Summer Reading

1. Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. A friend from Regen recommended this to me. D and I are reading it together this summer. What I actually mean is, I sped through it when I first got it, and have been waiting all summer for him to catch up. Just kidding! But not really.

2. Following Jesus in the "Real World" by Rich Lamb. I got this at DAC and pulled it out in a low moment of post-grad "What am I doing with my life?" It makes me reflect on my last four years in IV at Berkeley and how I can move forward in life without losing my faith. Any other IV-ers doing the same? I'd like to discuss, please.

3. The House of God by Samuel Shem. Recommended to me from a co-volunteer at The Hospital. I haven't started yet but will on Saturday. Don't let the title mislead you; it's not about religion, but rather, medicine and all of its imperfections. Another great medical-related reading is Complications by Atul Gawande, possibly my favorite nonfiction book ever. If you're a premed, read it and thank me later.

4. Desiring God by John Piper. Given to me by V as a birthday gift, I started reading slowly it in the spring. Not as heavily theological as C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, but not an easy read, either. I think the bottom line is, "The purpose of life is to glorify God by enjoying Him." How that happens is sometimes still a mystery to me. Then again, I am only 1/3 done with this thick read.

5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Given to me by my lab researcher as a graduation gift, I tore through this in the first few days after I moved home. If I had read this earlier, say, when I was working at Sul Lab, doing lab research would have made a hundred times more sense! Combines issues of race, scientific breakthroughs, consent, bioethics in a great metanarrative.

6. Harry Potter 7. I'm going to re-read this right before I watch the movie so I can set myself up to be dissatisfied with the inevitable divergence from the true storyline.