My 2023 Summer Reading & Music Lists

Summer Reading List

Here’s some books that I’m reading this summer. Check them out and let me know what I should be reading next.

• Poverty, by America — Matthew Desmond
• Small Mercies — Dennis Lehane
• King: A Life — Jonathan Eig
• Hello Beautiful — Ann Napolitano
• All the Sinners Bleed — S.A. Cosby
• Birnam Wood — Eleanor Catton
• What Napoleon Could Not Do — DK Nnuro
• The Wager — David Grann
• Blue Hour — Tiffany Clarke Harrison

With so many books being banned across the country, the Digital Public Library of America has launched The Banned Book Club to give readers access to e-books that have been banned. Learn more at TheBannedBookClub.info.

Summer Music Playlist

Like I do every year, here are some songs I’ve been listening to this summer — a mix of old and new. Look forward to hearing what I’ve missed.

• Who Told You — J Hus ft. Drake
• Snooze — SZA
• I’ll Stand By You — The Pretenders
• VAMPIROS — Rosalía & Rauw Alejandro
• Fast Car — Luke Combs
• California Love — 2Pac ft. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman
• Dance Me to the End of Love (Live) — Leonard Cohen
• Nowhere to Run — Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
• PARABOLIC! — nobigdyl.
• Try Me — Jorja Smith
• Sittin’ On Top Of The World — Burna Boy ft. 21 Savage
• Got ’Til It’s Gone — Janet Jackson
• Penas con Pan ­– La Doña
• Walk Like An Egyptian — The Bangles
• Watching the Credits — The Beths
• Only Have Eyes 42 — Janelle Monáe
• Ain’t No Harmin’ Me — The War and Treaty
• Soul Survivor — The Rolling Stones
• Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business) — Aretha Franklin
• Blue Train — John Coltrane
• Princess Diana — Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj
• Funky Kingston — Toots & The Maytals
• Unchained Melody — The Righteous Brothers
• Golden Lady — Stevie Wonder
• Doctor My Eyes — Jackson Browne
• Sability — Ayra Starr
• Not Strong Enough — boygenius
• (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay — Otis Redding
• Everything is Broken — Bob Dylan
• Cry Me A River — Ella Fitzgerald
• La Bebe (Remix) — Yng Lvcas & Peso Pluma
• Drums — Money Man & Babyface Ray
• The World Is Yours — Nas
• Reach Out I’ll Be There — Four Tops
• Just Breathe — Pearl Jam
• Tempted — J’calm
• Contact — Kelela
• Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) — Marvin Gaye
• River Deep — Mountain High — Ike & Tina Turner
• The Devil I Know — Ashley McBryde
• Love & Hate — Michael Kiwanuka