Black Man in White Coat, written by Damon Tweedy, M.D., is a book I had long wanted to read after hearing the author speak about the impact of racial disparities on patient care at a library conference. Tweedy reflects deeply on his own biases and those of his colleagues, providing plenty of powerful examples of how disparities are hardwired in our healthcare system. His emotional narrative starts as he is just entering medical school at Duke with continued exploration throughout his training, culminating with wisdom that he is then able to use as a medical student educator. As he transitions from student to independent practitioner, he examines the complex ways that race and socioeconomic factors influence health. This is an important read for anyone interested in gaining a better appreciation of how racial disparities are cultivated and perpetuated. His stories also may serve to inspire change.
Jen DeBerg, User Services Librarian, Hardin Library for the Health Sciences

The Soul in the Brain is a fascinating review of some of the most important aspects of human life—providing an account of the history of thought around art, religion, and language, and the scientific perspective Dr. Michael R. Trimble is uniquely qualified to give. Yet, in this examination, the question of whether such methods should be applied to these topics becomes imperative to ask; and, in the way that Tremble’s book approaches such issues, one must reject his attempts at objectivity, at least in art—his approach not being new, but rather emblematic of old problems, the same that caused Antonin Artaud to declare ‘En finir avec les chefs-d’oeuvre.’ If you are already a student of neuroscience or have more patience for the attempted injection of objectivity into art, this book is a dive worth taking, but if you don’t possess one or both of those traits, you may want to look elsewhere.
Elise Hynnek- Sutdent Assistant

The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science by Peter J. Hotez examines the relationship between right-wing politics and the rise of anti-science sentiments in America. Hotez blends personal experience and scientific evidence through his unique perspective as a vaccinologist. This book catalogues the weaponization of anti-science in recent history and explains what a rise in distrust for scientists may mean for the future of both American politics and science. While The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science captures the immediacy of this issue as well as the connection between authoritarianism and anti-science, it avoids properly critiquing the American healthcare system. Overall, this book lays out complicated material in an easily digestible way and provides insight into the future of America. If you are looking to broaden your understanding of the livelihoods of American healthcare workers, American politics, and the cultural impact of COVID-19 this is the book for you.
Mathis Walston-Student Assistant

Two Nurses, Smoking by David Means is a collection of short stories that focus mainly on grief, loss, and the complexity of human relationships. The first story begins from the point of view of a small dog and focuses on her understanding of the world through her nose after she gets lost in the woods alone. The stories continue to build in complexity further into the collection, diving into the lives of teenagers, retirees, unhappy marriages, and life after the loss of a loved one. Means uses an overarching theme of living life through the smaller moments to connect each story together, leaving the reader in a mellow, contemplative stupor by the end of the book. This collection is for those who are looking for a less-than-casual read that emphasizes the power of telling stories, even the sad ones, because they have value beyond the pages of a book.
Cassandra Parsons- Student Assistant

A Few Small Moments by Carol Scott-Conner is a series of vignettes that come together to tell a whole story. The vignettes revolve around Beth Armond, a general surgeon, and her life in and out of the operating room. While Beth carries the weight of lives in her hands, she is not portrayed as a mythic hero, but rather a woman trying to make sense of life and its tumultuousness. This book is a captivating collection of confronting and handling humanity at its most vulnerable. Each page is a delicate but incessant exploration of the intersection between surgeon, patient, and family.
Mathis Walston - Student Assistant

The Curious History of the Heart by Vincent M. Figueredo explores the literal and symbolic meanings of the heart throughout history. Figueredo tracks human understanding of the heart through extensive research and presents the progression of thought in an intriguing yet succinct manner. This book encapsulates prehistory to the modern day. The heart of the book, though, lies in Figueredo's argument that some sentiments of the past are not as separate from modern medicine and the workings of the heart as we might think.
Mathis Walston - Student Assistant

Waiting for My Cats to Die by Stacy Horn is a candid, darkly funny memoir that explores loneliness, aging, and mortality through the lens of a midlife crisis and two chronically ill cats. Stacy Horn’s memoir is messy in the best way—blending TV obsessions, cemetery visits, conversations with her cats, failed romances, and internet culture into one smart, vulnerable spiral of a book. Her voice is honest and wry, and somehow, beneath all the morbidity, it's surprisingly comforting. If someone enjoys memoirs that read like late-night conversations about life, death, and the weird stuff in between, this one delivers.
Rachel Winey- Student Assistant