Last spring we offered our inaugural edition of What We're Reading, and many of you enjoyed culling our lists. We likewise enjoyed hearing many of yours! So for our back-to-school edition, we thought we'd expand the offering and let you know not just what we've been reading, but also what we've been watching and listening to. We hope you enjoy! And we'd also love to hear from you. Invite us to coffee (we'll pay!), and let's discuss the books, shows, films, songs, and podcasts occupying your attention. Open invitation!

What We're Reading

Dr. Beaudry

This summer I’ve read a number of wonderful books across a wide range of genres. I read Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri with our very own Elise Zeigler as a part of her summer research internship. That book had me laughing and crying by turns, and I cannot recommend it enough. The refugee/immigrant experience is complex, and Nayeri offers a tender window into it through a child’s eyes. I also read Dune by Frank Herbert. It was so fun to blaze through a book that I couldn’t put down. I’m excited to pick up the sequel soon, Dune: Messiah. You will definitely get a lot more out of the gorgeous Dennis Villeneuve films if you read the book. Right now, I’m reading We Survived the End of the World: Lessons from Native America on Apocalypse and Hope by Steven Charleston, the former Episcopal Bishop of Alaska. It’s an illuminating look at how to face our own troubled times by learning lessons from groups of people that have already walked through the fires of the apocalypse and are wiser than we are because of it.

Dr. Benac

My reading at the moment feels like a marathoner’s first full meal following a long race: I’m grabbing at bits and bites of things that give life and spark imagination. I’ve been slowly working through John Graves’ book about the Brazos River, Goodbye to a River. It is a book that is part travel-log, written as he canoes down the headwaters of the Brazos, and part historical fiction, weaving together the real and imagined stories of the people and places that gathered around this body of water. Anne Lamott’s brilliant book on writing, Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing, is next on my plate at the moment. I’m a long-time admirer of Lamott’s writing, but I didn’t realize how much I needed to read this until I finished the first page. Warren Kinghorn’s Wayfaring: A Christian Approach to Mental Health is next. This fall I’ll be facilitating a Research Hub on mental health for Baylor students and faculty, and this text will anchor our conversation and work together. Finally, Mary Oliver’s Devotions has become a good and trusted companion this summer. Dillard’s poetry that emerges from the ordinariness of life is grounded, beautiful, and subtle in ways that this collection of poetry will always be somewhere close at hand.

Dr. Flavin

I read fewer books than usual this summer because I was studying for my Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 Wine Certification this summer. I sat the exam in late June and passed with distinction. It was rewarding to be a student again, and it was a helpful reminder about how stressful preparing for an exam can be. Right now I am reading “The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins and the Fight for Women in Science” by Kate Zernike. The book is exceptionally-well researched, but it is equally inspiring and infuriating. It is inspiring to learn about trailblazing women in science, many of whom are now Nobel Prize winners and the obstacles they overcame in their careers. Yet it is also infuriating to read about the overt gender discrimination that kept many of these women from accomplishing even more. I am also reading “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanigihara, which is a beautiful but also devastating book about friendship and how childhood trauma impacts relationships across a lifetime.

Dr. Hogue

Sometimes we choose the hard books because they are hard and we know we’ll be better for the effort. Barbara Kingsolver’s masterpiece Demon Copperhead was one of those, a triumph of a book that landed on all sorts of “Best” lists and won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize. I dragged my feet for two years, knowing what I’d be getting into, and I’m glad I finally gave in to this emotionally trying and unforgettable retelling of Dickens’s David Copperfield. Not all reading must be hard, of course, and I’ve found myself turning in sequence to Alexander McCall Smith’s Isabel Dalhousie books, a series of delightful little novels set in Edinburgh, a city I love, and populated by a rich cast of characters. The best word I know to characterize these books is snappy–they’re smart but light and cleverly concise, just as I imagine Smith himself. The last few months have also included regular doses of Meister Eckhart and his twentieth century mystic inheritor John O’Donohue. 

Dr. Jones

This summer I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading Stephen Fry’s retellings of the Greek myths, inspired partly by reading Emily Wilson’s translation of the Odyssey last year and partly in anticipation of next summer’s Christopher Nolan film The Odyssey. Fry’s series boasts four volumes: Mythos, Heroes, Troy, and the Odyssey and has left me marveling at how many stories get told that are borrowed from these ancient templates. Despite abundant alliterations and rambling asides, which did wear on me by the third volume, the series has helped me grow my appreciation of good storytelling and conceptualize a world that’s all Greek to me.

Prof. Richards

Those who know me well know I’m usually reading many different books at once (almost entirely nonfiction) and also usually never finishing any of them. That’s still the case, but lately I’ve been working on sticking with a few at a time and seeing them through before moving on to any others (wish me luck!). In that vein, I’ve returned to finish the back half of Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy, which I first started reading a few years ago and which quickly revolutionized my conception of what being a Christian actually is. I’d argue Willard—a Baylor alum!—is a must-read for modern American Christians. I’ve also been appreciating Discerning Vocations to Marriage, Celibacy and Singlehood, which offers a framework for and tremendously practical insights into the discernment of marriage, celibacy, and what the authors call “singlehood.” As someone practicing and discerning celibacy, I’m always grateful for thoughtful resources to aid me in that journey. I’m still early into Against Purity, which argues for contamination as a useful starting point and against purity as the ideal endpoint in our quest to live ethical lives, but I’m intrigued by what I’ve read so far. And finally, to try to balance out all this heady, “serious” reading, I’m slowly making my way through Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, which never fails to elicit in me awe and wonder at the beauty of his characters and sentences.

What We're Watching

Dr. Beaudry

My favorite watches of the summer included a rewatch (for the trillionth time) of my forever-comfort-show, New Girl. Nick Miller is one of the greatest things ever given to television/humankind, and he is in my hilarious TV character trinity, accompanied by Creed Bratton from The Office and Sister Michael from Derry Girls. I also watched Dune: Prophecy (I guess I’ve been on a Dune kick?), which was gripping and gorgeously filmed/acted. And I also watched Adolescence, a harrowing look at masculinity and childhood and a stunning accomplishment of film, as each of the four, hour-long episodes was filmed in a single take. OOF. I also finally watched Jaws for the first time. I am terrified of underwater things, so I was determined not to watch it, but my partner convinced me it was a classic and that I had to watch it for the 50th anniversary. Super worth it. It holds up!

Dr. Benac

My summer viewing and listening has largely been a medium for connection within our broader family. Friends has been on repeat in our household, and we just finished watching this all-time great show all the way through for the umpteenth time.

Dr. Benyousky

I really like The Penguin. Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti are amazing. For reasons I'm still trying to figure out, I love detective dramas. I just watched Ludwig, starring David Mitchell, who is a wonderful comedian. This is a dramatic role, though. Set in Cambridge, he is a reclusive but famous puzzle designer whose twin brother, a Cambridge detective, disappears. He takes on his brother's identity as a detective to investigate his disappearance and goodness happens. I also really like Ballard, which is about LA detective Renee Ballard as she oversees a cold case division. It is very LA, which makes me happy, and very much like Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer, which are both good and based on books by the same author. The Bear is great, though it is so stressful. I've also recently watched Severance, Succession, and Silo. All are good. And I am always rewatching Peaky Blinders, which is my favorite show. 

Dr. Flavin

My favorite summer show has been The Gilded Age. The costumes and sets are glorious, and there are so many incredible actors. I started watching Severance, Slow Horses, and The Pitt on a long international flight and enjoyed all the episodes that were available on the plane, but returned home and only finished The Pitt because everyone else in my household had already finished the other shows. Like Andy, I also watched The Bear but sheepishly admit I didn’t love this season as much as the previous seasons though Richie is my favorite character, and I think Ebon Moss Bacharach steals every scene he is in. My guilty pleasure remains Hallmark seasonal movies.

Dr. Hogue

Late to the game, I caught up on The Bear last spring in plenty of time for the Season 4 drop in June. I don’t say this lightly: the best moments of that show are perhaps the best moments I’ve seen in television. What an emotionally rich and endearing cast of characters. My family and I have also taken great pleasure in The Great British Bake Off this summer, Anglophiles we, who never tire of hearing about sponges and puddings and gherkins from a soothing and winsome cast.

Dr. Jones

My favorite watch this summer was the 2023 film Dream Scenario starring Nicolas Cage. The film, as the kids would say, is cringe, and that is what makes it so good. In its own VERY twisted way it asks what our responsibilities are when ill befalls others when we have not caused it. If you watch, prepare to be deeply unsettled and to have your dreams haunted by college professor Nicolas Cage.

Prof. Richards

In terms of viewing, I also delighted in the final season of The Bear, which was as much about chosen family and the bonds we form with them as it was about bio-family and the bonds we’re born with. I was moved to tears on several occasions, and I thought this season brought the show to a wonderful and endearing close while also leaving it somewhat open-ended and up for speculation, as I think a well-done finale should. Jamie Lee Curtis probably deserves another Emmy for her performance. And speaking of the Emmys, I was thrilled to see The Penguin receive 24 nominations. I simply could not shut up about this show last fall when it was released, and I’m glad to see it getting the recognition it deserves. The writing, directing, acting, and prosthetics(!)—all nominated—were masterful. It’s admittedly a dark show and not for everyone, but it’s a haunting and gripping—and timely—exploration of ambition, power, and violence and the people who wield them.

What We're Listening To

Dr. Beaudry

For listening, I’m going to make a shameless plug for my little brother’s second album! Schuyler Kitchin’s confessions. It’s not just good because I’m related to him. He’s actually obnoxiously talented. His song “A River Runs Through It” is maybe his best yet. I’m also always listening to Brandi Carlisle, The Beaches, tiny habits, and Joy Olodakun, but I’m eagerly prepping for a Dua Lipa concert with Dr. Flavin in October, so revisiting those albums too. The podcast that was constantly on this summer was Scene on Radio. I listened to all seven seasons, but the seasons “Seeing White,” “Men,” and “Capitalism” have been giving me things to chew on every day since. I highly recommend everything John Biewen and the Kenan Institute produce. And, lastly, We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle is always playing in my home or my car. Their podcast has made me a better human being. 

Dr. Benac

Our family devoured the BBC’s brilliant podcast about the making of The Space Shuttle on a road trip. After our eldest joined the Forrest Frank craze that swept through Waco last spring, his music has been the soundtrack to our summer, and I now know the lyrics to nearly every Forrest Frank song. Finally, when I’m in need of a pickup or shot of inspiration, I put on Andy Mineo and Lacrae’s Coming in Hot or Alex Warren’s Ordinary. It’s an eclectic combination, but I’m finding it’s the diversity of genres that keeps our life together and my mind moving at the right cadence. 

Dr. Benyousky

I recently saw Michael Nau. He's long been one of my favorites. It was a small show and it was just wonderful. I also recently saw Rowena Wise, an Australian artist, and it was an even smaller show—I realized after a while during the opening act that I was standing next to her—and likewise awesome. She thanked everyone for coming to listen to her sad girl songs and I've never felt more known. The War on Drugs is my favorite band and I saw them last year with The National and Lucius at The Hollywood Bowl, my favorite music venue. I don't have words. I'm going to see Ocie Elliot this month. They are a couple who have beautiful voices and write great acoustic love songs. Father John Misty's latest album is expansive and cinematic, particularly Mahashmashana and I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All. I've been into JJ Cale and the Tulsa sound lately—Magnolia has been on repeat. Gregory Alan Isakov and Lana Del Rey and hey, nothing are all on playlists, too. 

Dr. Flavin

My summer soundtrack has been whatever is on Sirius 90s on 9 or Lithium (Yes, I’m a Millennial who clings to her favorite music from high school) and Dua Lipa (Anna Beaudry and I will see her in concert this October). I also listened to podcasts about winemaking, terroir, ageing, etc. as I was preparing for the WSET exam.

Dr. Hogue

My summer soundtrack has been Goose’s new album Everything Must Go, which my 15-year-old daughter calls “Dad Rock,” which I think is an insult. She’ll learn. My Apple-curated “Heavy Rotation Mix” also contains ample doses of Van Morrison, REM, Jason Isbell, and the Avett Brothers. Okay, Dad Rock. I’ve also been spinning my friend Wes Cunningham’s new album since it came out in mid-August. My podcast feed is mostly full of golf podcasts these days, which would bore almost everyone I know, but which bring endless delight on my seemingly never-ending quest to become a scratch golfer. 

Dr. Jones

I am a sports guy, but I find myself gravitating more and more to the stories behind the game we see on TV, and so my list rounds out with the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out, recently named one of the top 100 podcasts of all time by Time magazine. Torre is an excellent interviewer and moderator, which is what keeps bringing me back to listen. If I had to recommend one episode, it would be “Watching the Dallas Cowboys on Death Row,” which was nominated for a Peabody this year. I’ve also been gearing up to see TV on the Radio next month in Austin, so Thee Black Boltz, a solo album from lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe, has been on repeat for me. Of course, I mix in other studio albums from the group, including Return to Cookie Mountain, about which Stephen Colbert famously asked the band in an interview, "Why would you ever leave Cookie Mountain? It sounds delicious!"

Prof. Richards

Finally, it was a summer of music for me, as I took a long, long road trip out west to Seattle in late June and had a lot of listening time. I made it through most of Jacob Collier’s discography (I was mostly familiar with his recent releases); In My Room, his debut album, was a standout. I also enjoyed James Taylor’s two Greatest Hits albums, the beautiful Nina Simone & Piano album, and Roberta Flack’s Quiet Fire, the latter of which I bought on vinyl from a small trading post in Ouray, Colorado during my drive. In addition to music, driving was a great chance to listen to the audiobook of Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley: In Search of America, which is an absolute delight and best listened to while driving on the open road. All in all, a summer well spent appreciating good media and art!