When I finish one book and am deciding what to read next, there usually isn’t much rhyme or reason to what I pick. Sometimes I’ll read one great book and get inspired to read several more about the same subject. Other times I am eager to follow a recommendation from someone I respect.当我读完一本书并想着接下来读什么时，通常没有什么选择的规律或理由。有时我读到一本好书，于是被激发去读更多同主题的书。另一些时候，我则热衷于接受我所敬重之人的推荐。
Lately, though, I find myself reaching for books about the complicated relationship between humanity and nature. Maybe it’s because everyone’s lives have been upended because a virus. Or maybe it’s because I’ve spent so much time this year talking about what we need to do to avoid a climate disaster.然而最近，我发现自己喜欢起关于人类与自然之间复杂关系的书。这也许是因为每个人的生活都因一种病毒发生了巨大变化，也可能因为我今年花了许多时间讲我们需要做什么来避免一场气候灾难。
Whatever the reason, most of the books on my summer reading list this year touch on what happens when people come into conflict with the world around them. I’ve included a look at how researchers are trying to undo damage done to the planet by humans, a deep dive about how your body keeps you safe from microscopic invaders, a president’s memoir that addresses the fallout from an oil spill, and a novel about a group of ordinary people fighting to save the trees. (There’s also a fascinating look at the downfall of one of America’s greatest companies.)不管出于何种原因，在我今年夏季书单上的大部分书，都会涉及当人类与周围世界产生冲突时会发生的事：其中第一本讲的是科研人员如何试图消除人类对地球造成的破坏，第二本带你深入了解你的身体如何保护你不受微小入侵者的伤害，第三本是探讨一次石油泄漏影响的总统回忆录，第四本小说讲一群普通人为拯救树林而战（另外还有一本使人一睹美国最伟大公司之一的衰败）。
I hope at least one of these books sparks your interest this summer.我希望这些书中至少有一本能在这个夏天引发你的兴趣。
Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric《熄灯：傲慢、妄想和通用电气的没落》（中文名暂译）By Thomas Gryta and Ted Mann托马斯·格里塔和泰德·曼恩 著Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric, by Thomas Gryta and Ted Mann. How could a company as big and successful as GE fail? I’ve been thinking about that question for several years, and Lights Out finally gave me many of the answers I was seeking. The author give you an unflinching look at the mistakes and missteps made by GE’s leadership. If you’re in any kind of leadership role—whether at a company, a non-profit, or somewhere else—there’s a lot you can learn here.《熄灯：傲慢、妄想和通用电气的没落》
（中文名暂译）
作者：托马斯·格里塔和泰德·曼恩
像通用电气这样庞大而辉煌的公司怎么会没落呢？这个问题我已经思考了好几年。《熄灯》终于给出了很多我一直在寻找的答案。作者笔法犀利地讲述了通用电气领导层的错误和失策。如果你身处某个领导岗位，无论是在公司、非营利组织还是其他地方，你都可以从中学到很多。
Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future《在白色的天空下：未来的自然》（中文名暂译）By Elizabeth Kolbert | 伊丽莎白·科尔伯特 著Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future, by Elizabeth Kolbert. Kolbert’s latest is the most straightforward examination of “humanity versus nature” on this list. She describes it as “a book about people trying to solve problems caused by people trying to solve problems.” She writes about a number of the ways that people are intervening with nature, including gene drive and geoengineering—two topics that I’m particularly interested in. Like all of her books, it’s an easy and enjoyable read.《在白色的天空下：未来的自然》
（中文名暂译）
作者：伊丽莎白·科尔伯特
这是科尔伯特的最新研究，也是本次书单中对“人类与自然”这一主题最直接的考察。她将这本书描述为“一本关于人们尝试解决由人们尝试解决问题所产生的问题的书”。她写了许多人类干预大自然的手段，包括基因驱动和地球工程这两个我特别感兴趣的主题。同她所有书一样，这是一本轻松而有趣的读物。
A Promised Land《应许之地》（中文名暂译）By Barack Obama | 巴拉克·奥巴马 著A Promised Land, by Barack Obama. I am almost always interested in books about American presidents, and I especially loved A Promised Land. The memoir covers his early career up through the mission that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. President Obama is unusually honest about his experience in the White House, including how isolating it is to be the person who ultimately calls the shots. It’s a fascinating look at what it’s like to steer a country through challenging times.《应许之地》（中文名暂译）
作者：巴拉克·奥巴马
我几乎总是对关于美国总统的书感兴趣，并且尤其喜欢《应许之地》。这本回忆录的覆盖面从他职业早期开始，直到2011年那次击毙奥萨马·本·拉登的行动。奥巴马总统对他在白宫的经历异乎寻常的坦诚，包括坦承作为最终发号施令的人有多么的孤立无援。了解引导一个国家渡过艰难时刻是什么滋味，这是一件很有意思的事。
The Overstory,《上层林冠》（中文名暂译）By Richard Powers | 理查德·鲍尔斯 著The Overstory, by Richard Powers. This is one of the most unusual novels I’ve read in years. The Overstory follows the lives of nine people and examines their connection with trees. Some of the characters come together over the course of the book, while others stay on their own. Even though the book takes a pretty extreme view towards the need to protect forests, I was moved by each character’s passion for their cause and finished the book eager to learn more about trees.《上层林冠》（中文名暂译）
作者：理查德·鲍尔斯
这是我几年来读过最不寻常的小说之一。《上层林冠》讲述了九个人与树林之间的故事。一些角色在整本书中一起出现，而另一些则独立出现。尽管这本书对保护森林持一种相当极端的观点，但我被每个角色对其事业的热情打动，以至于在读完这本书之后很想了解更多关于树木的知识。
An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives《优雅的守卫者：人类免疫系统的故事》By Matt Richtel | 马特·里克特 著An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives, by Matt Richtel. Richtel wrote his book before the pandemic, but this exploration of the human immune system is nevertheless a valuable read that will help you understand what it takes to stop COVID-19. He keeps the subject accessible by focusing on four patients, each of whom is forced to manage their immune system in one way or another. Their stories make for a super interesting look at the science of immunity.《优雅的守卫者：人类免疫系统的故事》
作者：马特·里克特
虽然里克特在疫情前就写了这本书，但这项对人类免疫系统的探索仍然值得一读，并将帮助你理解如何才能终结新冠疫情。他通过聚焦四名患者来让这一主题易于理解，他们每个人都要被迫通过某种方式管理自己的免疫系统。他们的故事带给我们一个了解免疫科学的极为有趣的视角。