We’re starting the new month with an exciting list of faves. From our Historic Bar Crawl to a 600-year-old oak tree, our humanities highlights cover it all below.

Keira, president and ceo:

• Thanks to Indiana Humanities board member Joe Trimmer for reminding me to read Once More to the Lake by E.B. White.  If you are heading to a lake this summer, this is a must read.
• Can you recognize a truly great idea? According to this essay it is not that easy.
• I love lists and I love books.  If you are looking for some Fourth of July reading, here are 12 current authors suggesting their essential American book.  Ann Patchett recommends Indy author Ben Winters new book Underground Airlines.

Kristen, director of communications and development:

• Did you miss our Historic Bar Crawl last week? Check out photos from Duck & Cover and see how we crawled through the Cold War era in Indianapolis.
• Listen to Episode #1 (of 3) of a podcast developed in partnership with our friends at the Prindle Institute for Ethics. Their podcast, called Examining Ethics, will examine three moral and ethical questions raised in Indiana’s first 200 years of statehood: infrastructure, immigration and incarceration. In this first episode, listen for our own Leah Nahmias, Keira Amstutz, and a handful of experts, including board member Jim Madison, former Governor Mitch Daniels, and more.

Leah Nahmias, director of programs:

• Our board member Sarah Skwire uses the occasion of the new Jane Austen film adaption to examine the connections between Austen, Mary Wollenstecraft, and women’s liberty, rights and education. Austen, the author of the world’s first feminist manifesto and Sarah Skwire?! SLAY, QUEENS!
• Speaking of fabulous women, our former graduate intern Amber Mitchell is settling into her new role as Education and Service Coordinator at the American Association of State and Local History. We are so proud and excited to see how her efforts will help strengthen and diversify the public history field. Learn about her org and job here.
• Rounding out a lady-themed edition of Friday Faves, this toast to The Toast, a delightful website whose loving irreverence for the western cannon, sharp yet cheeky skewering of gender dynamics and odd-ball creative writing, stops publication this week. Dig through the archives, you won’t be sorry!

George Hanlin, director of grants:

• During our Next Indiana Campfires, Indiana Humanities has been exploring the important role that nature plays in people’s lives, and this bittersweet story about a town’s love affair with its 600-year-old oak tree serves as a striking example.
• If you love photography and aren’t familiar with the Lens blog from the New York Times, it’s worth checking out. This week it features a photo essay about an architecturally significant community in northwest Indiana that’s struggling to stay on the map.

Jacqueline Cromleigh, communications and community relations manager:

• Loving this article from Fast Company on the benefits of getting outdoors. From emotional happiness to physical well-being, this list will make you want to step outside immediately. 
• “10 Months, 45 National Parks, 11 Rules.” Jeremy Cronon of the New York Times lays out the best way to see this country’s beautiful landscapes.

Bronwen Fetters, executive assistant and program associate:

• Roald Dahl was one of my favorite authors as a kid, and Steven Spielberg’s movie version of his beloved book The BFG comes out today! As a side note, 2016 is the 100^th anniversary of Dahl’s birth. If you haven’t read much Dahl aside from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I recommend The Witches, Matilda, and his autobiography Boy: Tales of Childhood.

Claire Mauschbaugh, communications intern:

• We always knew that reading has many benefits – now recent findings say it can even benefit your love life!

Do you have any humanities highlights from your week? We would love to hear from you in the comment section below.