September is National Literacy Month! To celebrate, we asked UT Permian Basin’s College of Education faculty to share their favorite books. You may find a few of your own favorites here, or discover something new and inspiring.
Ready? Let’s dive in!
“Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver”
This is a book I often turn to when I don’t have much time but am looking for a little inspiration. Oliver, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is one of my favorites—I admire her writing very much, and I relate to her love for the natural world.
“The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan
This was something a little different from Tan who has written several award-winning novels including “The Joy Luck Club.” “The Backyard Bird Chronicles,” also beautifully illustrated by the author, includes journal entries in which Tan teaches us how to pay attention to the beauty around us that is easy to overlook.
“The Kings of Big Spring: God, Oil, and One Family’s Search for the American Dream” by Bryan Mealer
Having moved to West Texas in 2019, I love exploring and learning about the area, and Big Spring is one of the places I’ve enjoyed visiting. This book [is] a combination of memoir and narrative history in which the author tells the story of four generations of his family and their search for the American Dream … right here in West Texas!
“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I have always been fascinated by the Roaring ‘20s, and this novel captures the glamour, ambition, and complexity of that era. It’s decadent and beautiful in a tragic way.
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
This book is such a sharp and witty exploration of social class, gender, and personal growth. Even though it’s not a 20th century novel, it still feels relevant to me.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary” by Helen Fielding
The first time I read this book, I was in my 20s and laughed out loud so many times. I completely identified with Bridget—her relationships, navigating single life, and just trying to figure out life made her so relatable and real.
“The Women” by Kristin Hannah
I could not put this book down. It is an emotional, heartbreaking, and empowering story that really honors the contributions of women during the Vietnam War.
“From Here to the Great Unknown” by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough
I have read this several times. I’m an Elvis fan and even though I was pretty young, I remember being in the car with my mother when the announcement came over the radio that Elvis died. I thought the book was a beautiful tribute to family, legacy, and memory and they did a great job blending personal histories with public legacy.
“Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White
“Charlotte’s Web” has always captured my heart with its timeless story of friendship, loyalty, and selflessness, told through the sweet bond between a pig named Wilbur and the wise spider Charlotte. It’s a book that feels both comforting and profound, reminding me of the simple yet powerful lessons of kindness and sacrifice.
Any book by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden’s books pull me into a completely different world—one full of psychological twists, dark secrets, and edge-of-your-seat suspense. I love how her writing keeps me guessing until the very last page, making her books impossible to put down.
“Democracy in America” by Alexis de Tocqueville
Written by a foreigner and largely viewed as an explanation of what made the Great Experiment of the American Republic work, this book should be required reading for every American. In it, the reader will come to understand that as far back as the mid-1830s, the unique characteristics that make up the American cultural fabric and explain the basis of people’s attitudes today towards government, work, community, and faith were already well rooted across the land.
“The Federalist Papers” by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison
A series of essays written by three of the most important players in the First Republic that explains the rationale for a great many of America’s legal and governmental principles, “The Federalist Papers” is another must-read for every American citizen. Most critical in this collection in the context of the other books I have recommended is Madison’s Federalist #10 and his writing on the importance of avoiding factionalism in American society. While factions were a natural and healthy part of the democratic process, when left unchecked, Madison argued they could “strangle freedom and destroy republics.”
“The Vanishing Neighbor: The Transformation of the American Community” by Marc Dunkleman
This is an object lesson in how the social and political conflict in America today represents a shift (via the Information and Social Media Age) from a society of townships … where Americans found common cause to a society of networks where Americans limit their communication to the societal factions they most strongly identify with.
“The Giver” by Lois Lowry
This book has always been special for me because it was the first book that made me reflect about our own choices in the real world. It challenges readers to think deeply about conformity, freedom, and the cost of a perfectly controlled society.
Books have the power to capture our imagination and inspire us. Pursue a role in education and help others achieve the same joy and understanding through literacy. UT Permian Basin has the online programs you need:
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