Summer is dwindling fast – but there’s still time to pick up a book and get lost in a great story. Read on for a rundown of our summer reads.

For the adventurer

Crazy For The Storm: A Memoir of Survival
2009, Norman Ollestead – 288 pages – $17.15 at Amazon.com

In 1976,  an 11 year old Norman Ollestead was left alone on the side of a mountain, in a raging snowstorm following a horrific plane crash that killed his father. Crazy for the storm is the harrowing tale of his escape from certain death in the San Gabriel mountains. It’s as much an autobiography and a reflection on the relationship with his father as it is a nail-biting tale of adventure. Sections where the author reminisces about childhood spent with his father are interspersed within the main story, and they do a good job of breaking the book up and keeping you moving. His recollection of his 1979 experience on the mountain are very detailed, and even graphic at times – but that’s what you want in a true tail of survival. Recommended.

For the athlete

Born to Run
2009, Christopher McDougall – 304 pages – $14.97 at Amazon.com

Born to Run is one of those books that exists in a small space between being a great story and a really informative read. The author’s own trouble running sets him off on an exploration of the science of running. The centerpiece of the story is an examination of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s Copper Canyon, who are unarguably some of the best runners in the world – and one of the most difficult races over 50 miles in one of the last truly wild places. At 304 pages, it isn’t short, but it’s a real page turner that left me feeling inspired. The core message is one that will really make you reconsider the way you think about running (hint: for those who are the best, it isn’t a punishment or a chore.) Highly recommended.

For the environmentalist

The Omnivore’s Dilemma
2007, Michael Pollan – 464 pages – $9.12 at Amazon.com

This is one of those books I was told by many people to read for months and months before I actually picked it up, and I’m so glad I did. I’ve read a lot of books about food and agriculture, and I think Omnivore’s Dilemma is a great jumping off point if you are new to the subject (it’s an interesting one, to say the least.) Pollan starts with a look at the ubiquity of corn – whether you know it or not, it’s in just about everything we eat and use on a daily basis. From here, he moves through a thorough examination of all the major food groups. From “processing” his own chickens to hunting for his own mushrooms, it’s an interesting read that will pique your interest in food and where it comes from.

Post image from Flickr user Jenna Carver, and is used under creative commons licensing. Thank you!