lol - I’m not the best to give advice on this then! 😅

Anyone going to Aspen Ideas: Health? I’ll be there next week representing Noom - looking to connect with people in metabolic health, healthcare AI, behavioral science, and longevity - and would love to see any Harvard ‘00 friends there!

World Cup watch party in Harvard Square for Iraq-Norway game on Tuesday.

'Noch's also has a TV screen up to watch the Cup.

If you happen to live in Montreal and would like to host a nice person (oh my gosh it’s me!) this Friday night, please reach out. 🇨🇦

Brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing.

HBD America! Saw this on social media and thought it’d be a great game to play with this extremely smart and well-read group: “If you were to choose three favorite books (in any genre) that best help us understand what ‘the United States of America’ means, which would you choose?”

What a great question. Clearly Gatsby is on that list. What else though?

Amazing! I keep coming back to Weber’s, “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism”, with all its positive and negative connotations.

I was thinking of The Scarlet Letter (or something else that highlights our deep Puritanical tendencies), but Matt’s suggestion may capture that?

Bittman’a How to Cook Everything is maybe that

I feel like there could be a whole cookbook subcategory on this question! For three non-cookbooks: how about Huckleberry Finn, The Great Gatsby, and Beloved?

For cooking/cookbook I would say High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by Jessica Harris. There's another one that I'm blanking on right now. But it's a key one (and really also a history book).

Fiction: The Grapes of Wrath, A Raisin in the Sun, The Road.

oh, that's a great trio!

That is the one! I would have gone to my kitchen, but I'm away.

Oh, I never would’ve thought of The Road. Say more?

Putting aside my pessimism about this country’s future, I think it shows the inherently contradictory nature of American society. Americans seemingly love competition and putting themselves first, even at the expense of others, yet they can be incredibly generous and caring for others too. And the long interstate road itself is such an American thing to me.

I didn’t like the book at all, but your description makes me think I should try it again.

Yes to The Warmth of Other Sons, that's what immediately came to my mind

Chernow’s Hamilton with Washington as a close second, but not both Walden Pond Catcher in the Rye or Catch-22

I can’t say I liked it that much either! I don’t like post-apocalyptic things in general, but it’s my late grandmother’s and my son’s favorite book so I felt like I should read it. I’ve never read any of McCarthy’s other books but I gather some of them could be good answers to this question too. (My son’s first answer to this question is Blood Meridian.)

This is so fun! Now I’m thinking book club should come back :)

Actually, Winnie's "What We Left Unsaid" totally came to mind!

Ah thanks so much ❤️

This was on my list. Exceptional book

- The Grapes of Wrath - The Death and Life of Great American Cities

Lonesome Dove anyone ?

It’s not the answer to the question, but nothing really comes close to Uncle Tom’s Cabin in terms of the political and philosophical impact it had on America.

Catch 22 would be in my Top 3 list. Sample excerpt...

This is such a fun question and what great picks so far thanks for all the recommendations! I agree with so many but some texts that come to mind that haven’t been mentioned are How the Word is Passed (Smith) The Devil’s Highway (Urrea) Conditional citizens: On belonging in America (Lailami) Citizen (Rankine) Nickel and Dimed (Ehrenrich?) Education for Extinction (Adams) Little Women! Ok not 3 but I couldn’t stop!

Some others: O Pioneers (Cather) The Known World (jones)

Nickel and Dimed was an important read for me

I don’t think this would make my list if I were limited to three, but throwing out The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay for a longer thematic list.

I've just listened to an interview with the author of this book, so dropping here in the context of the above discussion: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/24/july-4-american-independence-eddie-glaude