The other day, one of my students asked if I could give her a list of my favorite books that I’ve read recently, whether they are science-based or not. I was happy to do so, and thought I’d share the list on this site as well. Here they are, in no particular order:
The Spirit of Food: 34 Writers on Feasting and Fasting toward God
edited by Leslie Leyland Fields. Beautiful essays on the physical and spiritual nature of food. And some good recipes to pick up along the way.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. Start with Book 1
. What a charming series!
Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love
by Dava Sobel. Enjoyed getting a different point of view of Galileo as father as well as scientist.
Fidelity: Five Stories
by Wendell Berry. Although I didn’t grow up on a farm, my grandparents had one, and somehow Berry draws out that heritage that is buried deep within me.
A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812
by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. A fascinating account of womanhood in the early years of our country.
Among His Personal Effects
by J. Craig McDonald (I’m a little biased towards loving this book, because the author was my college honors English professor, whom I admire very much.)
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
by Oliver Sacks. Sacks can be a bit rambly, but his investigations into how our brain processes music are fascinating.
A Year in Provence
by Peter Mayle (as well as his other books on living in Provence). Full of good adventures and good descriptions of food.
[Image Creative Commons licensed / Flickr user Mr. T in DC]