Jordan Mattox

1. Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times David S. Reynolds 

Do we need another book on Lincoln? Probably not, but I am so glad that Reynolds chose to write this masterpiece nonetheless. What makes this book distinct from the library of biographies on Lincoln is that Reynolds approaches Lincoln’s story by putting his actions and beliefs in their cultural context. We need more biographies like this to show us that many of these “great men” were really products of their times and that their ideas were created by movements and less as achievements of individual genius. 

2. How the Word is Passed Clint Smith 

Smith is an acclaimed poet and has written one of my favorite books on race in America. This is a kind of travel book where Smith visits plantations, museums, and graveyards to document and unpack how the story of slavery is told in America. There are so many poignant moments in this book, it would be impossible to capture it in my little blurb. Just read it. 

3. On Juneteenth Annette Gordon-Reed

Gordon-Reed is an award winning Harvard historian who I know for her work on the relationship between Sally Hemmings and Thomas Jefferson. This book is a collection of essays on different subjects centered on Juneteenth and her experience of race in Texas. I learned a lot from this book and think it’s a valuable resource.

 
4. Levels of the Game John McPhee 

McPhee is one of our great living journalistic writers. His books can be dense as he tends to relish the detail. I am still working on his tome on geology. This is a short account of a famous tennis match between Arthur Ashe and Clark Graebner. This book is pointed to as the beginning of modern sports journalism. Not my favorite McPhee, but transcendent at moments. 

5. No One Is Talking About This Patricia Lockwood 

Lockwood may be the funniest writers I’ve ever read. This book is strange, often transcendent, darkly hilarious, and stretches the bounds of what we understand a novel to be. The novel has two parts: the first half, which is a punctuated series of observations about the world of the internet, and the second half which narrates a family tragedy. Sounds strange, but may be one of the seminal works that marks a major transition in literature fifty years from now.  

6. A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry

I recently watched a wonderful documentary of Hansberry’s short and impactful life. She is far less known than her male contemporaries, but played a large role in the civil rights movement and her play had a huge impact during her time. The play follows the story of a family that is wrestling with what to do with an insurance check after the patriarch of the family passes away. The dialogue is sparkling and jumps off the page. This may be one of my favorite modern plays.