What to read and watch over winter break 2024

Winter break is the perfect time to curl up with a book or two that you might not normally have time to read, so every year, UChicago News asks members of the University community for their recommendations. 

This year, recommendations come from the 2024 winners of the annual Glenn and Claire Swogger Award for Exemplary Classroom Teaching, the Wayne C. Booth Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and newly named Rhodes Scholars. 

Things to read

Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs (2019) by Camila Townsend  

“Camila Townsend’s Fifth Sun is an alluring non-fiction account that draws on the sources of the Aztec people. Written in compelling prose, it immerses you in the perspectives and lives of the indigenous peoples of Central Mexico during a time of profound cultural upheaval, particularly around the moment of the Spanish encounter. I love how Townsend highlights the voices and roles of indigenous women, who are often overlooked in the studies about this time. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking to understand a rich and complex culture in the face of colonial challenges.”

—Andrea Reed-Leal, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Romance Languages and Literature and Booth Prize winner

When Breath Becomes Air (2016) by Paul Kalanithi

“When Breath Becomes Air is a poignant memoir by a neurosurgeon confronting a terminal cancer diagnosis in his 30s. Reflecting on life, death, and the pursuit of meaning, the book offers a piercingly insightful and sobering exploration of mortality and what makes life worth living. I love this book because it changed my perspective on success, motivating me to live life on my own terms and fully embrace each moment.”

—Anqi Qu, fourth-year undergraduate and Rhodes Scholar

“The Alienist” (1882) and The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas (1881) by Machado de Assis

“I recommend people to familiarize themselves with one the greatest Brazilian writers of all times, Machado de Assis. I have been revisiting his work thanks to an American TikToker who discovered Machado’s books and fell in love with them, which motivated me to try to read everything he has ever written. I recommend a short story called “The Alienist” (often also translated as “The Psychiatrist”), in which a physician in a small town becomes obsessed with finding the cure to mental disorders and starts to commit most of the town’s inhabitants to his asylum, generating a commotion that drives people from fear to revolutionary attempts. 

The second recommendation is his classic novel The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas, in which a deceased author reminisces the joys and, mostly, the disappointments of his past life.”

—Alan Parma, Assistant Instructional Professor in the Department of Romance Languages and Literature and Swogger Award winner

Quarterlife (2024) by Devika Rege

“Set in 2014 Maharashtra, Devika Rege's brilliant debut Quarterlife follows an eclectic cast of characters grappling with Modi's rise to power. Rege uses a careful close-third perspective to dive into each character's head, not only illuminating the rationale behind their politics, but also the humanity which lies behind it. Quarterlife provides not only a master class in the use of voice and viewpoint in fiction, but also a brilliant example of how to interrogate ideologies without losing sight of the experiences, ideals and desires which cause people to fall in love with them in the first place. 

This book inspired me to think more empathetically about political disagreements in my own life. It also gave me a renewed appreciation for the radically different ways in which human beings can see the world, meaning we each have something to gain from understanding someone else--even if that understanding sometimes seems out of reach.”

—Francesco Rahe, fourth-year undergraduate and Rhodes Scholar

Full Spectrum: How the Science of Color Made Us Modern (2022) by Adam Rogers

“The sensation of color is an interdisciplinary scientific phenomenon, involving the physics of light interacting with chemical matter and the biology of the eye that perceives it. This is to say nothing of the artistic, cultural, and historic connotations of color. Rogers' work explores all these dimensions, starting with a young Isaac Newton—sent home from university due to the plague, a detail some readers may find relatable—who famously inserted a needle into his eye in his quest to develop the world’s first comprehensive color model.

The narrative then winds through history, ending in Pixar's studios, where the pursuit of increasingly stimulating color experiences remains central to their creative process. UChicago readers will particularly appreciate the chapter on the 1892 Chicago World's Fair, which examines how incongruous elements of serendipity and prejudice shaped the development of white pigments used in the "White City" and their lasting impact on the chemistry of color.”

—Hannah Lant, Assistant Instructional Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Swogger Award winner

Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices (2005) by Thich Nhat Hanh

“If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or uncertain about life, Happiness by the world-renowned spiritual teacher Thich Nhat Hanh might be just what you need. This book provides a wealth of practical techniques for incorporating mindfulness into everyday life, highlighting the profound impact of being fully present. Its focus on cultivating happiness through mindful breathing, walking, and developing awareness of the body and emotions makes it both transformative and accessible.”

—Quan Duong, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry and Booth Prize winner

Things to watch

Apollo 11 (CNN Films, 2019)

“CNN’s Apollo 11 is my absolute favorite film. It’s a documentary of Apollo 11, from just before liftoff through splashdown, showing how we got to the Moon. The film uses pristine, large-format footage shot at the time of the moon launch and converted to 4k and 8k formats using modern technology. The images are absolutely stunning and there is no narration (other than Walter Cronkite). The film tells the story of one of humanity’s biggest achievements and introduces you to the thousands of dedicated people who worked tirelessly to get three astronauts to the Moon. It’s the most inspiring film I’ve ever watched.”

—Keith Jonathan Ruskin, Professor of Anesthesia and Critical Care and Swogger Award winner

El Eco (dir. Tatiana Huezo, 2023)

“‘El Eco’ is a beautiful portrayal of a small rural community in Puebla, Mexico. Through the eyes of the young people, the documentary captures with astounding subtlety life in this remote landscape, blending childhood curiosity with a deep connection to the land and its inhabitants, all while exploring the passage of time.”

—Andrea Reed-Leal, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Romance Languages and Literature and Booth Prize winner