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June 17, 2008
Richard Guy Wilson, MALS'68, PhD'72
Harbor Hill: Portrait of a House, WW Norton, 2008.
The book: Harbor Hill in Roslyn, Long Island, was commissioned by the beautiful and imperious Katherine Duer Mackay, wife of one of the country's wealthiest men. The mansion and its magnificent furnishings, art and gardens—and the owners' striving, hubris and ultimate failure—are the dramatis personae of this saga. Architect Stanford White wrote that "with the exception of Biltmore, I do not think there will be an estate equal to it in the country." Harbor Hill's story includes elements of farce and tragedy; in a sense, it is an American portrait.
The author: Richard Guy Wilson is commonwealth professor at the University of Virginia.
Web site: www.wwnorton.com/npb/nparch/073216.html
Posted by lingjiex at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)
John Alexander Williams, PhD'96
Turning to Nature in Germany: Hiking, Nudism, and Conservation, 1900-1940, Stanford University Press, 2007.
The book: This book is a study of mass movements that aimed to bring the German people into closer contact with nature. In the early 20th century, organized hikers, nudists and conservationists all looked to nature for solutions to the nation's political crises. Following these movements over three political eras—the Second Empire, the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich—the book shows how manifestations of popular culture reflected the concerns and hopes of their time. Williams argues that naturists were calling for Germany to find a way to navigate the treacherous waters of contemporary life and strive toward a brighter future.
The author: John Alexander Williams is associate professor of history at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
Web site: www.sup.org/book.cgi?book_id=0015%20
Posted by lingjiex at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)
Mary L. Warner, DA'92
Adolescents in the Search for Meaning: Tapping the Powerful Resource of Story, Scarecrow Press, 2006.
The book: Reports of school shootings, gang violence, dysfunctional family life and adolescent suicide indicate that many teens live troubled lives. Even those who live a "normal" life face adult challenges while also establishing independence and finding their identity. Building from the idea that story is a powerful source of meaning, this book begins from the perspective of young adults by sharing the results of a survey of more than 1,400 teens and includes the insights of authors of young adult literature. It presents more than 120 novels that teens have identified as meaningful as well as books recommended by authors and experts in the field of young adult literature.
The author: Mary Warner teaches young adult and children's literature at San José State University, where she also works with the English credential programs and serves as associate director of the San José Area Writing Project. She has published numerous articles and is the editor (and author of two chapters) of "Winning Ways of Teaching Writing."
Posted by lingjiex at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)
LG Walker Jr., MD'60
Dr. Henry R. Porter: The Surgeon Who Survived Little Bighorn, McFarland, 2007.
The book: "Custer came to me and said: ‘Porter, there is a large camp of Indians ahead, and we are going to have a great killing.’"The words of army contract surgeon Henry R. Porter are chilling today in their matter-of-fact reference to the battle to come—a battle of which Porter would be one of the few white survivors. Drawing on his writings, this biography tells the story of Porter’s transformation from young easterner to ambitious frontier settler and medical practitioner in mid-19th century America. It includes details of frontier life, the Battle of Little Bighorn and Porter's travels around the world.
The author: Retired surgeon LG Walker Jr. lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a professor of clinical surgery, emeritus, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has published widely on scientific topic and articles.
Web site: www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-3171-7
Posted by lingjiex at 01:49 PM | Comments (0)
Krista E. Van Vleet, '94, PhD'99
Performing Kinship: Narrative, Gender, and the Intimacies of Power in the Andes, University of Texas Press, 2008.
The book: In the highland region of Sullk'ata, located in the rural Bolivian Andes, activities such as sharing food, work and stories create a sense of relatedness among people. Through these day-to-day interactions—and more unusual events—individuals negotiate the affective bonds and hierarchies of their relationships. This book reveals the ways in which relatedness is evoked, performed and recast among the women of Sullk'ata. Portraying relationships of camaraderie and conflict, it argues that narrative illuminates power relationships, which structure differences among women and between women and men. It also contends that in the Andes gender cannot be understood without attention to kinship.
The author: Krista E. Van Vleet is associate professor at Bowdoin College. She teaches courses in anthropology, some of which are also cross-listed in Latin American studies, women's studies, and gay and lesbian studies. Her research focuses on the practices and politics of kinship and gender among Native Andeans in Bolivia. She lives in Bath, Maine.
Web site: www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/vanper.html
Posted by lingjiex at 01:47 PM | Comments (0)
JGM Thewissen, PhD'89, and Sirpa Nummela, editors
Sensory Evolution on the Threshold: Adaptations in Secondarily Aquatic Vertebrates, University of California Press, 2008.
The book: From crocodiles and penguins to seals and whales, this synthesis explores the function and evolution of sensory systems in animals whose ancestors lived on land. The contributors explore the transformation of smell, taste, sight, hearing, balance, mechanoreception, magnetoreception and electroreception that occurred as lineages of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals returned to aquatic environments. Each chapter integrates data from fields including sensory physiology, anatomy, paleontology and neurobiology. A one-stop source for information on the sense organs of secondarily aquatic tetrapods, this book sheds new light on both the evolution of aquatic vertebrates and the sensory biology of their transition.
The author: JGM Thewissen, professor of anatomy at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, is editor of "The Emergence of Whales: Evolutionary Patterns in the Origin of Whales" and coeditor of "The Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals."
Web site: www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10407.php
Posted by lingjiex at 01:47 PM | Comments (0)
Martin M. Shenkman, '81
Funding the Cure: Helping a Loved One with MS through Charitable Giving to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Demos Medical Publishing, 2008.
The book: This book instructs the reader on using charitable giving strategies for loved ones with multiple sclerosis. It tells readers how they can specifically tailor charitable giving to accomplish tax and charitable goals, and to achieve vital personal and human goals like protecting a grandchild living with multiple sclerosis or leaving property to fund MS research. The book is written in easy-to-understand language and offers practical examples of charitable giving. While the concept is simple and the focus is narrow, the book is of great interest to those with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones.
The author: Martin M. Shenkman is an attorney in private practice in Teaneck, New Jersey, and New York City. The author of 32 books and more than 700 articles, he has appeared on "The Today Show," "NBC Evening News," CNBC and CNN-FM and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Money, The New York Times and other publications.
Web site: www.demosmedpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=9781932603484
Posted by lingjiex at 01:45 PM | Comments (0)
Leon Z. Seltzer, '40
Golf: The Science and the Art, Tate Publishing and Enterprises, 2008.
The book: This book is a wide-ranging must read for students of the game as well as a technical primer for the professional seeking an understanding of the science of golf. Much more than a technical book, it also gives the history of the sport, tells how to master the golf swing and provides practical keys to lowering your score.
The author: Leon Z. Seltzer spent 40 years as professor of aerospace engineering at Virginia Tech, West Virginia University and St. Louis University, from which he retired as dean of engineering in 1981. He used his technical knowledge of both engineering and golf to serve as a golf physicist consultant to several firms in the San Diego, California, area.
Web site: www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60247-848-0
Posted by lingjiex at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)
Amy D. Ronner,MA'76, PhD'80
Homophobia and the Law, American Psychological Association, 2005.
The book: This book examines the major junctures at which the lives of gay and lesbian people intersect with the law. It looks at stereotypes, how they operate under different areas of the law and the ways in which they impede gays’ and lesbians’ basic rights and entitlements. Interweaving discussions of relevant legal cases and authorities with studies in psychology and sociology, it details areas of family, employment and constitutional law, and shows readers the adverse impact they often have on the daily lives of homosexuals.
The author: Amy D. Ronner is a tenured professor of law at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida. She has served as president of the Federal Bar Association (South Florida Chapter) and has been listed as a leading American attorney in Civil Appellate Law. She is married to Dr. Michael P. Pacin.
Web site: books.apa.org/books.cfm?id=4316050
Posted by lingjiex at 01:41 PM | Comments (0)
John Pehrson, MBA'77
Investing in Vacant Land: It’s Not What You Think!, Pehrson Capital Corporation, 2008.
The book: This how-to book reveals lessons the author learned from almost two decades of successful vacant land investing. His strategy involves acquiring out-of-favor rural vacant land, creatively adding value to that land and selling at profit levels traditionally associated only with high-risk investments. Detailed descriptions of investment techniques illustrate the basic principles of vacant land investing. The book guides readers through a process that includes deciding whether investing in vacant land is appropriate for them and developing a strategy that is unique to their circumstances.
The author: In 1990, John Pehrson "discovered" vacant land investing, which has been his career ever since. Licensed in real estate and a real estate broker, he is a member of many associations of Realtors and has been designated an accredited land consultant by the Realtors Land Institute and an equity marketing specialist by the National Council of Exchangors.
Web site: www.investinginvacantland.com
Posted by lingjiex at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)
Scott E. Page, '85
The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies, Princeton University Press, 2007.
The book: Why can teams of people find better solutions than brilliant individuals working alone? And why are the best group decisions those that draw upon the qualities that make each of us unique? The answers lie in diversity. This book moves beyond politics and shows how groups that display a range of perspectives outperform groups of like-minded experts. Diversity yields superior outcomes, as the author shows using his own research and surprising examples, from the redesign of the Chicago "El" to the truth about where we store our ketchup.
The author: Scott E. Page is professor of complex systems, political science and economics at U-M and an external faculty member at the Santa Fe Institute. He is the coauthor, with John Miller, of "Complex Adaptive Systems."
Web site: press.princeton.edu/titles/8353.html
Posted by lingjiex at 01:28 PM | Comments (0)
Jerry Newport, '70, and Mary Newport with Johnny Dodd
Mozart and the Whale: An Asperger’s Love Story, Touchstone Books, 2007.
The book: This book tells the story of Jerry and Mary Newport, who both were diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that affects millions of Americans and makes social contact painfully unbearable. When they married, they were catapulted into the limelight and soon were known as "superstars in the world of autism," shining examples of two people who refused to give up in the face of their mutual challenge. But just when it appeared that their lives would enjoy a fairy-tale ending, their marriage fell apart. After years of soul searching, they remarried. This story chronicles their journey together and apart.
The author: Jerry Newport, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in 1995, is the author of two books on the subject, "Asperger’s and Sexuality: Puberty and Beyond" and "Your Life Is Not a Label: A Guide to Living Fully with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome." He and his wife live in northern Arizona with their birds.
Web site: www.jerrynewport.com/
Posted by lingjiex at 01:25 PM | Comments (0)
Charlene E. Makley, MA'93, PhD'99
The Violence of Liberation: Gender and Tibetan Buddhist Revival in Post-Mao China, University of California Press, 2007.
The book: This study provides an account of the highly contested process through which the Tibetan Buddhist region of Labrang became incorporated into the People's Republic of China. Drawing on 13 years of archival research and fieldwork in and around the famous Geluk sect Tibetan Buddhist monastery, this book situates the process of incorporation in the violent upheavals of Maoist socialist transformation that took place from 1950 through the 1970s and in the transition to globalization via Deng Xiaoping's capitalist market reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. Synthesizing social theory, the book finds that incorporation had different effects for Tibetan men and women, creating painful dilemmas across generations.
The author: Charlene E. Makley is associate professor of anthropology at Reed College.
Web site: www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10818.php
Posted by lingjiex at 01:22 PM | Comments (0)
Frederick Mahan, JD'57
Has America Lost Its Way?: The Fall of the American Empire, iUniverse, 2008.
The book: This book analyzes the fall of Rome and other Western civilizations and compares the phenomena with what is happening in America today. The author then calls on insight from history, religion, literature and philosophy; gifted contributors who share the truths about love, marriage, democracy and freedom; and personal accounts of his own spiritual failures and successes as he invites and motivates the readers to explore a relationship with God personified in Jesus Christ. This survivor’s manual shows the way to live in an ever-changing and faithless world with a sense of direction, purpose and peace of mind.
The author: Frederick Mahan is a retired trial attorney, an active supporter of the arts and higher education, and a lifetime advocate of philosophy and religion. He is a founder and board member of two nonprofit corporations and the former president of one. He is married, has two grown children and lives in San Francisco, California.
Posted by lingjiex at 01:21 PM | Comments (0)
Jenny (Rubinfeld) Levin, '97
Harper’s Bazaar Great Style: The Best Ways to Update Your Look, Hearst Books/Sterling Publishing, 2007.
The book: With 2.9 million sophisticated readers, Harper’s Bazaar has an audience with an eye for style. That’s why this book—an elegant and lively guide filled with fabulous fashion and celebrity photography demonstrating the best looks—will quickly capture their attention and become the must-have accessory of the season. The book reveals the secrets of the world’s most fashionable women and how to identify the look that’s just right for you: not the here-today, gone-tomorrow fads, but practical advice on timeless style. Each chapter includes insider information and styling tips, along with quotes from top designers.
The author: Jenny Levin was the senior fashion news editor at Harper’s Bazaar from 2002 to 2007. She previously worked as the fashion editor for Us Weekly magazine. Currently, she is a freelance writer living in Hong Kong.
Posted by lingjiex at 01:19 PM | Comments (0)
Bruce B. Lawrence and Aisha Karim, '92, editors
On Violence: A Reader, Duke University Press, 2007.
The book: This anthology brings together classic perspectives on violence, putting into productive conversation the thought of well-known theorists and activists. The book proceeds from the editors’ contention that violence is always historically contingent; it must be contextualized to be understood. They argue that violence is a process rather than a discrete product. It is intrinsic to the human condition, an inescapable fact of life that can be channeled and reckoned with but never completely suppressed. Above all, they seek to illuminate the relationship between action and knowledge about violence, and to examine how one might speak about violence without replicating or perpetuating it.
The author: Aisha Karim is assistant professor in the Department of English and Foreign Languages at Saint Xavier University. She is a coeditor of "Poetry and Protest: A Dennis Brutus Reader."
Posted by lingjiex at 01:17 PM | Comments (0)
Perri Knize, '76
Grand Obsession: A Piano Odyssey, Scribner, 2008.
The book: What begins as a search for a simple upright piano becomes a grand obsession. The author’s quest leads her into an international subculture of piano aficionados—concert artists, passionate amateurs, dealers, technicians, composers, designers and builders—intriguing characters who have also been transfixed by the spell of a piano. For example, in Austria, she hikes the Alps to learn how trees are selected to build pianos and how they are grown and harvested. Along her journey, Knize finds that reason can't account for what calls us, but that heeding that call can lead to life's most profound experiences.
The author: Perri Knize is an award-winning environmental policy reporter whose articles and essays have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Audubon, Sports Illustrated, Conde Nast Traveler and Outside. She lives with her husband in Montana.
Web site: www.grandobsession.com/
Posted by lingjiex at 01:15 PM | Comments (0)
Edith W. King, '51, with Jennifer A. Thompson
Sociology for Educators in the Post-9/11 World, Thomson Publishers, 2008.
The book: Part one of this book contains sociological thought from the pre-9/11 world; the theories of 20th century sociologists Robert K. Merton, David Riesman, Erving Goffman and Elise Boulding and anthropologist Margaret Mead are exemplified by anecdotes, stories and accounts drawn from educational settings. Part two continues with three of the classical social thinkers of the 19th century, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx, applying their theories to schools, classrooms and higher education settings. Part three covers the extensive writings of feminist educator Peggy McIntosh and her adherents as central to education in the post-9/11 era.
The author: Edith W. King is professor of educational sociology at the University of Denver. She has been a member of the American Sociological Association for more than 40 years and has contributed to the teaching of the sociology of education throughout her career. She is the author of more than 18 books and numerous articles, monographs and multimedia in education.
Web site: mysite.du.edu/~eking
Posted by lingjiex at 01:09 PM | Comments (0)
Scott M. Hyslop, MAUSD'07
The Journey Was Chosen: The Life and Work of Paul Manz, MorningStar Music Publishers, 2007.
The book: This biographical work examines the factors that have shaped and formed the life and music of Paul Manz, one of the most influential organists of the latter half of the 20th century. Constructed in four parts, this book includes a full biography; an analysis of his chorale-based organ and choral works; a collection of essays by composers, theologians, musicians and family; and Web access that includes sound clips, radio interviews, manuscripts, video, articles and programs. This book will be of great interest to anyone who knows and enjoys the music of Paul Manz.
The author: Scott M. Hyslop is director of parish music for St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Michigan. He studied with Paul Manz at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the Paul Manz Institute of Church Music. Hyslop has published numerous compositions and served congregations in Minnesota, Illinois and Florida.
He and his family live in Birch Run, Michigan.
Web site: www.morningstarmusic.com/viewitem.cfm/item_id/90-39
Posted by lingjiex at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)
Nancy Kulish, MA'63, PhD'65, and Deanna Holtzman, '64
A Story of Her Own: The Female Oedipus Complex Reexamined and Renamed, Jason Aronson, 2008.
The book: This book reformulates the psychoanalytic concept of the "female oedipal complex" and gives it a new name, "The Persephone Complex." The authors integrate traditional psychoanalytic theory, contemporary theories and data about female development and psychology, and clinical experience into a comprehensive theory that is not based on male models. They touch upon the ways women cope with their sexuality and feelings about their bodies; with feelings of anger, competition and jealousy; and with their ever-evolving relationships with their mothers, fathers, peers and lovers.
The authors: Nancy Kulish is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, at Wayne State University and adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Detroit. She is in private practice in Birmingham, Michigan. Deanna Hotzman is a training and supervising analyst and past president of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. She is associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, at Wayne State University.
Web site: www.rowmanlittlefield.com/Catalog/Singlebook.shtml?command=Search&db=^DB/CATALOG.db&eqSKUdata=0765705648
Posted by lingjiex at 12:41 PM | Comments (0)
Julie Halpert, '84, and Deborah Carr
Making Up With Mom: Why Mothers and Daughters Disagree About Kids, Careers, and Casseroles (and What to Do About It), Thomas Dunne Books, 2008.
The book: As young women today wrestle with decisions about work and family, they need all the support they can get. But the person whose support they crave most—their mother—often can't get on board. Why does a mother's approval matter so much? And why is it so painful for mothers when daughters choose paths different from theirs? This book answers these questions by focusing on the issues of dating/marriage, career and child rearing. Relying on interviews with nearly 100 mothers and daughters, and offering tips from more than two dozen therapists, the book explores a range of communication issues and how to resolve them.
The author: Julie Halpert is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for national publications, including The New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Self, FamilyFun and Parents. She has been a contributor to public radio programs such as "The Environment Report," "Marketplace" and "Living on Earth." She lives in Michigan with her husband and three children.
Web site: www.makingupwithmom.com
Posted by lingjiex at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
Underwood Dudley, PhD'65, editor
Is Mathematics Inevitable?, The Mathematical Association of America, 2007.
The book: This collection of stories is sure to have something for every fan of mathematics. Included are two opposing views on the purpose of mathematics, "The Strong Law of Small Numbers," the treatment of calculus in the 1771 Encyclopaedia Britannica, several proofs that the number of legs on a horse is infinite, a deserved refutation of the ridiculous Euler-Diderot anecdote, the real story of Π and the Indiana Legislature, the reason Theodorus stopped proving that square roots were irrational when he got to the square root of 17, an excerpt from "Mathematics Made Difficult" and a glimpse into the mind of a calculating prodigy.
The author: Underwood Dudley is the best-selling author of several books, including "Mathematical Cranks," "Numerology (or What Pythagoras Wrought)"and "The Trisectors." He retired after teaching at DePauw University for 37 years and currently lives in Tallahassee, Florida.
Web site: www.maa.org/news/011408imi.html
Posted by lingjiex at 12:29 PM | Comments (0)
Paul Buchholz, MA'57, PhD'68
Paul’s Work Odyssey Through the Twentieth Century, iUniverse, 2005.
The book: This memoir describes the author’s life, beginning with his childhood during the Depression in rural Wisconsin. It then relates his family’s move to a remote farming community in Michigan, his struggles during the World War II years and his early marriage. Being drafted into the army gives him his first glimpse of personal freedom. From there, studying at U-M and teaching are his engines of growth. He eventually migrates to the North Shore of Chicago and becomes superintendent of schools in Highland Park. Along the way, Paul pushes a school bus off the railroad tracks, sees the US Office of Education name his schools as exemplary and attends the infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention.
The author: Fired at the age of 8 from his first job hoeing weeds, Paul Buchholz learned about the Depression the hard way. Using his education, he helped hundreds of children, parents and teachers identify their assets and goals. He and his wife live in the Chicago area near their children and grandchildren.
Web site: www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0-595-35958-2
Posted by lingjiex at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)
Sarah-Marie Belcastro , MS'93, PhD'97, and Carolyn Yackel, MS'94, PhD'98, editors
Making Mathematics With Needlework, AK Peters, 2008.
The book: Mathematical craftwork has become extremely popular, and mathematicians and crafters alike are fascinated by the relationship between their crafts. The focus of this book, written for mathematicians, needle workers and teachers of mathematics, is on the relationship between mathematics and the fiber arts (including knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch and quilting). Each chapter starts with an overview of the mathematics and the needlework at a level understandable to both mathematicians and needle workers, followed by more technical sections discussing the mathematics, how to introduce the mathematics in the classroom through needlework and how to make the needlework project, including patterns and instructions.
The author: Sarah-Marie Belcastro co-directs the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, a six-week intensive summer enrichment program for talented high school students. She is currently a visiting assistant professor and the associate director of the Center for Women in Mathematics at Smith College. Carolyn Yackel is associate professor of mathematics at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. She has developed a general education course in mathematics through fiber arts and regularly teaches for the Interdisciplinary Studies program.
Web sites: www.toroidalsnark.net (Belcastro) and www.mercer.edu/math/faculty/yackel/yackel.htm (Yackel)
Posted by lingjiex at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)
Clifford Ando, PhD'96
The Matter of the Gods: Religion and the Roman Empire, University of California Press, 2008.
The book: What did the Romans know about their gods? Why did they perform the rituals of their religion? This book proposes simple answers to these questions: In contrast to ancient Christians, who had faith, Romans had knowledge, and their knowledge was empirical in orientation. They acquired knowledge of the gods through observation of the world, and their rituals were maintained or modified in light of what they learned. After a preface and opening chapters that lay out this argument and place it in context, the book pursues a variety of themes essential to the study of religion in history.
The author: Clifford Ando is professor of classics, history and the college at the University of Chicago and author of "Imperial Ideology and Provincial Loyalty in the Roman Empire," winner of the Charles J. Goodwin Award of Merit from the American Philological Association, among other books.
Web site: www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10773.php
Posted by lingjiex at 11:36 AM | Comments (0)
Joseph A. Amato, '60
Jacob’s Well: A Case for Rethinking Family History, Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2008.
The book: By scouring genealogical sources, researching local and regional history, and exploring old family tales, the author unearthed the history of his ancestors—hardworking people who left few traces of their lives. He tells their highly personal stories, revealing the intersection of their individual paths with the continuum of national history. While tracing his roots, Amato offers a history of the American poor and vindicates ordinary men and women whose loyalty was to family and who struggled daily to find and establish a home in a changing world.
The author: Joseph A. Amato, professor emeritus of history and rural studies at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota, is the author of "Rethinking Home: A Case for Writing Local History," "Dust: A History of the Small and the Invisible," "On Foot: A History of Walking" and 12 other books.
Web site: shop.mnhs.org/moreinfomhspress.cfm?Product_ID=1766
Posted by lingjiex at 11:22 AM | Comments (0)
June 09, 2008
Deborah Shlian, '68
and Joel Shlian, Rabbit in the Moon, Oceanview Publishing, 2008.
The book: Dr. Lili Quan, an American and a passionate idealist, takes an extraordinary trip to China filled with remarkable discoveries, including finding Dr. Ni-Fu Cheng, the grandfather Quan believed had died years ago. But Cheng has made the most remarkable discovery of all—the secret to long life. As Cheng’s only relative, Quan’s life is in jeopardy. As greedy and unscrupulous men vie for control of the most earth-shattering discovery of the century, Quan could become a pawn in a deadly and dangerous international game.
The author: Deborah and Joel Shlian have collaborated in both their vocations and avocations. They practiced medicine together before returning to UCLA to earn their MBAs. They have since balanced medical management consulting with writing, producing medical mystery/thrillers, nonfiction books, and magazine and journal articles on health care and medical management issues. Two of their novels have been optioned for Hollywood films.
Web site: http://www.shlian.com/
Posted by lingjiex at 09:26 PM | Comments (0)
Julie Halpert, '84, and Deborah Carr
As young women today wrestle with decisions about work and family, they need all the support they can get. But the person whose support they crave most—their mother—often can't get on board. Why does a mother's approval matter so much? And why is it so painful for mothers when daughters choose paths different from theirs? Julie Halpert and Deborah Carr answer these questions by focusing on the issues of dating/marriage, career and child rearing. Relying on interviews with nearly 100 mothers and daughters, and offering tips from more than two dozen therapists, they explore a range of communication issues and how to resolve them.
Julie Halpert is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for national publications, including The New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Self, FamilyFun and Parents. She has been a contributor to public radio programs such as "The Environment Report," "Marketplace" and "Living on Earth." She lives in Michigan with her husband and three children.
AAUM: Why is the mother-daughter relationship so intense?
Halpert: Mothers and daughters historically have had a closely knit, tight bond. And they tend to share their feelings with one another more than men do. Daughters often look up to their mothers and care about how their mothers view their choices. Mothers often see their daughters as a reflection of themselves, more than they do with their sons.
Why is the relationship between mothers and daughters more strained today than it has been in past generations?
Mothers and daughters have always squabbled. What’s unique about mothers and daughters today is that the two generations have had vastly different upbringings, opportunities and life experiences. Mothers of a generation ago faced far more limited opportunities in the areas of romance, work and childbearing. The two generations are making such fundamentally different life choices today that it inevitably spills over into how mothers and daughters treat one another.
Do you see these problems in certain types of mother-daughter relationships or are they universal?We focused on mothers and daughters who had a fundamentally solid relationship. But the common thread was there were disagreements that created stresses and got in the way of a harmonious mother/daughter bond. Problems were more pronounced when one of the two women took a "my way or the highway" approach and couldn’t understand, respect or validate the other’s choice.
Your book focuses on the core issues of dating/marriage, careers and child rearing—why?Those were the main hot-button issues among the women we interviewed. That’s because women today have so many more options in these areas than their mothers did. So we had many situations where mothers could not relate to their daughters’ choices in these areas. And that made the situation ripe for conflict.
You interviewed nearly 100 mothers and daughters in preparation for writing your book. Can you share one or two interesting or touching stories?I was particularly moved by situations where mothers and daughters rallied around each other. We had one woman who was put on bed rest when pregnant with her twins. Her mother drove three hours round-trip and stayed with her daughter half the week for several weeks to take care of her. The daughter said she instantly felt a feeling of calm once her mom walked through the door. The mother said when you have children you should "be behind them right to the bitter end, through school, going through college and afterward." It was a moving instance of how the mother-daughter bond can help you weather a crisis.
How can the two generations find common ground or at least learn to get along?
Communication is key. Think before you speak. Word your messages in ways that are empathic and understanding, without anger. Try to understand what the motivations are behind the message. Try to learn more about each other. That will pave the way for better understanding.
Did you have a personal motivation to write this book in light of your own relationship with your mother?
My mother is like so many mothers out there today. She is caring and wants what’s best for me. She sees my life as far more chaotic than hers was as a young mother. And she often feels compelled to give me advice on everything from home decorating to how my kids and I wear our hair. I tend to interpret this as criticism, so I’m quite defensive. I wanted to explore a way that other mothers and daughters could get past the sniping and improve their relationships. This book got me there.
Our main message is that two people get along best when they truly understand each other’s motivations for why they’re doing what they’re doing. We encourage mothers and daughters to learn more about one another; those insights will help both generations to be empathetic rather than judgmental.
We also recognize that emotional intimacy and a Lifetime TV mother-daughter moment can’t happen magically. And for some women it won’t happen at all. Some mothers and daughters may have to accept that a "good enough" relationship is just fine.
Posted by lingjiex at 08:54 PM | Comments (0)
Claire Michaels Wheeler, '99
10 Simple Solutions to Stress: How to Tame Tension and Start Enjoying Your Life, New Harbinger Publications, 2007.
The book: Stress. We know it can shorten our lives, age us prematurely and make us fat—yet we can't seem to escape it. We also know that, ultimately, we're the only ones who can stop stress from taking over our lives. This book offers 10 solutions based on positive psychology, mind-body medicine and cognitive behavioral therapy that you can put into practice immediately to reduce stress. These practices and stress-rescue techniques will help you cope effectively with stressful moments throughout your day. Try them and you'll start to enjoy better health and a balanced, more fulfilling life.
The author: Claire Michaels Wheeler lives in Portland, Oregon, and is a faculty member of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, DC, founder of Mind-Body Medicine of Portland and an assistant professor at Portland State University’s School of Community Health. Her work is guided by a fascination with the relationships between psychological processes (thought, emotion) and physiology.
Web site: www.stresshappiness.com/index.php
Posted by lingjiex at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)
Howard Binkow, '54
Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen, Thunderbolt Publishing, 2006
The book: Imagine how much easier life would be if children listened better. This book was created to help children ages 4-7 improve their listening skills and pay attention. Readers will meet Howard B. Wigglebottom, a curious rabbit who just doesn't listen. Educators, parents and children alike will laugh and learn as Howard B. Wigglebottom learns to listen.
The author: Howard Binkow has had successful careers in home building, radio, sales and being a bum. He is passionate about more effective listening because it has led him to everything he needs in life, including more than enough money, better relationships and other goodies.
Web site: www.wedolisten.com
Posted by lingjiex at 08:42 PM | Comments (0)
David Elkind and Freddy Sweet '64, MA'66, PhD'73
The book: Groark receives a very expensive birthday present from his friend Muggsy. The only problem is that Muggsy stole it. Now Groark has to figure out the right thing to do.
This book, for readers ages 4-8, is the first picture book featuring the characters of Popcorn Park, a bunch of pals who take readers on adventures in friendship and good character.
The author: Freddy Sweet is a television/film producer and a former assistant professor of comparative literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He is co-president of Live Wire Media and Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.
Web site: www.livewiremedia.com
Posted by lingjiex at 08:41 PM | Comments (0)
Gloria Whelan, '45
Parade of Shadows, HarperCollins, 2007
The book: Determined not to be stuck in the house where her mother died 10 years earlier, 16-year-old Julia Hamilton begs her father to take her with him on his next expedition. This book takes us along on Julia's travels across the sands of the ancient world known as the Levant. She meets a French antiques collector, a British horticulturist and a dashing young student—each harboring secrets as elusive as a mirage. As she learns more about her companions and the dangerous world she's in, Julia must decide whom she can trust and what she is willing to fight for.
The author: Gloria Whelan is the best-selling author of many novels for young readers, including "Homeless Bird," winner of the National Book Award; "Listening for Lions"; and “Summer of the War." She lives in northern Michigan.
Web site: www.gloriawhelan.com/
Posted by lingjiex at 08:38 PM | Comments (0)
Barbara Bialick, '73
The book: This new collection contains thought-provoking poems that are tied together by multiple levels of time and thyme, from a Jewish mailman who worked in Detroit's inner city to a World Peace Tree growing in Massachusetts and beyond.
The author: Detroit native and Newton, Massachusetts, resident Barbara Bialick has published as a journalist and a poet in a variety of publications, with articles in the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Detroit News, McCall's and Pittsburgh Magazine and withpoetry in Ibbetson Street, Istanbul Literary Review, Pemmican, Wilderness House Literary Review, The Bagel Bard Anthologies, Mid-America Poetry Review and Jewish Currents.
Web site: www.lulu.com/content/1884973
Posted by lingjiex at 08:32 PM | Comments (0)
Nancy Baker Fate Heers, MA '72, Wendel Ward Heers
The book: Poetry and sculpture come together and illuminate each other in this book, which speaks of keeping the word. It reaches down into the blue earth and up into the galaxy and feels the rhythm of the earth and the movement of dance.
The author: Nancy Baker Fate Heers dances, both liturgical and modern, and writes poetry. She previously co-published "Forest of Algae and Ivy Outside/in" and "Rock Rhythms." She and Wendel Ward Heers have two children and two granddaughters.
Web site: http://paupacpress.com/
Posted by lingjiex at 08:25 PM | Comments (0)