With Memorial Day weekend upon us and summer just around the corner, are you looking for a good read? USC President C. L. Max Nikias has a suggestion or four.

Each year, Nikias shares his summer reading list, and it’s always a fascinating assortment from ancient inspiration to contemporary intrigue.

An especially interesting recommendation is Dostoyevsky’s Notes from the Underground. One of last year’s selections, R.F. Georgy’s Notes from the Cafe, drew inspiration from the Russian author’s classic.

The list is sent to students just before the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, the nation’s largest literary and cultural festival, held each spring on the USC University Park Campus.

Nikias noted that the books are not required reading, but provide an opportunity for the university to reflect on them as a community.

The books are available at various retailers.

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