Inspired by the Book is a series of interviews with Connecticut College folks about their literary lives. Inspiration comes from The New York Times Book Review series called By the Book.

An interview with Ashley Hanson, who works in Shain Library as a Research Support Librarian and is an Adjunct Faculty Member in the GSIS (Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality Studies) Department. Born and raised in Connecticut. Lives in New London. Has two wonderful sons, 22 and 24.

What books are on your night stand?

I am very literal. These truly are on my nightstand right now.

Are there economists whose writing you especially admire?

Interesting question. I know very little about economics. I never took an economics class, but you can see from my nightstand that Rutger Bregman is someone I admire. Who doesn’t want a 15 hour work week?

What’s the best book you’ve ever received as a gift?

Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan is the best book I ever received as a gift. I received it as my mother was sick, and (which I did not know at the time) dying. The book truly helped me cope and gave me strength.

What kind of reader were you as a child? Which childhood books and authors stick with you most?

I was not a big reader as a child, but I loved books. I played “library” and made tiny library cards for many of my books. However, my favorite book as a child was Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion.

Has a book ever brought you closer to another person, or come between you?

The Cherry Orchard by Chekov brought me closer to another person and also it came between us. We both read it while we were on different coasts. Once we were living in the same house the tragedy at the end was apparent.

What books are you embarrassed not to have read yet?

Sadly, this list is way too long. I have never read anything by Jane Austen, but I will soon!