By the Book: James Lewis, '27
James Lewis (he/they) is originally from Reno, Nevada and has more than five years of experience in public speaking, community organization, and research. He aspires to complete a double major in PPE (a special major that combines Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics) and Sociology and Anthropology. He is on the boards of the Amos J. Peaslee Debate Society and the Swarthmore Mock Trial organization. Additionally, he is the incoming President of SwatDems. In his free time, he enjoys street dance, puzzles, Taekwondo, and creative writing. After graduation, James hopes to pursue a PhD in Urban Policy from New York University geared toward combating social stratification and class inequality in urban environments.
What are you reading these days? For fiction, I am reading Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray and The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin. For non-fiction, I am working on The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower by Davarian L. Baldwin, and Emerging Global Cities by Alejandro Portes and Ariel C. Armony.
Describe your favorite place to read on campus: The hammocks outside of the Gender & Sexuality Center are a favorite location of mine, tied with the Peace & Conflict Studies Lounge (on the second floor of Parrish.)
Is there a book you've read multiple times? The first three that came to mind are Stuart Little by E. B. White, The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull, and Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck.
Is there a book you pretend to have read? The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.
Who is your favorite author? James Baldwin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, or Lemony Snicket.
What's the last book you could not finish even though you thought you should? The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. I try nearly every year, sometimes twice a year, and I cannot finish it!
Do you have a literary nemesis? Tris from Divergent. Her fate in the third book would have been so satisfying had I cared enough to continue the series.
What is your favorite reading genre? Historical fiction, noir fiction, and fantasy.
What book do you recommend most often? The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
What's the best movie adaptation of a book you've read? The Princess Bride.
What author would you like to meet and what would you ask them? I would most like to meet J. R. R. Tolkien and ask him to tell me about his books. Seeing his passion would hopefully galvanize me to finally finish his trilogy.
What book made an early impact on you and why? The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster is an insane book everyone should read. It instilled a deep sense of curiosity and a love for general weirdness.
What is one lesson from a book that everyone should know? If you are allergic to a thing, it is best not to put that thing in your mouth, particularly if the thing is cats!
