The Diplomatic Envoy’s Reading List!

Envoy Staff

This year, the Diplomatic Envoy’s staff got together to provide a reading list to School of Diplomacy students, staff, and the Seton Hall community. Best of luck in the 2025-2026 school year!

I Am on the Hit List, Rollo Romig (2024)

What happens when an ordinary journalist finds himself on a secret, state-sanctioned kill list? This gripping memoir pulls you into a pulse-racing chase across continents, as the author grapples with paranoia and a stubborn search for truth.

A Covert Life: Jay Lovestone: Communist, Anti-Communist, and Spymaster, Ted Morgan (1999) 

Step into the dark world of a man who lived through the 20th century’s most lethal ideological struggles, from American communism to the Cold War. This fascinating biography reveals the secret life of Jay Lovestone, a key figure in clandestine operations who influenced world events from the shadows.

Rules of Wolves, Leigh Bardugo (2021)

In the epic finale of the Grishaverse series, a monster-turned-king and a spy who defied death must form an alliance to bring together a broken world against an increasing darkness. Can they forge a future from the ashes of war, or will their tenuous alliance collapse, unleashing chaos on everything they love?

Mornings in Jenin, Susan Abulhawa (2006)

Spanning decades of conflict and displacement, this sprawling novel tells the story of a Palestinian family displaced by war and a grandmother’s unwavering hopefulness. A scorching interrogation of the human cost of history and the impenetrable bonds of family.

If We Burn, Vincent Bevins (2023)

Expose the surprising history of global protest movements and how they have been hijacked to advance the interests of the powerful, with disastrous unintended effects. This book overturns everything you believe you know about resistance, unveiling a hidden playbook of modern political manipulation.

The First Binding, R.R. Virdi (2022)

In this epic fantasy, a humble storyteller discovers a past of myth, magic, and a secret that has the potential to annihilate his world. This is a tale that transforms what it means to be a hero. 

Incarceration Nations, Baz Dreisinger (2016)

Beyond the headlines, see what justice is delivered across the globe. Contrary to the world’s expectations of crime and punishment, this book witnesses cutting-edge and often surprising prison systems, ranging from Brazil to Norway.

The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho (1988)

Join a young shepherd on a quest around the globe for treasure, to discover that wealth is within. A timeless tale that urges you to follow your heart and live to your highest potential.

Educated, Tara Westover (2018)

Raised in a survivalist household and homeschooled in the middle of nowhere, a young woman renounces all she has learned and goes on to achieve a PhD. This is an extraordinary memoir and a testament to the freeing power of education and the courage to forge your own path.

Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller (2011)

This captivating novel reimagines Homer’s masterpiece as a pulse-pounding romance between the legendary hero Achilles and his companion, Patroclus. See their fated relationship develop from boyhood to the fields of Troy, where a catastrophic prophecy threatens to annihilate their world forever.

Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler (1993)

Experience a chilling dystopian future where global warming and social collapse have devastated America, through the eyes of a young woman who has an exceptional gift. She must lead a small group of survivors north to a sanctuary, fighting for a new life in a broken world.

A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini (2007)

Bear witness to the heart-wrenching story of two Afghan women whose lives intersect in the crucible of war and oppression. Theirs is a story of enduring love and friendship against a backdrop of turmoil that will haunt you long after you read the final page.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde (1890)

A young man sells his soul for eternal youth, watching as his painted portrait ages and bears the evidence of his depravity while he himself remains gleamingly handsome. This spooky tale examines the sinister underside of beauty and the moral decay brewing beneath a perfect surface.

Say Nothing, Patrick Radden Keefe (2018)

This gripping volume plunges into the depths of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, weaving together the tales of IRA operatives, informers, and the families of victims of horrific disappearances. It’s a true crime masterpiece of loyalty, betrayal, and the eerie silence that remains after a society has been torn apart by violence.

Prisoners of Geography, Tim Marshall (2015)

This book illustrates how geography dictates global politics and warfare, arguing that a country’s mountains, rivers, and shores can be more determining than any leader. It’s a fascinating study of the world map that explains why certain countries thrive while others are forever at war.

Beirut to Jerusalem, Thomas Friedman (1989)

Get an unrivaled insider’s perspective on the Middle East’s fraught history, from a journalist who lived and breathed the conflicts of the 1980s. This compelling narrative offers a personal and political tour of the region, digging up the human dramas beneath the headlines.

Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari (2011)

Witness the breathtaking journey of our species, from hunter-gatherers to modern human beings, and discover how language, farming, and money have shaped our destiny. This book upends everything you thought you knew about our past and our future.

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Enter the lives of the four March sisters as they experience girlhood and womanhood while living through the American Civil War. A classic of the ages, this is a touching story of family, vocation, and locating one’s position in life.

The World: A Brief Introduction, Richard Haass (2020)

Tired of being confounded by the nonstop onslaught of global news? This primer cuts through the noise, offering a clear and compelling atlas of the deeper forces shaping our world today.

Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, Ray Dalio (2021)

Learn about the great cycle of empires and how world powers rise and fall. Ray Dalio presents the timeless principles that govern history, offering a crucial roadmap for navigating our shifting geopolitical world in the current era.