November 20, 2007
Alyson Hagy, MFA'85
Snow, Ashes, Graywolf Press, 2007.
The book: The uneasy friendship between Fremont Adams and C.D. Hobbs worked best when both men had a job to do. Neglected by his mother at an early age, Hobbs found his way into the Adams family and took on his fair share of chores on their Wyoming ranch. But everyone could tell he was always a bit odd. As a result, Fremont resigned himself to watching out for Hobbs. During a tour of Korea, however, they face unspeakable horrors and return to the ranch marked in dangerous ways. This story reveals the intricacies of a profound, if unacknowledged, friendship between two very different men.
The author: Alyson Hagy is the author of "Keeneland," "Madonna on Her Back" and "Hardware River." One of the stories in "Graveyard of the Atlantic" was selected by Annie Proulx to appear in "Best American Short Stories 1997." Forever drawn to weather-whipped places, Hagy is a longtime explorer of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She currently lives and teaches in Laramie, Wyoming.
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Arthur Miller, '38, HLHD'56
Presence: Stories, Viking, 2007.
The book: This posthumous collection of Arthur Miller's last published fiction is a group of stories that appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's and elsewhere. "Bulldog" describes a young teenager's surprising first sexual experience, while "Presence" relates a man's encounter with a woman he has just seen making love on a beach. "Beavers" tells a haunting tale of nature, creation and destruction. In "The Performance," a Jewish tap dancer enthralls Hitler. "The Bare Manuscript" reveals a writer's unusual methods to revive his muse, and, finally, "The Turpentine Still" presents a portrait of a man examining his legacy. This is a gift that all fans of Miller's work and readers of contemporary fiction will welcome.
The author: For more than a half century, playwright Arthur Miller's work defined the existential and moral questions at the heart of a post-World War II American society. He was a Pulitzer Prize winner and recipient of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award and the nation's most distinguished recognition for the arts, The Kennedy Center Honors. His plays included "Death of a Salesman," "The Crucible" and "A View From the Bridge." He also authored an autobiography, "Timebends," as well as works of fiction.
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Marge Piercy, '57
Sex Wars: A Novel of Gilded Age New York, Harper Perennial, 2006.
The book: Post-Civil War New York City is the battleground of the American dream. In an era of free love, emerging rights of women and brutal sexual repression, Freydeh, a spirited young Jewish immigrant, toils at different jobs to earn passage to America for her family. Learning that her younger sister is adrift somewhere in the city, she begins a determined search that carries her from tenement to brothel to prison as her story interweaves with those of some of the epoch's most notorious figures. This story re-creates a turbulent period in American history and explores changing attitudes in a land of sacrifice, suffering, promise and reward.
The author: Marge Piercy is the author of 16 previous books of poetry as well as 17 novels and a memoir, titled "Sleeping with Cats." Her work has been translated into 16 languages, and she has won many honors. She lives on Cape Cod with her husband, Ira Wood, the novelist and publisher of Leapfrog Press.
Web site: http://www.margepiercy.com/
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Leo Rockas, PhD'60
Mice Make War, Publish America, 2007.
The book: On Christmas night, Clara has a strange dream in which she accompanies her godfather on a tour of the countryside where she overhears the evil mice plotting war. The ferrets have burned a major cheese-producing barn of the mice, but the mouse king insists on invading (do not ask why) the squirrels. The mouse king and his chamberlains pursue losing skirmishes against both ferrets and squirrels.
The author: Leo Rockas is professor emeritus of English at the University of Hartford.
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Mitchell J. Rycus, '58, MS'61, MS'65, PhD'76
The book: When the Korean War breaks out, 18-year-old Mike eagerly enlists in the US Navy and is sent to Hospital Corps School. The story describes the people Mike meets in the Navy and how they contribute to his maturation. As his military career unfolds, Mike also begins to realize that his Russian-Jewish roots played a significant role in helping him understand his place in the world and the importance of having hope.
The author: Mitchell J. Rycus was a US Navy Hospital Corpsman and later chaired the U-M Urban Planning Program, where he specialized in urban security and planning methods. He is currently an emeritus professor and security consultant living in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Edmund White, '62
Chaos: A Novella and Stories, Carroll & Graf, 2007.
The book: When a respected older man clings to the values and mores of the liberated 1970s—when he pursues sex relentlessly and his reputation suffers—chaos ensues. Edmund White explores different aspects of aging, romance and sex, inviting his readers to come with him to Florida, the Greek Isles and Turkey—and into the chaotic gay demimonde of contemporary New York.
The author: Although Edmund White is known as a novelist, it is as a cultural critic that he has perhaps had his greatest influence. He has chronicled gay life in the '70s through the '90s with wit and insight. White and his work remain central to any consideration of gay male upper-middle-class life in late 20th century America.
Web site: www.edmundwhite.com/index.htm
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Lee Ann Landstrom, MS'78, and Karen I. Shragg
Nature's Yucky! 2, Mountain Press Publishing, 2007.
The book: How does the regal horned lizard squirt blood from its eyes? Why does the pig-like javelina smell like stinky socks? This book provides answers to these and similar scintillating scientific questions. It takes young naturalists and other lovers of foul facts and icky information on an expedition to the American Southwest, introducing readers to 16 desert creatures. A list of books and Web sites encourages further scientific exploration. And astonishingly detailed illustrations capture not just Mother Nature's revolting qualities but her stunning beauty.
The author: Lee Ann Landstrom has been an interpretive naturalist and environmental educator since 1980. She is currently the director of Eastman Nature Center in the 5,400-acre Elm Creek Park Reserve (near Osseo, Minnesota) with the Three Rivers Park District. She is also a part-time youth class instructor at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.
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Kirk Lignell, '90, MSE'91, MBA'98
illustrated by Brent Lignell, '94, MSE'01, Listen to the Raindrops, Huron River Press, 2007.
The book: When a sleepy little boy's fear of a late-night thunderstorm makes him forget the comfort and safety of his bedroom, he turns to his dad for solace and security. This beautifully illustrated work includes a CD with the lullaby "The Storm Song," which will make you want to sing along and sing away the fear of the storm.
The author: Kirk R. Lignell got the inspiration for his first children's book from a terrific springtime thunderstorm in 2005. He lives in Ann Arbor with wife, Susan, PHARD'94, and children, Morgan and Connor.
The illustrator: Brent Lignell works as an environmental engineer for the US Forest Service. He lives in Fresno, California, with his wife Colleen.
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Diana Mohyi, '07
The Titanic and Noah's Ark: A Comparison, AuthorHouse, 2007.
The book: This children's book focuses on the importance of humility while also comparing the living conditions and passengers of these two famous ships.
The author: Diana Mohyi wrote this book when the movie "Titanic" was first released. She recently graduated from the University with a degree in brain behavior and cognitive science and will soon start medical school. Her most recently published book is titled "Science Looks at Evolution: Discussions Banned in Public Schools."
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Nancy Willard, '58, PhD'63
illustrated by John Thompson, The Flying Bed, Scholastic/Blue Sky Press, 2007.
The book: An original fairy tale about a poor baker who finds a beautiful bed for his wife in a strange new shop—for free! The bed has magical powers, and that night the couple flies across the heavens to meet a master baker who gives them some magic yeast that will make them the best—and richest—bakery in town. But the yeast will test the baker's integrity and will eventually teach the baker and his wife about the true riches of love and loyalty.
The author: Nancy Willard, a lecturer in English at Vassar College, has written numerous books for both adults and children. Her collection of poems for children, "A Visit to William Blake's Inn," was a Newbery winner and a Caldecott Honor book. She has also illustrated several books.
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Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, MA'77
illustrated by Lucia Washburn, Dinosaur Tracks, HarperCollins, 2007.
The book: The footprints of dinosaurs that walked the Earth millions of years ago can still be seen today. Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld introduces young readers to the important inferences about dinosaurs that can be drawn from their fossilized footprints. The illustrations provide excellent details of both the dinosaurs and their tracks. The final pages feature a classic fossil-modeling activity.
The author: Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld's books include "Terrible Tyrannosaurs" and "Dinosaur Babies," which School Library Journal said "will be welcomed with deserved delight by young dinophiles." She has also written "Dinosaur Parents, Dinosaur Young," an ALA Notable Book. She lives in Berkeley, California.
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James Dale, '70
The Obvious: All You Need to Know in Business. Period., Hyperion, 2007, $17.95
The secrets to success in business aren’t secrets at all. They’re obvious, so obvious that they’ve mostly been taken for granted or ignored. James Dale has compiled words to live by, lucid truths as likely to be found in a fortune cookie as an MBA textbook. And the beauty of it is, regardless of the job the same principles yield the same results, and they’re always effective. While all of Dale’s advice is obvious, its implementation isn’t. He shares ways in which any businessperson can carry out these simple lessons and achieve success.
James Dale is co-founder of the business consulting firm Richlin/Dale and the co-author of numerous books. He is former president and CEO of advertising agency WB Doner & Co., whose clients included Klondike Ice Cream, Arby’s, British Petroleum, Chiquita and Verizon Wireless.
AAUM: If these rules are obvious, why do we need a book about them?
Dale: I think that the simple answer is these principles are so obvious, they’re overlooked. We have them stored somewhere in our brain, but they’re taken for granted. Despite the fact that the principles are obvious and that they work, they have not been assembled in one place. In some very sophisticated business books, very accomplished executives will list maybe three principles and illustrate them with their own experience. I thought it would be valuable to collect them all in one place.
What are some of the obvious principles?
There are many, of course. One of my personal favorites is “honesty is the most powerful weapon in business.” It’s used so little that its use is literally suprising and refreshing. People, for some reason, have a penchant for not telling the truth. But if you do tell a lie, it often requires a second one, a sure sign you shouldn’t have told the first one. My experience is if you have bad news, tell it and get it over with. If you are known as a person who tells the truth, people will want to do business with you. Lately we’ve seen high-powered people who’ve not told the truth and gotten in trouble for it.
Are these principles universal or better suited to specific jobs, such as a salesperson or manager?
I think they’re universal, but they’re most applicable and usable by people entering the workforce or in the early stages of a career. We, as humans, are less accepting of advice as we get older. A younger person who is highly ambitious can put them to work right away. Entrepreneurs are also more inclined to embrace these principles because they’re more open to ideas.
Where did you arrive at these principles? On the job? In the classroom? From mentors?
I was in a meeting one day, bored in a board meeting, and saw some people practicing bad listening. The corporation in this case was going to make a statement to the public and press that was going to be rejected. Yet they weren’t listening. That struck me, and I went back to my office and realized there are a lot of principles like this. I kept a notebook over the next couple of months and collected 60, 80, 100 of these examples.
Some of your principles are not so obvious, for example, “Failure is good.”
If you don’t do something or try something, you’ll fail. For example, if you don’t call on a prospective client because he or she might not like your proposal, you’ll be safe for a little while, but you’ll ultimately fail by not getting any new business. Failure is a fantastic teacher, and the world is full of these great failures who fail and move on. For example, Henry Ford forgot to put a reverse gear on his first automobile. Michael Jordan was cut from the high school basketball team. John Grisham was rejected by agents and publishers. One of the great examples of failure and success combined in one was Babe Ruth, who set the record for the most homeruns and the most strikeouts. If he didn’t step up and try to hit the ball, he wouldn’t have hit so many homeruns.
Posted by tobiaslw at 12:14 PM | Comments (0)
Gerald P. Berner, MD'59
The ABC's of Becoming Super Parents: Opening the Door to the Best Children and a More Civilized Society, Vantage Press, 2007
The book: This book is a message to the parents of today on how to raise children who will create a more civilized society. It provides a logical outline of a child's stages of growth, from a baby to the 18-year-old. It then explains the parental skills required to respond appropriately to children during each stage of growth and development.
The author: Gerald P. Berner is a pediatrician with 43 years of experience. A member of the American Board of Pediatrics, he graduated from the U-M School of Medicine despite having grown up in a dysfunctional and impoverished household. The father of two successful grown children, Berner enjoys writing, biking and golfing in his home state of Michigan.
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Steve Coffman, '65, MA'67
Founders v. Bush: A Comparison in Quotations of the Policies and Politics of the Founding Fathers and George W. Bush, One World Studios, 2007.
The book: What would the founding fathers have thought of George W. Bush? This book contrasts the statements of Bush and his advisors with relevant words from Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. Topics range from the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to religion and war.
The author: Steve Coffman won three Hopwood awards and had several plays produced while at U-M. Other productions followed at various institutions. He has also published fiction and creative nonfiction, and taught writing. Since 1972, Coffman and his wife have lived on a defunct farm in rural Yates County, New York.
Web site: http://www.stevecoffman.com/
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Philip J. Cook, '68
Paying the Tab: The Economics of Alcohol Policy, Princeton University Press, 2007.
The book: Philip Cook provides the first comprehensive analysis of the complex policy issue of alcohol control and calls for broadening our approach to curbing destructive drinking. He chronicles the history of our attempts to "legislate morality," the overlooked lessons from Prohibition and the rise of Alcoholics Anonymous. He provides an account of the scientific evidence that has accumulated over the last 25 years of economic and public-health research.
The author: Philip J. Cook is professor of public policy and economics at Duke University and former director of the university's Sanford Institute of Public Policy. His books include "Gun Violence," "The Winner-Take-All Society" and "Selling Hope."
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Lessie Jo Frazier, PhD'98
Salt in the Sand: Memory, Violence, and the Nation-State in Chile, 1890 to the Present, Duke University Press, 2007.
The book: This historical ethnography analyzes the creation of official and alternative memories of specific instances of state violence in northern Chile from 1890 to the present, tracing how the form and content of those memories changed over time. It shows how memory works to create political subjectivities mobilized for specific political projects within the process of nation-state formation. Lessie Jo Frazier's broad historical perspective on political culture challenges the conventional periodization of modern Chilean history, particularly the idea that the 1973 military coup marked a radical break with the past.
The author: Historian and anthropologist Lessie Jo Frazier is assistant professor of gender studies and adjunct assistant professor of history at Indiana University. She is a coeditor of "Gender's Place: Feminist Anthropologies of Latin America."
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Corrine Gaudin, MA'88, PhD'93
Ruling Peasants: Village and State in Late Imperial Russia, Northern Illinois University Press, 2007.
The book: Who ruled the countryside in late Imperial Russia? On the rare occasions that tsarist administrators posed the question, they answered that the peasants ruled. And historians have largely echoed this assessment. This book challenges this dominant paradigm of the closed village by investigating the ways peasants engaged tsarist laws and the local institutions that were created in a series of contradictory legal, administrative and agrarian reforms from the late 1880s to the eve of World War I.
The author: Corinne Gaudin is assistant professor of history at the University of Ottawa.
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Stuart J. Hollander, '77
Saving the Family Cottage: A Guide to Succession Planning for Your Cottage, Cabin, Camp or Vacation Home, Pleasant City Press, 2007.
The book: "Saving the Family Cottage" explains the problems that can arise when a cottage is passed on to the next generation and tells readers how to keep their cottages in the family. Written for the vacation home owner, the book engages the reader with stories of cottage "wars" and planning gone awry. Narrative examples and easy-to-follow graphics illustrate the more technical aspects of succession planning for a vacation home. The reader will be able to use the recommendation to create a cottage plan that will preserve this precious asset.
The author: Stuart J. Hollander drew on more than 20 years' experience in estate planning, real estate, business and tax law to create "cottage law": planning tailored to the requirements of vacation properties. He has helped create cottage plans for owners throughout the country.
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Ton Hoenselaars and Arthur F. Kinney, PhD'63, editors
Challenging Humanism: Essays in Honor of Dominic Baker-Smith, University of Delaware Press, 2005.
The book: Dominic Baker-Smith has been a leading international authority on humanism for more than four decades, specializing in the works of Erasmus and Thomas More. This collection of essays by colleagues throughout Europe, Canada and the United States examines humanism in both its historic 16th century meanings and applications and the humanist tradition in our own time, drawing on Baker-Smith's work and that of scholars who have followed him. Contributors include Andrew Weiner, Elizabeth McCutcheon, and Germaine Warkentin.
The author: Arthur F. Kinney is Thomas W. Copeland Professor of Literary History and Director of the Center for Renaissance Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is the author or editor of more than 30 books as well as founding editor of the journal English Literary Renaissance. Besides the early modern period, he has published books on William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor and Dorothy Parker.
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Arthur F. Kinney, PhD'63
Shakespeare and Cognition: Aristotle's Legacy and Shakespearean Drama, Routledge, 2006.
The book: Arthur F. Kinney examines the essential relationship between vision, knowledge and memory in Renaissance models of cognition as seen in Shakespeare's plays. Drawing on both Aristotle's Metaphysics and contemporary cognitive literary theory, he explores five key objects/images in Shakespeare's plays—crowns, bells, rings, graves and ghosts—that are not actually seen (or, in the case of the latter, not meant to be seen) but are central to the imagination of both the playwright and the playgoers.
The author: Arthur F. Kinney is Thomas W. Copeland Professor of Literary History and Director of the Center for Renaissance Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is the author or editor of more than 30 books as well as founding editor of the journal English Literary Renaissance. Besides the early modern period, he has published books on William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor and Dorothy Parker.
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Mark Lloyd, '78
Prologue to a Farce: Communication and Democracy in America, University of Illinois Press, 2007.
The book: Mark Lloyd has crafted a complex and powerful assessment of the relationship between communication and democracy in the United States. He argues that citizens' political capabilities depend on broad public access to media technologies, but that the US communications environment has become unfairly dominated by corporate interests. Lloyd argues that we must re-create a modern version of the founder's communications environment and offers concrete strategies aimed at empowering citizens.
The author: Mark Lloyd is senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a professor of public policy at Georgetown University. He is both a communications lawyer and an award-winning broadcast journalist.
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Christine L. Nemacheck, '90
Strategic Selection: Presidential Nomination of Supreme Court Judges From Herbert Hoover Through George W. Bush, University of Virginia Press, 2007.
The book: This book makes heavy use of presidential papers to reconstruct the politics of nominee selection from Herbert Hoover's appointment of Charles Evan Hughes in 1930 through President George W. Bush's nomination of Samuel Alito in 2005. Christine L. Nemacheck brings to light firsthand evidence of selection politics and the influence of political actors, such as members of Congress and presidential advisors, from the initial stages of formulating a short list through the president's final selection of a nominee. She then constructs a theoretical framework that allows her to assess the factors affecting a president's selection process.
The author: Christine L. Nemacheck is assistant professor in the Department of Government at the College of William and Mary. She previously taught at Iowa State University. In addition to this book, her work has also appeared in "Congress and the Presidency" and a number of edited volumes.
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Carleton Patterson, '49
One Sailor's War Story, PageFree Publishing, 2006.
The book: This is a story of a 17-year-old high school graduate who enlisted in the US Coast Guard during World War II and served as a combat photographer aboard the naval destroyer escort USS Kirkpatrick. He crossed the Atlantic 18 times on convoy duty, escorting troop and supply ships to the war zones of Europe. It was a constant effort trying to avoid the torpedoes of German submarines.
The author: Retired from the insurance business, Carleton Patterson has just published this story of his experiences during World War II. He lives in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
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Bo Schembechler, HLLD'05, and John U. Bacon, '86, MA'94
Bo's Lasting Lessons: The Legendary Coach Teaches the Timeless Fundamentals of Leadership, Warner Business Books, 2007.
The book: During his tenure with the Wolverines, Bo Schembechler was the winningest football coach in the U-M's history. But if you asked him, his most important achievement was the positive impact he had on the hundreds of athletes he coached. In this book, you'll hear Schembechler's distinctive voice as he shares the principles he used to create a football dynasty. And he'll tell you how you can apply his insights to any leadership role. Schembechler completed work on this leadership book just days before he died. His legacy lives on through this leadership guide.
The author: Bo Schembechler led the Michigan football team from 1968 to 1989. Upon his retirement, Schembechler ranked as the winningest coach not only in Michigan history, but also in the nation. Under his leadership, he guided 17 teams to post-season bowl games, including 10 Rose Bowls, and another 17 to top 10 finishes in the final wire service polls. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Schembechler served as Michigan's athletic director from 1988 to 1990.
John U. Bacon has written for TIME, the New York Times and Sports Illustrated, among others, earning national honors. The author of five books on business and sports, he also teaches at the U-M, gives speeches, provides weekly commentary on Michigan Public Radio and hosts a Sunday program on WTKA.
Web site: http://www.johnubacon.com
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Elizabeth Schultz, MA'62, PhD'67, and Haskell Springer, editors
Melville and Women, Kent State University Press, 2006.
The book: The 12 new essays in this collection extend the interest in Melville and women evident in recent scholarship, biography, art and drama. Throughout his life, Melville lived surrounded by women and wove women's experiences into most of his literary work, early and late. Treating his poetry and prose and using a variety of theoretical approaches from the biographical to the ecocritical, the essays focus not only on Melville's female characters but also on gender roles, colonialism, intertextuality, legal issues, and concepts of the female and feminine.
The author: Elizabeth Schultz is the Chancellor's Club Teaching Professor in the English Department at the University of Kansas. A founding member of the Melville Society Cultural Project, Schultz is the author of "Unpainted to the Last: Moby-Dick and Twentieth-Century American Art," "Shoreline: Seasons at the Lake" and numerous essays on "Moby-Dick."
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John McCamey Sweet, '48, '49, MS'50
Discovery at Prudhoe Bay, Hancock House Publishers, 2007.
The book: Atlantic Richfield Company and Humble Oil beat discouraging odds and expense to discover the largest subsurface accumulation of oil on the North American continent. John McCamey Sweet recounts the stories of the many individuals who made success possible and in the process celebrates a colossal oil exploration feat and a world-class engineering and construction project.
The author: John McCamey Sweet began his work with the Atlantic Refining Company, later Atlantic Richfield Company, in Midland, Texas in June 1950, and he retired in 1985. After the discovery at Prudhoe Bay, Sweet served one term in the Alaska Legislature. He resides in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife, Mirabel.
Posted by tobiaslw at 11:54 AM | Comments (0)
Rosmarie Waldrop, MA'60, PhD'66
Dissonance (if you are interested), University of Alabama Press, 2005.
The book: As an immigrant from Germany, Rosmarie Waldrop has wrestled with the problems of language posed by the discrepancies between her native and adopted tongues. Instead of posing problems, those discrepancies have become a generative force and the foundation of Waldro's interests as a critic and poet. In this collection of essays, Waldrop addresses typical genres and ways of countering the conventions of genre, how concrete poets have made syntax spatial rather than grammatical and the move away from metaphor in poetry toward contiguity and metonymy.
The author: Rosmarie Waldrop is coeditor and publisher of Burning Deck Press as well as the author/editor of 16 books of poetry, two novels and three books of criticism, including "Lavish Absence: Recalling and Rereading Edmond Jabes."
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Katherine Cramer Walsh, PhD'00
Talking About Race: Community Dialogues and the Politics of Difference, University of Chicago Press, 2007.
The book: It is a perennial question: how should Americans deal with racial and ethnic diversity? More than 400 communities across the country have attempted to answer it by organizing discussions among diverse volunteers in an attempt to improve race relations. This book takes an eye-opening look at this strategy to reveal the reasons behind the method and the effects it has in the cities and towns that undertake it.
The author: Katherine Cramer Walsh works on deliberative democracy, public opinion, political communication and civic engagement. She also is the author of "Talking about Politics: Informal Groups and Social Identity in American Life" and co-author of "Democracy at Risk: How Political Choices Have Undermined Citizenship and What We Can Do About It."
Posted by tobiaslw at 11:54 AM | Comments (0)
Caroline Winterer, MA'91, PhD'96
The Mirror of Antiquity: American Women and the Classical Tradition, Cornell University Press, 2007.
The book: This book uncovers the lost world of American women's classicism during its glory days from the 18th through the 19th centuries. Overturning the widely held belief that classical learning and political ideals were relevant only to men, she follows the lives of four generations of American women through their diaries, letters, books, needlework and drawings, demonstrating how classicism was at the center of their experience as mothers, daughters and wives. She pays equal attention to women from the North and from the South, and to the ways that classicism shaped the lives of black women in slavery and freedom.
The author: Caroline Winterer is assistant professor of history at Stanford University. She is the author of "The Culture of Classicism: Ancient Greece and Rome in American Intellectual Life, 1780ñ1910."
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Mary DeJong Obuchowski, MA'62, PhD'68
Field O' My Dreams: The Collected Poems of Gene Stratton-Porter, Kent State University Press, 2007.
The book: Gene Stratton-Porter was an Indiana writer and naturalist best known for her young adult fiction and other early 20th century novels and nonfiction writings about her Midwestern and California environments. She is less well-known for her poetry, however, despite having published two books of poetry as well as hundreds of her more whimsical, rhyming poems in such popular magazines as McCall's and Good Housekeeping. This book presents her collected poems.
The author: Mary DeJong Obuchowski is professor emerita of English at Central Michigan University. She has published articles in MidAmerica, Nature Study, Children's Literature Review, Great Lakes Review, Dictionary of Midwestern Literature, and An Encyclopedia of American Literature of the Sea and Great Lakes.
Posted by tobiaslw at 11:44 AM | Comments (0)
Marge Piercy, '57
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The Crooked Inheritance, Knopf, 2006.
The book: In these powerful, often funny, sometimes lyrical and down-to-earth poems, Marge Piercy writes of her “crooked inheritance”—physical and personality traits from wildly mismatched parents—and in a larger sense the marvelous half-broken world we inherit. Some of Piercy’s strongest poems have been political, and this book contains new verses raging against the war in Iraq, the abandonment of Katrina’s victims and the ongoing attempts to suppress women. Some poems are about her life on Cape Cod, while others are about her deep connections to Jewish life and ritual.
The author: Marge Piercy is the author of 16 previous books of poetry as well as 17 novels and a memoir, titled "Sleeping with Cats." Her work has been translated into 16 languages, and she has won many honors. She lives on Cape Cod with her husband, Ira Wood, the novelist and publisher of Leapfrog Press.
Web site: http://www.margepiercy.com/
Posted by tobiaslw at 11:44 AM | Comments (0)
Suzanne Potter-Ironbiter, '63
Devi: Mother of My Mind, Mapin Publishing, 2006.
The book: The author writes of ongoing conflict and ongoing need for refuge. Through introspection, she finds a deep, constant, unfailing presence in the Goddess' forms. Poetic images and tantra yoga teachings of India and Tibet help her picture her mind's fecundity, struggle and abiding truths.
The author: Suzanne Ironbiter has been a student of yoga and the traditions of India for more than 40 years. She teaches at Purchase College of the State University of New York.
Posted by tobiaslw at 11:44 AM | Comments (0)
Paisley Rekdal, MFA'96
The Invention of the Kaleidoscope, University of Pittsburgh Press, 2007.
The book: This is a book of poetic elegies that discuss failures: failures of love, both sexual and spiritual; failures of the body; failures of science, art and technology; failures of nature, imagination and memory; and, most importantly, failures inherent to elegiac narratives and our formal attempt to memoralize the lost. But the book also explores the necessity of such narratives, as well as the creative possibilities implicit within the "failed elegy," all while examining the various ways that self-destruction can turn into self-preservation.
The author: Paisley Rekdal is assistant professor of English at the University of Utah. She is the author of a book of essays and two books of poetry. She is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, and her poems and essays have appeared in many publications.
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Matthew Rohrer, '92
Rise Up, Wave Books, 2007.
The book: Matthew Rohrer turns wide eyes and lyric wit toward the requirements of fatherhood, citizenship and romantic love. Approaching pleasure and terror with the same searching and determined curiosity, "Rise Up" traverses political, natural and domestic landscapes with gentle agility. Beautifully crafted surfaces give way to sincere depth.
The author: Matthew Rohrer is the author of "A Green Light," which was shortlisted for the 2005 Griffin Poetry Prize, and "Satellite." His first book, "A Hummock in the Malookas," was selected for the National Poetry Series in 1994. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, and teaches writing at New York University.
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Elizabeth Kincaid-Ehlers, '55
Leaping and Looming, Merganser Press/Loon Publishing, 2005.
The book: These poems range from intensely lyrical to poignantly simple to complexly philosophical, with a dash of savagery stirred in. The collection contains, implicitly, the narrative of a life, a grandmother storyteller revealing a self, occasionally blatantly, sometimes deliberately, often unwittingly. The work exhibits both the intense passion and the comic distance with which the author confronts the business of living, trying to make sense of it in poems that can be understood.
The author: Poet Elizabeth Kincaid-Ehlers was featured in the first year of the Sunken Garden Poetry Readings. She has received many awards and prizes, including the North Country Poetry Prize and a nomination for a Pushcart Prize.
Web site: http://www.merganserpress.com
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Gloria Dyc, DA'89
East, West, and Beyond, Plain View Press, 2007.
The book:These vivid and moving poems take the reader on a journey of mind, body and spirit through geographical and cultural distances: from the author's childhood in Detroit with her Polish immigrant grandparents to mid-life in the West among Native Americans. As the title of her poem "Paying Attention" directs, she observes people and landscapes not only with her eyes, but with her heart. Her poetry of life and rituals among the Lakota are particularly vibrant.
The author: Gloria Dyc, professor of arts and letters at the University of New Mexico-Gallup and a UMN Regents Professor in English, has taught Native American literature for 25 years. This is her first collection of poetry; her fiction has been published in numerous journals and anthologies.
Posted by tobiaslw at 11:38 AM | Comments (0)
November 07, 2007
Tom Grace, '84, MARCH'86
The Secret Cardinal, Vanguard Press, 2007.
The book: In this thriller, ex-Navy SEAL Nolan Kilkenny is caught in an adventure that races from the Vatican across Asia. In a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, Kilkenny learns of an unreported atrocity committed against the underground church in China and its link to the long-imprisoned bishop of Shanghai. The pope wants the bishop free and asks Kilkenny to devise a plan to accomplish this seemingly impossible task. Kilkenny assembles a team that will use some of the most advanced weapons, aircraft and computer technology to execute this extraordinary mission.
The author: Tom Grace is an architect who is fascinated by science and technology and has a passion for storytelling. He mined his professional architectural experience with private technology companies and university research labs in crafting his first three novels. Grace enjoys scuba diving, martial arts, running marathons and reading a good book. He resides with his wife and five children in Michigan.
Web site:
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J. Robert Beyster, '45, MS'47, PhD'50
The SAIC Solution: How We Built an $8 Billion Employee-Owned Technology Company, Wiley, 2007.
The book: In 1969, J. Robert Beyster founded Science Applications International Corporation with a vision of creating an employee-owned organization run according to 12 principles of success that encourage entrepreneurship and accountability. Today, SAIC has grown from a handful of scientists to more than 43,000 employees and has more than $8 billion in annual revenue, a steadily rising stock price and top rankings as a contractor to government and business organizations. Beyster tells the story of SAIC and offers lessons to entrepreneurs and managers on how to build a company in which loyalty to values goes hand in hand with success.
The author: J. Robert Beyster is the founder of Science Applications International Corp., where he served as CEO and chair for 35 years. He continues to promote innovation and employee ownership through his Foundation for Enterprise Development and the Beyster Institute at the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego. He lives in La Jolla, California.
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James Dale, '70
The Obvious: All You Need to Know in Business. Period., Hyperion, 2007.
The book: The secret to succeeding in business is that there are no secrets. In this book, business consultant James Dale writes that the principles of success are all familiar. Instead of gimmicks and shortcuts, businesspeople should think in fundamental terms: Show up. Don't be a jerk. Simple is better than complicated. Tell the truth. Bosses are not all idiots. Don't look backward. Forgive and forget (or at least one out of two). Dale explains how any businessperson—from sales rep to CEO—can carry out these lessons and achieve success.
The author: James Dale is the former president and CEO of advertising agency WB Doner & Company, whose clients included British Petroleum and Chiquita. The coauthor of "Bullies, Tyrants, and Impossible People," among other books, Dale is the co-founder of the business consulting firm Richlin/Dale LLC. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Alan S. Gregerman, MA'77, PhD'82
Surrounded by Geniuses: Unlocking the Brilliance in Yourself, Your Colleagues and Your Organization, Sourcebooks, 2007.
The book: This book presents a revolutionary guide to personal, professional and organizational success based on two powerfully simple ideas. First, there is genius hidden in all of us. And second, we are surrounded by a world filled with genius that can be used to transform any company or organization to deliver compelling customer value. The book then shows in clear and practical ways how to unlock the genius in ourselves and our organizations by discovering and applying insight from the worlds of business, history, popular culture, nature, science and even science fiction.
The author: Alan S. Gregerman is the president and chief innovation officer of Venture Works Inc., a consulting firm that helps organizations develop strategies, create products and find new ways to do business. A teacher, author and public speaker, he is the author of "Lessons from the Sandbox" and lives in Washington, DC with his wife and three children.
Posted by tobiaslw at 02:40 PM | Comments (0)
Deepak Malhotra, '96, and Max H. Bazerman
Negotiation Genius: How to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Brilliant Results at the Bargaining Table and Beyond, Bantam Dell, 2007.
The book: Whether you’ve seen it all or are just starting out, this book will improve your negotiating skills and confidence. Drawing on decades of behavioral research plus the experience of thousands of business clients, the authors take the mystery out of preparing for and executing negotiations—whether they involve multimillion dollar deals or improving your next salary offer. Learn what sets negotiation geniuses apart.
The author: Deepak Malhotra is an associate professor at the Harvard Business School, where he teaches negotiation in the MBA program, the Advanced Management Program and the Owner/President Management Program, in addition to providing negotiation consulting and training for businesses worldwide.
Web site: www.DeepakMalhotra.com
Posted by tobiaslw at 02:40 PM | Comments (0)
Evan Rosen, '83
The Culture of Collaboration: Maximizing Time, Talent and Tools to Create Value in the Global Economy, Red Ape Publishing, 2007.
The book: This book describes how collaborative culture is changing business models and the nature of work. The author goes inside the world's most collaborative organizations and shows how their methods can create value in almost every industry. The book explores the significance of organizational, team and regional culture in collaboration and demonstrates how companies can break down barriers and spark innovation. It also describes the trend toward real-time, spontaneous collaboration and the "deserialization" of interaction and work.
The author: Evan Rosen is chief strategist of Impact Video Communication, Inc., in San Francisco. A consultant to Fortune 500, mid-sized and start-up companies, he is also a speaker and seminar leader. He has written numerous articles for business and technology magazines and reported on Silicon Valley and the automobile industry. This is his second book.
Web site: http://www.thecultureofcollaboration.com/
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Michael J. Caduto, MS'81
Everyday Herbs in Spiritual Life: A Guide to Many Practices, SkyLight Paths, 2007.
The book: Herbs have been essential to spiritual beliefs and practices throughout time and history. From Christian scripture to Hindu observances, Jewish ritual to early Islamic literature, Native American traditions to Buddhist symbolism, plants are seen as a blessing from God and a way to remain in harmony with spirit. In this informative and engaging guide, you will learn the history of the religious and spiritual use of herbs in many faith traditions and gain creative ideas on how to use herbs for spiritual growth.
The author: Michael J. Caduto has written or coauthored 16 books, including “Native American Gardening,” “In the Beginning: The Story of Genesis and Earth Activities for Children” and “Abraham’s Bind & Other Bible Tales of Trickery, Folly, Mercy and Love.” His articles have appeared in many magazines.
Web site: www.p-e-a-c-e.net
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Eric Durak, MS'86
Wellness @ Home series, Medical Health & Fitness, 2006.
The book: This series is geared toward improving the well-being of patients at home in cooperation with their caregivers. The publications cover topics including fitness for cancer survivors, sensible nutrition, and ergonomics and safety. The series also includes a simple exercise program that can be completed by most seniors who require at-home supervision.
The author: Eric Durak's career in health promotion began in New York at the Sports Training Institute and has continued in Santa Barbara, California, in the areas of diabetes research, cancer wellness and industrial injury prevention. He is a lifelong athlete and competes in running and cycling events.
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Marge Piercy, '57
Pesach for the Rest of Us: Making the Passover Seder
Your Own, Schocken Books, 2007.
The book: In this journey through the ritual of the Passover seder, Marge Piercy offers her distinct slant on each element of the feast and provides dozens of her own recipes. This charming and instructive book of Passover wisdom, brimming with favorite dishes and Piercy's own moving Passover poems and blessings, invites us to look at an important Jewish ritual in a whole new way.
The author: Marge Piercy is the author of 16 previous books of poetry as well as 17 novels and a memoir, titled "Sleeping with Cats." Her work has been translated into 16 languages, and she has won many honors. She lives on Cape Cod with her husband, Ira Wood, the novelist and publisher of Leapfrog Press.
Web site: http://www.margepiercy.com/
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