Rochester Reporter

City leaders have taken a moment this summer to share their reading recommendations. Patty Uttaro, Director of the Rochester Public Library and Monroe County Library System, compiled suggestions from more than a dozen City department heads. The following list includes their choices:

Mayor Malik D. Evans recommends "The Little Book of Aliens" by Adam Frank, which delves into the science behind the search for extraterrestrial life.

Patty Uttaro suggests "I Cheerfully Refuse" by Leif Enger, a tale of a bereaved musician's journey on Lake Superior, and "News of the World" by Paulette Jiles, set in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Dr. Shirley Green, Department of Recreation and Human Services Commissioner, recommends "The Light We Carry" by Michelle Obama for its practical wisdom and strategies for staying hopeful.

Police Chief David Smith highlights "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin, exploring Abraham Lincoln's presidency and his cabinet.

Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano suggests "Wisdom of the Bullfrog" by Admiral William H. McRaven, offering leadership lessons from his time as a Navy SEAL.

Daniella Veras, Executive Assistant, recommends "Atomic Habits" by James Clear for personal growth through habit change and Clark Merrill's practical guide "Sh*t You Need to Know That Nobody Bothered to Tell You."

Patrick Beath, Corporation Counsel, offers two novels: Jonathan Franzen's "Freedom," about societal changes affecting a couple, and Honorée Fanonne Jeffers' "The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois," exploring themes of identity and resilience across American history.

Finance Director Kim D. Jones suggests Eddie Glaude Jr.'s "Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own," reflecting on Baldwin’s experiences post-Civil Rights Era.

Dr. Rose M. Nichols recommends T.D. Jakes' guide to meaningful change in "Disruptive Thinking" and James McBride's novel about long-held secrets in Pottstown in "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store."

Barbara Pierce points readers to Shelby Van Pelt's exploration of friendship in "Remarkably Bright Creatures" and Kim Scott's communication framework in "Radical Candor."

Suzanne Warren shares Robin Wall Kimmerer's reflections on nature in “Braiding Sweetgrass” and Clémence Michallon's psychological thriller “The Quiet Tenant.”

Josanne Reeves highlights Alex Michaelides' thriller “The Silent Patient” alongside Henry Winkler’s memoir “Being Henry.”

John Brach recommends Daniel Kahneman’s exploration of human thought processes in “Thinking, Fast and Slow” as well as Clare Pooley’s novel “The Authenticity Project.”

Nancy Johns-Price suggests Adam Grant’s book on rethinking opinions “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know” along with Amy Morin’s strategies for mental strength in “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.”

To find these books at a local City library or browse the catalogue online, visit https://libraryweb.org/.