With Knox College's summer break approaching its end, members of the Knox community are working their way through their summer reading lists. Several Knox faculty and staff members have shared what they've been reading for research or recreation.

Here's a sampling:

Stephen Fineberg, Szold Distinguished Service Professor of Classics

"Some of the sources important for my work are the Greek tragedies and comedies. A new book, Bonnie Honig's Antigone Interrupted (Cambridge, 2013), views tragedy from a relatively new perspective -- she writes about Sophocles' Antigone, but her understanding of that play has implications for how to read all Greek drama." 

Carol Scotton, associate professor of economics and business and management

"Now reading Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty. Really enjoying this. I had read several reviews and heard some interviews.  This is definitely a work to reckon with."  

Stuart Allison, professor of biology and director of Green Oaks Biological Field Station

"The standouts have been Rebecca Solnit's Wanderlust: A History of Walking; Eduardo Galeano's Soccer in Sun and Shadow; and David Sedaris' Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. I read the soccer book during the World Cup. Galeano presents a fascinating history of soccer -- in particular, soccer in Latin America, and it was especially interesting to read his book while the World Cup was being played in Brazil."

Natania Rosenfeld, professor of English

"Read so far:
Cheri and The Last of Cheri (two novellas) by Colette.
My Struggle, by Karl Ove Knausgaard, Volumes 1 and 2.
Stalingrad, Anthony Beevor.
Modern Polish poets, including Adam Zagajewski, Adam Czerniawski, and Tadeusz Rozewicz.
The Silence of Animals: On Progress and Other Modern Myths, John Gray.
The Middlesteins, Jami Attenberg.
House of Meetings, Martin Amis.
Bogota, by Alan Grostephan.
Helium, by Jaspreet Singh."

Fernando Gomez, associate professor of modern languages-Spanish

"I enjoyed reading Michael Shermer's The Believing Brain this summer."

Tim Kasser, professor of psychology

"I've read:
Victim of the aurora -- novel by Thomas Keneally.
Witchcraft:  A very short introduction -- non-fiction by Malcolm Gaskill.
Logicomix: An epic search for truth --  Graphic novel by multiple authors.
Shooting an Elephant -- essays by George Orwell.
Call it sleep -- novel by Henry Roth.

I'd say Logicomix was my favorite so far. It is the biography of Bertrand Russell, his quest to understand the nature of mathematics and proof, and the ultimate failure of that enterprise."  

Carol Brown, Office of Advancement

"The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls. I read The Glass Castle several years ago and it has remained one of my favorite books so that's why I picked up The Silver Star, and it did not disappoint. Also loved The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin. Though fiction, it is based on Anne Morrow Lindbergh's life."

Pat Pendergast, Office of Facilities Services

"Rick Atkinson's Guns at Last Light, third book in the World War II trilogy on the European theatre. I had originally bought the first two books for my late father as they followed the path of his brother (who was killed in action in Italy). Once I started reading the first one I had to continue through all three."

Diane Dooley, Office of Advancement

"I finished XO: A Kathryn Dance Novel by Jeffrey Deaver and would recommend almost anything he writes if you like dark, mystery reads."

Maria Filippone, Office of Admission

"I really enjoyed reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz because it was such a forceful book. The style was really engaging and the Dominican Republic history lessons were unexpected, but brilliant."

Shayla Chalker, head women's volleyball coach

"This summer I read The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do, The Four Agreements, (and) Becoming a Coaching Leader. I loved them all."