Liven up lounging with essential summer reads

Whether you plan on lounging around on a beach this summer, lounging around in an airport… Whether you plan on lounging around on a beach this summer, lounging around in an airport waiting for a plane to take you to that beach or lounging in your backyard because the ticket to the beach is just too darn expensive, why not lounge with a good book in hand?

There are certainly plenty out there to choose from; so many that perhaps you feel overwhelmed when faced with all the options at your local library or bookstore. If that’s the case, then I’m here to help.

After speaking with employees from Barnes ‘ Noble, the Carnegie Library and Peters Township Public Library in the South Hills and sifting through my own personal collection, I’ve compiled a list of five summer “must-reads.”

Whether you’re craving a powerful narrative or a non-fiction piece on an historical topic, you should find something here that suits your taste.

Topping the list is a fiction piece by Philip Roth, “The Human Stain.” Roth, regarded by some as one of the most brilliant American writers of our time, proves himself well worthy of such a label.

The book begins by describing an unintentional (and as is later revealed, ironic) faux pas, which leads to the demise of Coleman Silk’s 20-plus year career as a college professor and dean of faculty at Athena College in New England.

Shortly after retiring from his post, the 71-year-old man finds himself in an unlikely romance with a 34-year-old cleaning woman who works at the college. This improbable relationship exposes the biases of Coleman’s former colleagues who forced him from his job for similar reasons — alleged stereotyping and narrow-mindedness.

If you’re up for something a bit more light-hearted than Roth’s piece, try my second pick — Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist.” This heart-warming tale takes readers on a journey with a young boy in search of treasure.

Following a startling dream, a Spanish shepherd — “the boy,” as Coelho calls him — travels to the Egyptian pyramids where he hopes to find a hidden treasure. His enthusiasm at the outset quickly fades as the path becomes increasingly difficult, testing his will a little more each step of the way.

During the long trip to uncover the riches in Egypt, the boy ends up discovering something of much more value: a treasure he didn’t expect to find. The story is as much an inspiration as it is a delight to read.

For those with an interest in history, anthropology, geography, evolutionary biology or the like, take a look at my third recommendation — “Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies” by Jared Diamond.

Diamond sets out to answer the question, “Why did Eurasians conquer, displace, or decimate Native Americans, Australians, and Africans, instead of the reverse?” He begins by taking a trip back in time to 7 million B.C., the supposed era of the origin of human beings as a species.

He then describes the migration patterns that ensued from the African continent to Eurasia, the South Pacific and the Americas. From there, Diamond explains some of the factors that lead to the rise of certain areas and the subsequent domination of other territories by the more powerful regions.

The book is heavily detailed, and Diamond occasionally gets repetitive in trying to make his point, but all-and-all it’s a good read, one that gives an explanation for the current world order. How did some regions become rich and powerful, while others did not?

If you don’t have much free time to read this summer thanks to job hunting or job working, there’s a least one book that might be of interest: Richard Bolles’ “What Color is your Parachute?” This book about job-hunting is serious, yet playful and refreshingly practical and down-to-earth.

Bolles challenges readers to discover their talents and interests (from “What are my best skills?” to “In what environment would I most like to live?”) and provides ample exercises to help them do so. Further, he discusses the different career options available and offers helpful advice about how to land your dream job.

An over-arching message in the book is that one’s work can be a joy and not just a chore — people should find their passions and pursue them: “Work is love made visible. And if you can’t work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work …” and find a new job!

Finally, a novel that absolutely touched me several years ago was “The Sunflower” by Simon Wiesenthal. The story takes place during the Holocaust, when a German soldier, who deeply regrets the role he played in killing innocent Jews, finds himself in a hospital on his deathbed.

The solider summons Wiesenthal, a prisoner in a local concentration camp, and begs him for forgiveness (on behalf of the Jews) for his heinous war crimes. Wiesenthal is then faced with the ultimate decision: Should he forgive this man who, however sincere in his remorse, played a significant role in committing crimes against Wiesenthal’s people? Or should he remain silent and send the German solider to his grave without the forgiveness he craves in order to forever rest in peace?

According to the kind folks I consulted, some other books to check out this summer include the following: “Marley and Me” (Grogan), “Clemente” (Maraniss), “The World is Flat” (Friedman), “1776” (McCullough), “New Rules” (Maher), “State of War” (Risen) and “The Devil Wears Prada” (Weisberger).