Reading is sexy

Grad school crept up on me this week (I hate it when that happens). Between group projects and reading 200 page EPA documents, I found myself longingly staring at the pile of books that have taken up residence on my coffee table. With an English professor as a father, I was destined to be a bookworm and I have not failed to live up to the geeky bookworm stereotype. (In middle school I refused to read any of the accelerated reader books because they were too easy. I convinced my teacher to let me read Phantom of the Opera instead. And I wonder why I didn’t get a date until I was 17!) However, grad school has slowly taken over my life and my pile of to-be-read books has turned in to a ever growing tower.

My growing stack of books!

So the million dollar question is, what am I reading? (In my head that’s read in Bob Barker’s cheesy game show voice.)

• All Too Human: A Political Education by George Stephanopoulos

As senior advisor to Bill Clinton during his campaign and first term, George Stephanopoulos had unparalleled  access to the president and the inner workings of Washington politics. Whatever your opinion of the Clinton Presidency, this is a fantastically interesting take on the political decisions that are still affecting us today. As a public policy student with a fairly cynical view of politics, I am really enjoying the stories of the ups and downs of working in the White House. I’m about half way through the book, mostly because I keep having to go watch the episode of FRIENDS where the girls get George Stephanopoulos’s pizza.

• Doctor Who: Shada by Douglas Adams [Gareth Roberts]

I picked this up on a whim at Half Price Books, mostly because I couldn’t resist another Doctor Who and Douglas Adams combo. Once again, I haven’t yet finished, but this book has not disappointed me yet. But Doctor who rarely does.

• Where Am I Wearing? A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People that Make Our Clothes by Kelsey Timmerman

At the risk of sounding cliché, this book is an eye-opening look at the human side of clothing factories. Timmerman traveled the globe to find where his favourite clothing was made and to meet the factory owners, managers, and workers who made the clothes. He brings the question of how to bridge the divide between producer and consumer to the forefront of the debate: How do we purchase ethically without putting hard working people out of a job?

• The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

I grabbed this because I’m a sucker for pretty book cover and every grad student needs advice on how not to be completely insane.

• Serenity: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad

The intro is written by Nathan Fillion. Need I say more?

So that is my ever-growing reading list. What are books are you in to right now? Anything you think I need to add to my list?