My 2026 Summer Reading & Music Lists

Summer Reading List:

It’s that time of year again: here are some of the books I’ve enjoyed this summer. If you’ve read any good ones, let me know!

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And if you’re in Chicago, be sure to stop by the new Chicago Public Library branch at the Obama Presidential Center to check out some of my favorites!

• Kin — Tayari Jones
• The Things We Never Say — Elizabeth Strout
• A World Appears — Michael Pollan
• Whistler — Ann Patchett
• This Land is Your Land — Beverly Gage
• Vigil — George Saunders
• One Sun Only — Camille Bordas
• Seek Immediate Shelter — Vincent Yu
• Data Empire — Roopika Risam
• Transcription — Ben Lerner
• Cool Machine — Colson Whitehead

Summer Playlist:

Here are some of the songs I’ve been listening to this summer. It starts with a song Michelle and I love by Glen Hansard, a great musician who passed tragically this week. Our hearts go out to his family.

I’m always looking for new songs to listen to, so please share any recommendations in the comments.

• Song of Good Hope — Glen Hansard
• the one — Gabriel Jacoby
• girl, get up. — Doechii & SZA
• West Memphis — Yebba
• Doors — Noah Kahan
• Can’t Hide Love — Earth, Wind & Fire
• Going Shopping — The Strokes
• idea 1 — Kelela
• Make Me Wanna — October London
• I Feel Good — Fred Hammond
• One Eyed Jack — Charley Crockett
• Inglés En Miami — Rawayana & Manuel Turizo
• White Flag — Vince Staples
• Rubber Band Man — Mumford & Sons ft. Hozier
• Motion Party — BossMan Dlow
• La Father (remix) — Vale Pintos, Brytiago, Casper Mágico & Héctor “El Father”
• Fiesta — Gvrden Boy
• Self Aware — Temper City
• SHE DID IT AGAIN — Tyla ft. Zara Larsson
• Friends Again — Baby Rose ft. Leon Thomas
• Anyone Who Had a Heart — Luther Vandross
• Ain’t Nobody — Chaka Khan
• Emmanuele — Abel Selaocoe
• Message in a Bottle — The Police
• Modern Love — David Bowie
• The Book — Sheryl Crow
• Award Tour — A Tribe Called Quest ft. Trugoy The Dove
• Revolution — The Beatles
• Hit the Ground — Lizz Wright
• Charlie Brown — Coldplay
• Don’t Worry Baby — Los Lobos
• Let’s Get It On — Marvin Gaye
• I Ka Barra — Habib Koité & Bamada
• (I Know) I’m Losing You — The Temptations
• Do the Do — Howlin’ Wolf
• Road to Zion — Damian Marley ft. Nas
• WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! — Raye
• In the Dark — Nina Simone
• Heart of Gold — Neil Young
• Ran to Atlanta — Drake ft. Future & Molly Santana
• Folsom Prison Blues — Johnny Cash
• Hold On, I’m Comin’ — Sam & Dave
• Candela — Buena Vista Social Club
• Yada Yada — Anderson .Paak
• You Go to My Head — Ledisi ft. Paul Jackson Jr.
• Strode Rode — Sonny Rollins