There is nothing better than a beautiful New England summer, especially if you have a good book in your hand. It’s easy to scroll on TikTok or Instagram when not in class or clinic, but as we’ve all heard since we were kids, reading is good for your brain! Studies show reading can help to develop empathy and critical thinking. I personally think all dental students could benefit from a little more of both. We polled District 1 to get some book recommendations and reviews! I hope you enjoy!
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Robert Iger
By: Brian Li, BU’24
Book Synopsis:
A memoir of leadership and success: The executive chairman of Disney, Time’s 2019 businessperson of the year, shares the ideas and values he embraced during his fifteen years as CEO while reinventing one of the world’s most beloved companies and inspiring the people who bring the magic to life.
Review:
Really good book for summarizing some of the struggles Robert had as CEO and how he managed to rise up in the ranks starting from his job as a TV stage hand to becoming the CEO of one of the most powerful companies in the whole United States. He lays out the major lessons he learned in his tenure and creates a checklist of good ideas to know and implement for any organization… from running a large company all the way down to a private practice dental office. He is a good story teller and all his personal anecdotes give the book a more personal feeling. I give it 5/5, the boss mouse doesn’t produce bad quality products
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
By: Leanne McDowell, UNE ’24
Book synopsis:
“Between life and death there is a library.
When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change.
The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren’t always what she imagined they’d be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger.
Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?”
Review:
There is a reason this book tops so many people’s “best of all time” lists. It is truly thought provoking and tells this story in a very unique way. There was a great balance between each part in Nora’s journey, some much more drawn out (almost too much) than others. My biggest critique is that I felt it read too much as a self help book disguised as fiction and Nora was a bit one dimensional/predictable.
On the flip side, everyone can find a piece of themselves within Nora and learn something from this novel. Overall, Nora’s adventures strike a chord and help readers learn more about themselves in the process, even if what you learn is that you don’t like books on self-discovery. Some notable quotes/poems include: “Never underestimate the big importance of small things” and “the sky grows dark, the black over blue, yet the stars still dare to shine for you”. I would recommend to most, especially those who may find themselves regretting choices they made, those stuck in a rutt, or scared of change.
(There are a few things that may be triggering for some readers so use discretion.)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
By: Kristin Biggs, UNE’24
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love.
Review:
The book is a very nice, easy read that doesn’t get particularly deep. However, the author keeps you entertained by telling you just enough to keep you on the edge of your seat but not enough to reveal anything. You’re left wanting to know more about each husband throughout every chapter, leading up to a unexpected turn that honestly leaves the reader speechless. The Hollywood era is depicted very nicely and I think the book captures a lot of what happened behind the scenes during that time period. The further I got into the book the more I understood Evelyn and found myself justifying her controversial decisions during her career. She figured out how to play the game and capitalized on it even if that meant sacrificing part of her identity. But despite everything I liked her and felt torn after finishing the book. In all I really enjoyed every moment of the story and hope you enjoy the book as well!
If you want to read more reviews, check out our Fall 2021 edition of Pulp Fiction! HERE
ASDA: District 1 