Books we love: The editors suggest reading recommendations | Books

We asked the people on our editorial staff to recommend books they like and wish more people would read. Here are some of their recommendations:

“In thin air” by Jon Krakauer. A great read for anyone who thinks nonfiction can’t be as interesting as novels, “Into the Ice” tells the story of an ill-fated expedition to Mount Everest in 1996 from the perspective of a reporter who was there. It reads like a thriller, with sparkling, spectacular prose. — Meghan Friedman

“Dry out New Orleans” by Rich Campanella. This has long been my favorite book, and it is endlessly fascinating. It explains the history of the geography and topography of New Orleans and the crazy 300-year effort to transform it from a swamp to a city—and the unintended consequences that resulted. Campanella is a master storyteller, making a technical subject understandable through clear, concise writing and by weaving into his narrative juicy political intrigue, rich details, and personal stories of quirky characters, be they settlers, ambitious landowners and investors, engineers, or elected officials. I want to come back in my next life as Rich Campanella so I can write this book and others like it. I could just go on forever. It’s a must-read. — Stephanie Riegel

“Why Buddhism is true” by Robert Wright. This is not a book about religion. It is a book about our minds – and how little attention we actually pay to them. It helps to explain Buddhist ideas that are initially difficult for Westerners to understand, but that can radically change our understanding of where dissatisfaction with our lives comes from. — Matthew Albright

“Anathem” by Neal Stephenson. A great science fiction story set in an immersive world, Stephenson manages to raise questions about science, philosophy and religion while sending his characters on a wild, action-packed journey. — Faimon A. Roberts III

“The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas. Although this book is not on my standard recommendation list, it has long been one of my favorite reads. It was my father’s favorite book, so to honor his memory, I decided to reread it this summer. I really enjoyed reading this book a long time ago. It is a classic, published in 1844. The story begins on the day Napoleon left Elba, the place where he spent his first exile. The story is one of adventure and wrongful imprisonment. It was inspired, at least in part, by a true story. Sometimes I like to read books written long ago to remind myself that our generation stands on the shoulders of so much beauty, wisdom, and prudence. — Jan Risher

“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. The Alchemist is one of my favorite books ever. I read it over and over again and learn new life lessons from it. The journey in the book made me look at life through different lenses and perspectives and that is what I enjoy most about it. — Sherman Mushatt

“The Beekeeper” by Sue Monk Kidd. Lily Owens’ coming-of-age story explores divine feminine power, loss, betrayal, and race in the civil rights era South. Owens’ escape from her hometown of Sylvan, South Carolina, to Tiburon leads her to a life with three black beekeeping sisters. Along the way, Owens learns about the world of bees and slowly develops her own identity and place in the world. — Lauren Cheramie