Dr. Graves's Summer Reading List

By Dr. Autumn A. Graves

I love books that highlight the resiliency of people and put into perspective the challenges our society is managing today. I am reminded of the saying, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Each of these books on my summer pleasure reading list tells a story of a person or family (family by blood/marriage or by proximity) that overcomes societal challenges. These stories grow my empathy for those who are different from me and I find multiple ways that I share similarities with the characters. Everyone is looking to belong, to make a difference, to love, and be loved. — AAG

Broad of Mind

We cultivate curiosity and creativity by desiring to learn about and from each other We pursue knowledge and wisdom to generate positive impact by reading profoundly and widely

— Excerpts from the St. Anne’s-Belfield Portrait of a 2036 Graduate

• "The Women: A Novel" by Kristin Hannah

• "James" by Percuval Everett

• "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" by James McBride

• "The Book of Charlie" by David von Drehle

Growing my Curiosity Practice

We cultivate curiosity and creativity by posing questions that do not already have an answer

— Excerpts from the St. Anne’s-Belfield Portrait of a 2036 Graduate

I am on a multi-year journey to grow my curiosity practice. While I have always been a curious person, I think my questions started to point to a particular point or direction and not keeping me completely open to “drawing novel conclusions.” I think entering my 50s started me on a wisdom journey. I am realizing there is so much more for me to learn and so much of that learning will come from other people, often people who do not share my gender, race, age, religion, national origin, or socio-economic class. I started by reading Scott Shigeoka’s book, “Seek,” last year and enjoyed welcoming him to our school for the Booth Family Inspiration Speaks Series. I am developing the types of questions I ask and how I ask them.

• "How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen" by David Brooks

• "High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out" by Amanda Ripley

• "Try to Love the Questions: From Debate to Dialogue in Classrooms and Life" by Lara Schwartz

• "Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents, and What They Mean for America’s Future" by Dr. Jean M. Twenge

• "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" by Mónica Guzmán