt Haig
Recommended by Olivia Farkas: As we get older, we may look back and contemplate what could've happened if we took different paths at pivotal points of our lives. The Midnight Library is a creative, thought-provoking, and fun story that reminds us what truly matters.
Themes: Time Travel Fiction, Literary Fiction, Genre Literature & Fiction
The Golden Mole and Other Living Treasure
by Katherine Rundell
Recommended by Alan Ruby: Wonderfully produced book, with exquisite line drawings and short essays about some of the great creatures we share the earth with. Readable, amusing, and diverting but with a message that many of these glorious animals are at risk from human folly and avarice.
Themes: Biology of Animals, Fauna
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
by Tembi Locke
Recommended by Alana Elkins: It's a lovely journey of self-discovery, love, loss, and growth.
Themes: Travel Guides, Italy, Traveler & Explorer Biographies, Memoirs
The Puerto Rican War - a woodcut novelette
by John Vasquez Mejias
Recommended by Alexandria Nazar: It is a beautiful comic fully made from wookblock prints, and it covers an often overlooked part of American history.
Themes: History Graphic Novel, Colonialism
The Sea We Swim In: How Stories Work in a Data-Driven World
by Frank Rose
Recommended by Bridget Goldhahn: For those in marketing and communications — How do we become more deliberate in choosing the stories we tell? If the stories we create are "the waters we swim in" — how do we construct our own realities?
Themes: Web Marketing, E-commerce Professional, Sales & Selling
Orwell’s Roses
by Rebecca Solnit
Recommended by Bridget Goldhahn: Part biography or part memoir? I'm not sure, yet. "Orwell's Roses" is a historical and cultural analysis of George Orwell's body of work. I look forward to diving into this book over break.
Themes: Nature Literature Criticism, Author Biographies, Nature & Ecology
Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child
by Bob Spitz
Recommended by Erin Chambers: I recommend the book and the audio book is fantastic! So much fun to learn that she didn't just cook French food!! She had a very interesting life.
Themes: Culinary Biographies, Memoirs, Gastronomy History, Women's Biographies
How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future
by Maria Ressa
Recommended by H. Campano: Inspiring. About the Nobel Prize–winner Maria Ressa, journalist, and CEO of Rappler, a person who does their work with integrity at great personal risk. With the global resurgence of authoritarianism, it is important to take heart in its resistance. You will also learn about the contemporary history of the Philippines, a former Spanish and US colony, which is often not addressed in US curricula.
Themes: Fascism, Asian Politics, Women's Biographies
Who Killed Jane Stanford? A Gilded Age Tale of Murder, Deceit, Spirits, and the Birth of a University
by Richard White
Recommended by John Lawrence Puckett: I’m now reading and heartily recommend Richard White’s new book. Underlying truths in the book: 1) If you want to be rid of an unhinged, imperious university overlord, use something less traceable than strychnine; 2) University overlords: treat your staff kindly and respectfully.
Themes: Gilded Age History of the US, History of Western US, Murder & Mayhem True Accounts
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
by Lori Gottlieb
Recommended by Kate Moran: It's an interesting memoir by a therapist who gives some insights into the world of mental health.
Themes: Popular Psychology, Psychotherapy, Love & Romance, Memoirs
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story — audiobook
by Simu Liu
Recommended by Kristine Chin: Endearing and relatable memoir on growing up between cultures in an immigrant family. Had some great history and humor weaved throughout. Simu Liu's narration was awesome and brought things to life.
Themes: Biography, Memoirs
Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning
by Timothy Snyder
Recommended by Maureen Cotterill: The ideologies and beliefs that led to the systematized destruction of 6.5 million+ people in the 20th century have not disappeared. They are omnipresent and deadly. We need to recognize their many forms and be prepared to respond.
Themes: Jewish Holocaust History, World War II History
The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life
by Anu Partanen
Recommended by Melanie Pulley: Eye-opening and insightful comparison of social structures, education, and relationships in Nordic countries versus life in the United States.
Themes: European Politics Books, Cultural Anthropology, Political Commentary & Opinion
The Other Divide
by Yanna Krupnikov, John Barry Ryan
Recommended by Michael Johanek: Empirically-rich challenge to our current understanding of political polarization in the United States.
Themes: Government, General Elections & Political Process, US Political Science
Armchair Expert
hosted by Dax Shepard
Recommended by Eric Blanchet: Dax has interesting, thought-provoking conversations with a wide variety of celebrities, industry professionals, and subject-matter experts on a wide variety of topics.
Themes: Comedy, Popular Culture
Smartless
hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett
Recommended by Kate Moran: A lighthearted, fun podcast to have on in the background! The banter between the hosts is so fun.
Themes: Comedy
Significant Others
hosted by Liza Powel O’Brien
Recommended by Matthew Vlahos: Liza Powel O’Brien is an accomplished playwright, author, and mother. She also happens to be married to comedian Conan O’Brien — “his better half” by almost universal consensus. In this podcast series, Powel O’Brien dives into the often-overlooked lives of other spouses and partners behind some of history’s most famous personalities. She tells the tales of the intimate relationships that made all the difference, because, as the show notes: “no one exists in a vacuum — not even geniuses.” (Especially geniuses!) I also love how she taps famous friends like Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, and Lisa Kudrow to voice historical records like diaries, letters, and interviews. 10/10 highly recommend.
Themes: History
Life Kit
NPR
Recommended by Melanie Pulley: Fantastic little informational and advice podcast. Episodes are typically 10–30 minutes on a range of life topics.
Themes: Health & Fitness
Archetypes
hosted by Meghan Markle
Recommended by Olivia Farkas: Meghan Markle provides a historical, investigative, and authentic space to openly discuss the many negative labels that have been placed on women of different backgrounds for centuries. This podcast is perfectly curated; both an easy listen and eye-opening!
Themes: Society, Culture
Dare to Lead with Brené Brown
hosted by Brené Brown
Recommended by Whitney Jones: The idea of leadership as a young professional can be thrilling and terrifying all at the same time. Imposter syndrome can take over, and we can hide away from opportunities to live up to our leadership potential truly. This podcast builds upon Brené Brown's book "Dare to Lead" and involves riveting conversations with guests who have unique views on leadership. It truly is a go-to playbook for being a thoughtful, innovative, vulnerable, and creative leader in these ever-changing times.
Themes: Society, Culture