SUMMER READS
THE RIGHT BOOKS FOR YOUR LAZINESS.
LIKE HOMEWORK, BUT FUN!
By Katy Parker, Literature Editor
COOKING ON YOUR OWN:
How to Boil Water: Life Beyond Takeout, by Food Network Kitchens
Life in my new apartment was glamorous for about three hours, and then I attempted to prepare my first meal. Since that point in time, the only things I can be sure of in the kitchen are that the smoke alarm is working perfectly and that scrambled eggs can end up being almost any color you want (or don’t want) them to be. My family members, undoubtedly feeling guilty about having equipped me with almost nonexistent life skills, have buried me in cookbooks.
None of them have proven to be anywhere near as helpful as How to Boil Water. The book knows that an infant or chimpanzee would likely appear more comfortable in front of a stove than I do, but it chooses not to belittle me. Instead, it delineates what some might consider to be the simplest of concepts. There is information about how to walk into a grocery store with a shopping strategy, tips about where to store certain types of food in the fridge, and even ideas about how to properly hold a knife when chopping.
I can’t say that there exists any hope for me to stop relying on leftovers from home, but this book is a great starting point for any beginner and will likely offer new information to more experienced cooks as well.
MORE SUMMER READS
By Katy Parker, Literature Editor
IN NEED OF A GOOD CRY:
The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
We all need a good cry once in a while. This short, accessible and personable book will get it out of you in no time. It’s the story of Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Many professors give “last lectures,” talks intended to focus on what one would impart to the world given one final chance to speak. For Pausch, the meaning behind this tradition was quite literal, as he had been given months to live shortly before the time of his performance. His final lecture was recorded and quickly achieved fame. He made several televised appearances thereafter and was able to produce this book, a compiled series of life lessons and meaningful anecdotes intended to someday serve as a guide for the three young children he has since left behind.
The book is well-written and easy to read. While some might argue that the idea may be simplistic and sappy, the work as a whole resounds as something very genuine and heartfelt.
People who are dealing with serious health issues are likely to find this piece to be helpful. Pausch provides insight as to how he and his family coped with the reality of his death. He describes the dreams he has for his children in an especially touching chapter. It is difficult not be drawn into Pausch’s memories and reflections on life. I don’t care who you are!
