Arts Vanity: Convincing You to Read My Favorite Books Based on Your Concentration

To those who know me, it’s no secret: I have been heavily influenced by BookTok. One of my hottest (and most heavily contested) takes is that these books have gone viral for a reason, and that reason is that they are the best that casual literature has to offer. Therefore, you’ve probably heard of most of these books, but maybe you passed them up because they were too popular for your taste or maybe you just didn’t think they would be for you. If you’re looking for something to distract you from finding your next summer internship, take a break and find the book for your concentration (or the closest one to yours because Harvard has 50 concentrations and I’m only human).

Biology — ‘The Love Hypothesis’ by Ali Hazelwood

Starting with the obvious, “The Love Hypothesis” is a must-read for STEM students in between problem sets and endless hours in the lab. While Harvard offers five different biology concentrations, they’re really not very different from each other (I can say this as an HDRB concentrator), so Ali Hazelwood easily manages to encompass all of their experiences in one addicting novel. Originally written as Star Wars fanfiction, the story follows a PhD student in Biology as she fake dates — and eventually actually dates — her professor. While intimate fraternization between professors and their students is generally frowned upon in academia, “The Love Hypothesis” is perfect for you if you’ve ever fantasized about your Chem 17 TF or posted on Sidechat about your love for Andrew Berry.

Government — ‘Red, White, and Royal Blue’ by Casey McQuiston

For the Government concentrator who loves to talk about the political and economic state of the world, “Red, White, and Royal Blue” tells the story of the fictional First Son of the United States Alex Claremont-Diaz and his complicated relationship with the Prince of England. While most of the book may appeal to the more romantically-inclined Gov concentrators, there is some genuine policy in the book, like flipping Texas blue by mobilizing younger voters and improving international relations via a fake friendship that turns into a real relationship. Overall, “Red, White, and Royal Blue” is the quintessential enemies-to-lovers romance, perfect for Harvard students whose current favorite read is Biden-Trump fanfiction.

Psychology — ‘The Silent Patient’ by Alex Michaelides

Are you fascinated by Luigi Mangione’s manifesto? Did you obsessively binge “The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window?” Is your favorite class at Harvard Psych 18? Try your luck at figuring out why famous painter Alicia Berenson shot her husband while you read “The Silent Patient.” Personally, I was not able to figure it out before psychotherapist and protagonist Theo Faber did, but I’m also not a Psychology concentrator.

Computer Science — ‘Attachments’ by Rainbow Rowell

For the Computer Science concentrator who can spend all day writing code but is too terrified to DM their section crush, “Attachments” is great for advice on how not to find your significant other. IT administrator Lincoln O’Neill falls for his coworker without ever meeting her as he privately reads her emails as part of his job. The narrative bounces between the emails Lincoln is reading and his own personal life as he becomes more and more enamored with this woman who he only knows through his computer screen. Classic CS concentrator.

Philosophy — ‘Small Great Things’ by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult’s books are known for their absurd twists and deep moral questions, and “Small Great Things” is no exception. The novel follows a Black nurse, Ruth, who is accused of killing the baby of a white supremacist couple by not medically intervening while he died after she had specifically been instructed not to touch him. Besides exploring complex themes of racial prejudice and medical ethics, “Small Great Things” forces the reader to decide what they would do in Ruth’s situation, an ideal challenge for the Philosophy concentrator. Not only will you come away with a new favorite book, but you’ll also gain new ethical insights that are sure to leave your section TF impressed.

Classics — ‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller

To the Classics concentrator who claims they prefer Homer’s work in the original Greek, prepare to be emotionally devastated by this retold story of Patroclus and Achilles. While “The Song of Achilles” is based on “The Iliad,” this modernized tale recharacterizes the pair’s relationship as romantic rather than platonic. To warn you, however, this book will slightly destroy you, so it’s recommended that you clear your Google Calendar for three to five business days after you finish this read. That should be an adequate amount of time for your tears to dry before returning to your lectures on Constantinople.

Economics — ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Finally, for the Economics concentrator who swears they care about more than just securing a post-grad job at Goldman Sachs by the time they turn 20, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” should be on your list to read next. Besides the obvious connection of Hollywood wealth and glamor, Evelyn Hugo goes into each of her marriages (yes, all seven of them) with essentially a Cost-Benefit Analysis, determining what husband would be best for her growing stardom. Eventually, though, she discovers that there is more value to love than fame and money, like most Econ concentrators eventually do.

—When she is not trying to convince everyone she knows that Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” is the best book-to-screen adaptation, incoming Books Executive Audrey A. Chalfie can be reached at [email protected].