Mayor Malik D. Evans and the city administration provide reading recommendations for the summer

Even city leaders take time during the summer to immerse themselves in good books. Patty Uttaro, director of the Rochester Public Library and Monroe County Library System, gathered more than a dozen city department heads to share their summer reading recommendations. Check out the list below and check out these books from your local public library:

Mayor Malik D. Evans

• The Little Book of Aliens by Adam Frank
  Delve into the science behind the search for life beyond Earth with this book by astrophysicist, researcher, and University of Rochester professor Adam Frank.

Patty Uttaro, Library Director

• I cheerfully decline by Leif Enger
  Enjoy the story of a grieving musician who sets sail on busy Lake Superior to search for his deceased, dearly beloved wife, a bookseller.
• News of the World by Paulette Jiles
  After the Civil War, an aging, wandering news anchor agrees to return a young Kiowa captive to her people. This is an exquisitely crafted, morally complex and layered historical novel.

Dr. Shirley Green, Commissioner of the Ministry of Leisure and Social Services

• The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
  In an inspiring sequel to her acclaimed memoir, former First Lady Michelle Obama shares practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today’s highly uncertain world.

David Smith, Police Chief

• Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
  Considered one of the most influential books of the last 50 years, this book examines the political genius of Abraham Lincoln, his unusual presidency, and his cabinet of former political opponents.

Stefano Napolitano, Fire Chief

• Wisdom of the Bullfrog by Admiral William H. McRaven
  Readers will be captivated by this short, inspirational book filled with advice and leadership lessons learned by Admiral McRaven during his four decades as a Navy SEAL.

Daniella Veras, Management Assistant

• Atomic Habits by James Clear
  This comprehensive guide will help you harness the power of habit change to jumpstart your personal growth. Daniella says, “One of my favorite books for getting back on track. I might even read it again right now!”
• Shit You Need to Know That Nobody Told You: A Perpetual Guide to Life for Everyone by Clark Merrill
  This practical guide offers advice on life situations such as what to say at a funeral, what to say at a wedding, how to order wine at a restaurant, and more.

Patrick Beath, Corporate Lawyer

• Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
  Follow the story of a seemingly perfect couple and learn how they cope with social change in the new millennium.
• The Love Songs of WEB Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
  This sweeping novel about an American family from the time of the colonial slave trade to modern times explores themes of identity, family, and resilience.

Kim D. Jones, Chief Financial Officer

• Start Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own Country by Eddie Glaude Jr.
  Published in 2020, this book examines the consequences of the Black Lives Matter movement from the perspective of James Baldwin’s experiences in the post-civil rights era.

Dr. Rose M. Nichols, Director of the Department of Human Resources Management

• Disruptive Thinking by TD Jakes
  Think differently and find the courage to challenge the status quo with this guide to changing your mindset and making meaningful change.
• The Grocery Store “Heaven and Earth” by James McBride
  In 1972, workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, digging foundations for a new development discovered a skeleton. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the neighborhood’s long-held secrets.

Barbara Pierce, Director of Communications

• Remarkably Glowing Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
  An exploration of friendship, reckoning and hope, this charming, witty and captivating book traces a widow’s unusual bond with a giant Pacific octopus.
• Radical Candor by Kim Scott
  This book is a compelling exploration of an effective communication framework that includes honesty, sincerity, clarity, and kindness, while demonstrating personal care and directly challenging.

Suzanne Warren, Director of the Office of Management and Budget

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  Drawing on her life as an Indigenous scientist and as a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living things—asters and goldenrods, strawberries and pumpkins, salamanders, algae and marigolds—give us gifts and lessons, even when we’ve forgotten how to hear their voices.
• The Silent Tenant by Clémence Michallon
  This book is a gripping psychological thriller about a serial killer, told from the perspective of those closest to him: his 13-year-old daughter, his girlfriend – and the only victim he spared.

Josanne Reeves, Chief Legislative Coordinator and City Council Liaison

• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
  This book is a shocking psychological thriller about a woman’s violence against her husband – and the therapist who is obsessed with uncovering her motive.
• Being Henry by Henry Winkler
  This book by Emmy Award-winning actor, author, comedian, producer and director Henry Winkler is a profound autobiography about the lifelong effects of fame and the struggle for one’s wholeness.

John Brach, Special Assistant to the Mayor

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
  This groundbreaking tour of the human mind explains the two systems that control the way we think.
• Clare Pooley’s Authenticity Project
  This novel tells the story of a lonely green notebook that brings six strangers together and leads to unexpected friendship and even love.

Nancy Johns-Price, Youth2Work and Youth Engagement Coordinator

• Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, by Adam Grant
  This book explores the critical art of rethinking your opinions and learning to question them. It claims, “If knowledge is power, then knowing what we don’t know is wisdom.”
• 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do by Amy Morin
  Master your mental toughness – revolutionary new strategies that work for everyone, from housewives to soldiers and teachers to CEOs.

To find one of these books in a public library near you, search the library’s online catalog and find locations and hours at https://libraryweb.org/.