Southwestern Law School’s 2026 Faculty Reading List
Discover what our faculty are reading and explore a curated selection across law, history, memoir, literature, and more.
Jessica Barclay-Strobel
Audition for the Fox by Martin Cahill
After being rejected by 96 of 99 gods, an aspiring acolyte catches the eye of the Fox of Tricks and is catapulted back in time—before her people’s uprising—to a cause she thought was settled history. But this time victory is uncertain and, if our heroine doesn’t succeed, she’ll never be born, and history will be altered forever. This fast-paced fantasy builds a rich world in which history must be fought for and asks who can and should be the spark that incites a rebellion.
Luke Boso
The Case Against the Supreme Court by Erwin Chemerinsky
This book by one of the country's top experts in Constitutional Law offers a detailed analysis of the Constitution's core functions following the ratification of the Reconstruction Amendments, and it explains how the modern Court has failed to execute its obligation to further each of those core functions
Catherine Carpenter
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Elegant and powerful story that is told through letters, emails, and journal entries of a complicated life lived and relationships built.
Ande Davis
My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
The first novel in a trilogy written as meta-slasher movie stories, My Heart is a Chainsaw is a gripping and entertaining horror from Blackfeet master of the genre that touches on history, isolation, family trauma, and revenge. I didn't want to put it down.
Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
A new novel by the author of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series (which I also recommend for people who like funny, absurd stories in the vein of rpgs and video games), Operation Bounce House is about a future human colony on a distant planet suffering through an invasion of robots being remote-controlled by "players" on Earth as if it were a massive video game. It looks at settler colonialism and empire, xenophobia, online gaming culture, AI, and opportunistic capitalism through a sharp, satirical lens.
Angela Dean
The Flag and The Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy by Philip Gorski and Samuel Perry
This book clearly explains the difficult moment in time that we’re living through and offers strategies we can all use to preserve our democracy for everyone. It’s a quick read that will leave you spellbound!
The book is eye opening because it breaks down how big tech has destroyed revenue streams for musicians, book authors, TV and Film writers, directors and producers with the help of a complicit. US Congress. The solutions offered by the authors are viable. Incredible read!
Darby Dickerson
The Adjunct by Maria Adelmann
Dark comic campus novel about Sam, an overworked and underpaid adjunct professor in Baltimore who is navigating the precarious gig economy of academia, #MeToo issues, and a complicated past with her former advisor, whose new novel may be about her.
Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, former president of Spelman College and interim president of Mount Holyoke College, offers an insightful and hopeful account of higher education at a moment of political, financial, and cultural strain. Part memoir, part leadership guide, the book examines the pressures facing colleges and universities—from campus conflict and free speech to affordability, belonging, and public trust—while making the case that higher education remains essential to opportunity, civic life, and human development. She challenges leaders to respond to turbulence with courage, clarity, and a renewed commitment to institutional mission.
Michael Epstein
Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words by John McWhorter
A thorough look at the history and current evolution of pronouns in English--a great read!
The Warden by Anthony Trollope
A 19th century novel with a public church scandal, powerful lawyers, and media manipulation--what could be more fun?
Tess Feldman
How Migration Really Works: 22 things you need to know about the most divisive issue in politics by Hein de Haas
The author provides a compelling overview about immigration around the world. Disecting the issues of climate migration, employment, development and refugee trends from an international lens provided me a better understanding of issues impacting emigration and immigration around the world.
Andrea Freeman
These Heathens: A Novel by Mia McKenzie
A churchgoing teen seeking an abortion spends a memorable weekend in the middle of the Civil Rights movement and Atlanta's underground society - seeing this time in history through her eyes is a revelation!
Old School Indian: A Novel by Aaron John Curtis
Although parts of the book are painful to read, it has so much poetry, history, passion, and cool facts about Mohawk history that I read it in a day.
Norman Garland
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
It is Agatha's finest.
Kevin Greene
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
This 2016 book won a Pulitzer Prize, and is one of the best books ever written about slavery in America, taking the reader into the world of enslaved people and the slaveowners and abolitionists that fought for and against the horrors of chattel slavery.
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
The book is a madcap ride that can be summarized thusly: the 'Devil comes to town, and all hell breaks loose.' The author should have been executed for writing this scandalous book in Soviet Russia, but Stalin secretly loved the book, which parodied the Soviet bureaucracy.
John Heilman
Me by Elton John
Amazingly honest autobiography of a legendary performer.
A German Jew's Triumph: Fritz Oppenheimer and the Denazification of Germany by Cindy Schweich Handler
A true story of a German Jewish lawyer who was forced to flee, eventually joined the U.S. Military, and accompanied Eisenhower when Allied Forces defeated Nazi Germany. He was then put in charge of eliminating Nazi-era laws from the German legal system.
Jodi Jewell
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
An excellent book that offers practical strategies to help you form good habits, break bad ones, and make tiny, easy changes that help you become 1% better each day.
Faisal Kutty
Legal Mobilization: Assessing the Potential and Limits of Law-based Civic Advocacy by Jeff Handmaker
I am recommending this book because it offers a nuanced and empirically grounded account of how law can function simultaneously as a tool for justice, political contestation, and social change in an era of shrinking civic space and democratic backsliding.
Israel: What Went Wrong? by Omer Bartov
I am recommending Israel: What Went Wrong? because it is a rare and deeply courageous work by an Israeli-born former IDF soldier turned Holocaust and genocide scholar who combines historical rigor, moral clarity, and personal reflection to confront how trauma, nationalism, and dehumanization can reshape a society.
Christine Lofgren
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The novel follows a brilliant scientist navigating professional barriers, personal setbacks, and unexpected opportunities with resilience and wit. It is an engaging, fast-moving read that explores ambition, identity, and finding your voice. I wish this book had been written I was navigating law school and early law practice.
Robert Pugsley
Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler
Written in 1941, the novel exposes the show trials of Stalin’s Moscow in the 1930’s, a period in which former revolutionaries were purged and punished for “crimes” they did not commit. A sobering and riveting reminder of the horror which authoritarian political regimes can visit on yesterday’s loyalists in the name of “progress”.
On Lying and Politics by Hannah Arendt
A watershed analysis of the means by which political regimes can cancel the public’s ability to maintain the distinction between truth and falsehood. Relevant to many historical periods, including our own.
Andrea Ramos
The Dutch House by Anne Patchett
Beautifully written story about the bond between two siblings.
Solito by Javier Zamora
A firsthand account of a little boy migrating to the U.S. alone, and the struggles of his journey, including moments of fear and kindness along the way.
Orly Ravid
The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda by Warren Kinsella
The alarming rise of antisemitism since October 7, 2023 is widely reported, and at least sometimes taken seriously (though not enough so, in my view). Less known and not being properly addressed is the well-funded and organized propaganda campaign fueling antisemitism including ant-Zionism with enormous impact especially on younger generations and negative consequences. I want people to pay attention. Also, there is a documentary coming out based on this book.
Won't Be Silent — Don't Stop 'Til It Matters: Embracing My Superpowers of Humor and Optimism to Survive Being Second-Generation Holocaust, Coming Out, Addiction, and Endless Unbelievable Obstacles by Abe Gurko
Abe Gurko is a former client, great friend, talented writer, and one of the funniest people I know. He worked with Carrie Fisher (including writing). This book has enjoyed rave reviews but not much marketing so I want to support it and Abe here.
Carly Sanchez
Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey
This non-fiction book highlights 10 cases in which people were wrongfully convicted, highlighting the flaws in our criminal justice system, how bias can impact results, and the devastating impact that such mistakes can have on the lives of everyone around them.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Book Thief is a fictional book focusing on the life of a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany and is narrated by Death. Our protagonist must navigate her relationships with her foster parents, deal with the Hitler Youth, and keep to herself her feelings about the young Jewish man hiding in her basement.
Alyssa Skolnick
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhil
A feminist tale about female empowerment and accepting others for who they really are.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Secrets, coming of age, perseverance, and the lengths people will go to save their family.
Judy Sloan
The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland
Artemisia is the one of the few women painters of the Italian Baroque whose name and work have survived. Her life and work were defined by her rape, which she used to transform the depiction of a woman’s body. Read the book and then go to the Getty to see one of her rare paintings: Lucretia!
Wyndham & Banerjee Series by Abir Mukherjee
The history of India is brought to life in this series. They are windows into a history we need to know.
Julia Vazquez
1984 by George Orwell
A dystopian novel depicting a totalitarian society where the state exercises extreme control over truth, language, and individual thought. Through the story of Winston Smith, Orwell explores themes of surveillance, propaganda, and the erosion of personal freedom, offering a lasting warning about authoritarian power.
Dov Waisman
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
It's a classic coming-of-age story that showcases Dickens' psychological astuteness and immense talent for creating unique and memorable characters (e.g., Uriah Heep).
Anna Wassenberg
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Christopher Voss
This is written by a former negotiator for the FBI. Some of it hits familiarly, but other tactics are not ones I've commonly come across. It's an interesting read with a lot of practical takeaway.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Another practical one - a sort of counter approach to traditional self-help. It's funny, profane, and brutally honest - definitely worth a read. Do what makes you happy!
William Wood
City of Inmates: Conquest, Rebellion, and the Rise of Human Caging in Los Angeles, 1771–1965 by Kelly Lytle Hernández
An excellent and very important book on Los Angeles history.
We Are the Land: A History of Native California by Damon B. Akins and William J. Bauer, Jr.
A good overview of California (Native) history.
Bryce Woolley
Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Christopher Vaughan and Stuart Brown
This book is a fun exploration of the importance of play backed by science with insights and recommendations that apply to the educational context.
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
This book is a galloping, surreal romp exploring Asian-American identity and Hollywood bizarre using humor and creative storytelling that is so enthralling you may finish it in one sitting.
The Power of Play in Higher Education: Creativity in Tertiary Learning edited by Alison James and Chrissi Nerantzi
Although law school is quaternary education, this collection of articles across disciplines in tertiary education is chock full of examples and reasons to integrate play into your pedagogy.
- 2025 Reading List
Jessica Barclay-Strobel
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
This is the first book in an award-winning sci-fi series about a sarcastic cyborg security unit that hacks its governor module. It would be happy to use its newfound free will to watch soap operas—but the humans it must protect keep getting into scrapes on their mission to explore a distant planet!
Paul Bateman
Maus: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman
Not because it won a Pulitzer, but because it’s artfully told, and because I remember, while waiting for a train, explaining to a fellow traveler why I was reading a ‘comic book.'This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession by Daniel J. Levitin
It’s for those curious about what’s rattling around in our brains when we respond to music.Beth Caldwell
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
This is a must-read for everyone in the legal profession. Michelle Alexander explains how systemic racism operates through the criminal justice system in a way that is both accessible and profound.City of Quartz by Mike Davis
Quintessential reading about the city of Los Angeles.Catherine Carpenter
James by Percival Everett
A powerful recounting of the travels and travails of Huckleberry Finn as told by his companion Jim. It is the story that Mark Twain never could have written. Heartbreaking, raw, and ultimately uplifting.All Fours by Miranda July
A wild and yet intimate ride inside the mind of a 45-year-old wife, mother, and artist who is reexamining her sexuality against the backdrop of aging.Alexandra D’Italia
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
Read it before it’s streaming content. One of my favorite books in recent years—for both the writing and the story.The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard
An overlooked novel with beautiful prose.Meera Deo
James by Percival Everett
Fabulous reinvention of Huck Finn told from ‘Jim’s’ perspective.Land of Milk & Honey by C Pam Zhang
Beautiful writing and innovative storyline.Darby Dickerson
Before the Movement: The Hidden History of Black Civil Rights by Dylan C. Penningroth
As the President of Scribes, I want to encourage people to read our 2024 Book Award winner. Professor Penningroth, using in-depth historical research and his family's own history, explains how Black individuals and Black-run organizations experienced and used the civil law long before the Civil Rights Movement. A must-read for those interested in civil rights or legal history. And the writing style is superb.Michael Epstein
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick
Accessible take on Artificial Intelligence.Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
It’s the history volume that inspired the Broadway musical!James Fischer
The Dual State by Ernst Fraenkel
The book was written by Ernst Fraenkel, a German Jewish lawyer, who was allowed to continue practicing law in Nazi Germany after the government disbarred Jewish lawyers, because Fraenkel had fought in WWI and was exempted from the decree. Fraenkel provides an inside look at how the Third Reich destroyed democracy in Germany by executive/party decree and subjugated the courts and the bureaucracy into mere implementers of executive/party will. Readers will find very uncomfortable parallels with recent developments in the U.S.On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything by Nate Silver
Nate Silver was the founder of FiveThirtyEight, probably the most respected polling entity in the United States. He is also a well known poker player and statistician, both of which are foundational to his book. On the Edge is an engaging and informative take on risk assessment, and political attitudes that are shaped by risk assessment. Silver looks at this (risk assessment/political attitudes) from the vantage point of Silicon Valley (which he labels The River) and academia and government (which he labels The Village). You will find that the book is clearly written and full of data, even if you disagree with some of the conclusions Silver reaches about the data. I found it an easy, enjoyable, factually enriching read. If you read it, I hope you will agree.Andrea Freeman
Guide Me Home by Attica Locke
This is the 3rd book in a trilogy about Darren Matthews, a Black Texas Ranger. The books are thrillers that delve deeply into racism, music, drinking, relationships, and the natural beauty of Texas.My Friends: A Novel by Hisham Matar
This is a timely, beautiful novel about protest, exile, writing, and friendship as the central relationship in life.Anahid Gharakhanian
Martyr!: A novel by Kaveh Akbar
I loved Martyr!'s originality in telling a story about immigrants, and about the search for meaning in our lives through relationships, family, art, and more. There's deep aching throughout, but the story doesn't feel heavy. It's engrossing, funny, and thought-provoking.Jeffrey Haas
White Mulberry: A Novel by Rosa Kwon Easton
Provides deep human insight into Koreans surviving in Japan immediately prior to World War II. Written by a second generation Korean-American based on her grandmother's personal story of survival.
John Heilman
My Friend Anne Frank: The Inspiring and Heartbreaking True Story of Best Friends Torn Apart and Reunited Against All Odds by Hannah Pick-Goslar
The book is a powerful reminder.Lovely One: A Memoir by Ketanji Brown Jackson
The book not only provides great insight into the life of a Supreme Court Justice, but it also contains romance and revelations about her struggles raising a neurodivergent child.Jodi Jewell
Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will by Robert M. Sapolsky
In Determined, neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky challenges the concept of free will, arguing that our choices are shaped by biology, past experiences, and environmental influences. Drawing from scientific, philosophical, and social perspectives, he suggests that what we perceive as intentional decisions are largely the result of unconscious processes beyond our control. He questions whether a separate “self” even exists and emphasizes the extent to which we are shaped by the world around us.
Sapolsky acknowledges that his hypothesis could be wrong, but his book encourages us to reconsider how much agency we truly have. These insights have profound implications for how we treat others, including how we approach moral responsibility and punishment. If none of us is as free as we believe, Sapolsky argues, we should act with greater compassion and humanity. Determined doesn’t offer easy answers, but it presents a compelling examination of the human condition.Station Eleven: A Novel by Emily St. John Mandel
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel that follows a group of people whose lives are transformed by a devastating flu pandemic that wipes out most of the population. Written before COVID-19, the book feels eerily prescient as it explores life before, during, and after the collapse of civilization. It weaves together stories of love, loss, memory, and survival, highlighting the fragility of both individuals and society. The characters are ordinary people rather than heroes, and they must adapt in profound ways, some reinventing themselves for the better, others for the worse.
What makes Station Eleven stand out is its balance between darkness and hope. While it doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of a post-apocalyptic world, it also captures the resilience of the human spirit and the beauty that can persist even in ruin. It’s a gripping dystopian novel that’s hard to put down, with richly drawn characters and a story that lingers in the mind long after you finish.Cristina Knolton
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It―Unlock Your Persuasion Potential in Professional and Personal Life by Chriss Voss
It’s a quick, engaging read with a strong focus on psychology and human behavior. Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator, blends his real-life experiences with practical strategies grounded in understanding people: what drives them, how they make decisions, and how to listen and respond effectively. His advice is useful not just for negotiation, but for becoming a better communicator overall.Faisal Kutty
In Fraud We Trust: How Leaders in Politics, Business, and Media Profit from Lies—and How to Stop Them by Wes Henricksen
I'm recommending In Fraud We Trust because it offers a powerful and timely critique of how large-scale deception in politics, business, and media is not only tolerated but often rewarded. Wes Henricksen makes a compelling case for why our legal system must evolve to confront public fraud, and he does so in a clear, engaging, and thought-provoking way. In an era saturated with misinformation, this book is essential reading for anyone concerned about truth, accountability, and the health of our democracy.The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I'm recommending The Message because it powerfully connects history, justice, and resistance in a way that challenges readers to reflect on the moral dimensions of law and power. Coates’ voice is both poetic and urgent, making this a vital read for anyone committed to understanding the deeper currents shaping our legal and social systems.Christine Lofgren
James by Percival Everett
Well-written, interesting and thought-provoking twist on a class American story.Table for Two: Fictions by Amor Towles
Extremely well-written. Short stories are digestible and seamlessly woven together at the end. Character development is outstanding.Jonathan Miller
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
42. Also, this book and all the others in the series are an amazing device to clear your mind.Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
This book, and Jared Diamond's earlier book, Guns, Germs and Steel, offer a truly unique way of viewing human society.Jyoti Nanda
Milk and Honey: 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition by Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur has a way with words like most poets do. Poems are short and impactful and just what I need to keep the creative part of my brain flowing while taking a break from the dense law material I research.Robert Pugsley
Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler
A gripping novel published in 1941. It's about the Stalinist show trials of the 1930's and the way a dictator can lethally turn on former comrades in the name of a political ideology. In my opinion, relevant to our times.On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
My rationale: Res Ipsa Loquitor.Andrea Ramos
The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride
Fascinating and beautiful memoir about James McBride (and his life) and his mother's life (immigrant, raised as an orthodox Jew, married an African American man in 1941 and raised 12 children). We can all learn from McBride and his mother.All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Beautiful story of survival, resilience and courage.Orly Ravid
The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace by Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf
Because the subject of Israel/Palestine conflict is very important to me and obviously of the moment. The book analyzes the “right of return” issue through legal and historical lenses, written by a former Israeli Knesset member and a journalist. It is powerful yet nuanced, explaining the legal and political roots of the refugee issue.Homegoing by Yao Gyasi
Not a new book but it was so well written and made a great impression on me. I recall recommending it to a top film producer to option and they said someone else beat them to it.Ira Shafiroff
Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years by Jack Le Vien
This is an excellent one-volume history of WWII. I bought this when I was about 13 years old at a NYC bookstore (and I still have it). The copyright is 1962 and it has been in print since. Moreover, the writing is not dry at all; it is actually poetic. If you want to read a wonderful (and sad) history of WWII (European and Pacific fronts), you will certainly enjoy this book.
Della Thompson-Bell
The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness by Elyn R. Saks
As law school professors, we should recognize the signs of a student struggling with mental health issues. Also, this book demostrates that the struggle does not necessarily signal the end of something but it can be the start of a meaningful law career. It is an older book but worth the read.Rachel VanLandingham
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie
A book about healing from trauma and also a surprising love story.In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife by Sebastian Junger
Erudite mind canvases science and folklore for the truth about the afterlife after almost dying; he doesn't find the truth but it's enough to give us hope.Julia Vazquez
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
This 1993 book presents a dystopian Southern California of 2024. The book chronicles the protagonist's journey, a teenage woman of color, as she seeks to build community amidst social, political, and climatological distress in the world around her. Octavia Butler is a groundbreaking black female science fiction author. She is a trailblazer who steadfastly created space in the world of science fiction for communities that mainstream authors ignored.Julie Waterstone
The Women: A Novel by Kristin Hannah
Hannah is a fantastic writer. The Women is a historical fiction about the Vietnam War that is told from a unique perspective.Bryce Woolley
The Grip Of It by Jac Jemc
This work of experimental fiction is a narratively unique and surreal take on what seems to be a haunted house story. It is a gripping read that explores how people can experience the same reality while perceiving and interpreting it differently. I've been haunted by this book ever since I read it and hope you will be too.After the People Lights Have Gone Off by Stephen Graham Jones
Jones brings his Blackfeet Native American culture into this short story collection dwelling in the intersection of experimental fiction and horror. It packs a deep visceral, visual, and emotional punch in every story. I can't read "This is Love" without sobbing by the end. At least one story in this collection will affect you.Pantea Yashar
The Nightingale: A Novel by Kristin Hannah
Set in Nazi-occupied France, the story follows two sisters who each respond differently to the horrors around them—one through quiet endurance, the other through bold resistance. At its heart, The Nightingale is about courage, justice, and the cost of silence—all themes that resonate deeply within the legal profession. It’s not just a historical novel; it’s a call to remember, empathize, and act when principles are tested.