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Books That Are Just What the Doctor Ordered As summer officially arrives this week, it's time to think about books to buy, borrow or check out of the library. Dr. Abraham Verghese, director of the Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, offers a brief reading list.
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Books That Are Just What the Doctor Ordered

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Books That Are Just What the Doctor Ordered

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Dr. Abraham Verghese is the author of the book 'My Own Country.' hide caption

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Dr. Abraham Verghese is the author of the book 'My Own Country.'

Summer officially arrives this week. It's a time to think about what books to buy, borrow or check out of the library. Dr. Abraham Verghese is director of the Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio.

Born in Ethiopia to parents of South Indian descent, he came to America as a young man. His 1995 book My Own Country told of treating AIDS in a small Tennessee town. The Tennis Partner (1998) chronicled the loss of his best friend.

Liane Hansen asks the good doctor what he will be reading this summer.

Moonlight Hotel
By Scott Anderson

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Moonlight Hotel
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Scott Anderson

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The Dead Fish Museum
By Charles D'Ambrosio

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The Dead Fish Museum
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Charles D'Ambrosio

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The Story
By Michael Ondaatje, David Bolduc

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The Story
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Michael Ondaatje, David Bolduc

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Their Eyes Were Watching God
By Zora Neale Hurston, Edwidge Danticat, Henry Louis Gates

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Their Eyes Were Watching God
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Zora Neale Hurston, Edwidge Danticat, Henry Louis Gates

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My Own Country
By Abraham Verghese

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Title
My Own Country
Author
Abraham Verghese

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Special Series

Poetry

Explore NPR's poetry reviews, readings, author interviews and recommendations.