What the Doctors of “The Pitt” Are Reading
When I watch a great TV show, I can’t help but wonder what the characters would be reading. Are they into poetry? Maybe he secretly loves a good romance novel. I bet she carries a classic novel in her bag everywhere she goes. (Yes, I fully believe fictional people have favorite books.)
I recently finished “The Pitt” and have been thinking about the doctors and imagining what titles they’d have on their nightstands. Here are the books I think each of them would be reading, based entirely on vibes, character quirks, and a bookseller’s gut instinct.
Dr. Frank Langdon: Outlive by Peter Attia
Ambitious, data-driven, and always looking for the edge, Dr. Langdon is deep into Peter Attia’s blueprint for extending healthspan. No surprise here. Optimizing at all costs makes sense for this driven doctor.
Dr. Santos: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Smart-mouthed, sharp-witted, and a little enigmatic, Santos seems like she might get hooked on a comforting, philosophical sci-fi series. Something tells me she’s a secret softie, and that this novella would be on her nightstand.
Dr. McKay: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Balancing her medical career and single parenting, I imagine Dr. McKay might be brushing up on advice for how to raise her young son. Haidt’s thoughtful dive into parenting in the digital age is right up her alley.
Dr. Collins: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
After a long shift Dr. Collins probably reaches for a book that’s immersive, page turning, and beautifully written. Moore’s literary mystery is just the kind of novel that she can get lost in.
Dr. Mohan: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Empathetic, thoughtful, and always going the extra mile, Dr. Mohan would be reading this classic to better understand the mind-body connection and support her patients in a deeper way.
Dr. King: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
She devoured the original Hunger Games trilogy and has been counting down the days for this new release. This is her post-shift escape, and I bet she’s probably reading it with her sister.
Dr. Whitaker: 44 Poems on Being with Each Other by Pádraig Ó Tuama
Soft-spoken and steady, Whitaker is a poet at heart. This beautiful, meditative collection is exactly what he needs after a long day at the hospital.
Dr. Javadi: Med school textbooks.
No fiction, no frills—just a reread of her old textbooks, likely dog-eared and heavily highlighted.
Dana: Wild and Wrangled: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel by Lyla Sage
She’s the heartbeat of the ER. When the chaos subsides? She grabs a rom-com. Escapist, hopeful, and packed with small-town charm, romance is her go-to comfort read.
Dr. Robby: Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson
Robby’s reading something smart and forward-thinking. He might be a bit burnt out and even a little jaded, but he’s trying! He’s seen it all, but is turning to books like Abundance for inspiration about our shared future to keep himself going.
What do you think these characters would be reading? Drop your picks below.