In these chaotic times, we’re feeling the need to escape. And what better way is there to forget about the present than by diving into a good book about the past?
So we invite you to participate in the fourth annual AHA Summer Reading Challenge. Participants will complete three (or more) of the following tasks in the months of June, July, and August. These tasks encourage you to read widely—outside your field, your areas of expertise, and your personal experiences—and define “history” as nonfiction at any length (a book, an article, a chapter).
- Read a history of an event with a major anniversary in 2025.
- Read a history of a resistance movement.
- Read a history that uses material culture.
- Read an edited collection, journal forum, or other multiauthor work.
- Read a history that’s been sitting on your shelf too long.
- Read a piece of historical fiction (novel, story, poem, play).
We encourage participants to post about what they’re reading for this challenge on the AHA Member Forum or on social media using the hashtag #AHAReads. And for those that complete the challenge by Labor Day, there will be a small reward at the end.
Want a paper checklist? Tear off the back cover of the May issue of Perspectives on History or download a PDF.