ummer is officially here, and whether you’re relaxing in the great outdoors or riding out a heat wave inside, STAT’s annual book and podcast list has you covered with a bevy of titles to check out. Read on for recommendations from the likes of FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, and former White House Covid-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha. Plus, STAT readers from Oregon to Romania, in addition to our staff, share their picks.
I just had the chance to read Dr. Fauci’s book, “On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service,” and I found it to give deep insight into both the history of medicine during my time as a clinician, researcher, and public servant and into the complexity of leadership jobs, especially leadership jobs in the federal government. These insights would be useful to anyone trying to understand “how the system works” or thinking about going to work in public service.
If coupled with Michael Lewis’ book “The Fifth Risk,” one can gain a deep sense of the role of public service in advancing science and society. Fauci exemplifies leadership, and Lewis extolls the virtues of unsung heroes making a difference behind the scenes. I first met Dr.
Fauci when I was a resident at San Francisco General Hospital, grappling with people with HIV/AIDS before we knew what was causing it. And, of course, I recently worked closely with him as we dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic. I also identified deeply as a high school bas.
