For those looking to curl up with a good book as the holiday season approaches, we asked MS&E faculty, students, and staff what they've been reading lately.
Their answers appear below, along with a brief description of why they chose each selection.
Fiction
James by Percival Everett
Doubleday, 2024
James is interesting because of its taking the perspective of Jim, the slave in the Huck Finn story, and is just a good story as well.
~ Kathleen Eisenhardt, Professor of MS&E
The Women by Kristin Hannah
St. Martin's Press, 2024
The protagonist serves in Vietnam as a nurse, and the book covers themes of self discovery, trauma, and PTSD, and the impact of the shameful treatment of the US public towards those who returned from that war, while also pulling no punches about how awful it was for everyone caught up in it. The author writes in her acknowledgements about how she waited decades to write this book, so that she had the emotional and writing maturity needed to cover the topic in the right way.
~ Lindsey Akin, Assistant Director of Career Services
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Penguin, 2025
A seed bank on an island that is drowning. A dysfunctional family, recovering from loss, that yearns to be functional again. A barely alive woman washed on shore—if they can save her, will they find out who she is and why she's there? And will she discover their secrets? With an overall theme of adapting to survive (us, and the plants and animals that share this planet with us) and beautiful writing, this was a 95% hit at my local independent bookstore's monthly book club, which is the best I've seen.
~ Lindsey Akin, Assistant Director of Career Services
Nonfiction
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
Riverhead Books, 2019
This book makes a powerful case that curiosity and breadth often drive the most innovative solutions. In a world that prizes specialization, the author shows how connecting across fields can unlock creativity—something that feels especially true in MS&E.
~ Isadora Schulz Dos Passos, master's student
Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1998
A short, unforgettable story about change, resilience, and adaptability. Its lessons are timeless: Those who embrace change thrive, while those who resist get left behind. It's the perfect reminder for students and professionals facing transitions and uncertainty.
~ Isadora Schulz Dos Passos, master's student
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
Portfolio, 2009
This book reshaped how I think about leadership and motivation. It shows that the most influential people and organizations don't start with what they do, but why they do it. It brings a perspective that's deeply relevant for anyone in MS&E looking to create impact.
~ Isadora Schulz Dos Passos, master's student
