Thomas Klein News Editor

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), Mindy Kaling

A comedic memoir of Mindy Kaling’s childhood and ascent to mainstream U.S. American comedy, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) is a refreshing read. While not cutting particularly deep in social humor, the book lightheartedly addresses numerous major issues in modern America as well as a series of general opinions and anecdotes. Spanning a rough path from birth to today, Kaling mixes thematic and chronological styles in organizing the semi-serious memoir. Ultimately, Kaling’s memoir is the perfect read for those looking to just laugh and relax. As Kaling says herself, “If you’re reading this book every night for months, something is not right.”

Hannah Taylor Managing Editor

The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri

The Namesake is the second Lahiri work I've read after liking Interpreter of Maladies. I picked up this copy from the bookshelf of my apartment in Madrid. I'm only halfway through, but I'm enthralled with the intimate portrayal of the main character's navigation of his identity as an Indian American and a son of two immigrants who are still very deeply rooted in their culture. In the story, Gogol's struggle to come to terms with his name reflects his larger struggle to define himself in the face of the conflict between his own desires and that of his family. So far, the book is set mostly in Boston, and as a Massachusetts native, it's really cute to see the city through the character's eyes.

Rodrigo Luque Deputy News Editor

Letters to a Young Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke

This short book is a collection of 10 letters sent by the Austrian 20th-century poet Rainer Maria Rilke. The letters are directed to a young man called Franz Kappus, who had asked Rilke for advice on his poetry. But from the very beginning of the first letter, Rilke tells Kappus that he cannot give him any advice. In fact, Rilke thinks that nobody can help Kappus become a better poet. Rilke explains that certain questions must remain unanswered until the answers arise from within. He unveils the beauty of introspection and praises patience. Throughout the 10 letters, more than giving Kappus any specific poetic advice or critic, Rilke unveils his wise philosophy of life, of art and of love. With humility and warm generosity, he shows Kappus, and whoever reads this book, an alternative approach to the most personal questions of life.

James Pearce Deputy Features Editor

Elon Musk: Inventing The Future, Ashlee Vance

This week’s product announcement from Elon Musk regarding home roofing made entirely from solar panels has brought the tech entrepreneur back into the limelight. As such, I’ve revisited one of the most comprehensive biographies on the man who promises to take the human race to Mars. Ashlee Vance explores what makes someone as driven and determined as Musk tick. Regularly compared to Steve Jobs, Musk’s career has been filled with astronomical successes and some resounding failures. Inventing The World is a deep dive into the intricacies of a mind dedicated to improving the human race for future generations.

Jocilyn Estes Opinion Editor

International Migration: A Very Short Introduction, Khalid Kosher

Migration is a fact of the international ecosystem, one which is becoming more and more apparent in our news cycle every day. From Syrians landing on Greek islands to Pakistanis traveling to find work in the UAE, policy conversations centered on the movement of people are happening worldwide. International Migration: A Very Short Introduction is exactly as it sounds. It’s a short, easy and comprehensive read that debunks the myths of migration in a way that leaves the reader to decide for themselves their stand on the movement of people in modernity.

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