Fiction
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim, ’91, Hogarth (2024).
“Clever protagonist, clever dialogue, keeps us guessing and learning through the novel format.”
—Mary Jo Chase, ’92, MA ’93
Sins of the Tribe by Mark A. Salter, Greenleaf Book Group Press (2022)
“Brilliant story told through the eyes of a college football player [about the] loss of morality from intense tribalism in a familiar and deeply flawed setting. A haunting reminder that tribalism is thriving today in American politics.”
—Stephanie Goodrich, ’97
Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke, Atlantic Monthly Press (2023)
“Any of James Lee Burke’s novels are must-reads for their exquisite prose, deep understanding of the complexities of good and evil, and character development that forces the reader to care and immerse in the story.”
—Robert Harris, ’68
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach, Dell (1977)
“I recommend this for the deep philosophy expressed by the book.”
—Serene Kosaraju, MS ’12
Booth by Karen Joy Fowler, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (2022)
“Historical fiction novel about the Booth family and the leadup to Lincoln’s assassination. Great writing and a nuanced look at America then and implications for our current situation.”
—Eugene Moffett, ’68
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Avid Reader Press (2024)
“A genre-busting novel combining a sci-fi time-travel premise, historical drama, third-world immigrant issues in first-world U.K., unlikely romance, subversive political commentary, and wry humor in an exceptionally readable and enjoyable tale.”
—Adrian Roscher, JD ’84
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Delacorte (1959)
“A shrewd attack on the failings of cultural high modernism. Vonnegut predicted that technological progress would create an underclass of people who were unemployed or underemployed. His book also provides insight into our current confusion about how to deal with robots and about the nature of human feeling. It is a remarkably prescient work in addition to being one of the finest science fiction novels ever written.”
—Geoffrey Russom, ’65
Nonfiction
A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare: 1599 by James Shapiro, Harper Perennial (2006)
“Beautifully researched yet written for the layperson with an interest in European history and the works of this supreme poet and playwright. Shapiro interweaves many strands of 1599 culture, everyday life, and social concerns with the development of Shakespeare’s writing in this one year.”
—Jane House, ’67
House of Sticks: A Memoir by Ly Tran, Scribner (2022)
“A memoir about Tran’s family struggling to survive in New York City after emigrating from Vietnam. It’s also a beautifully written reminder of the power of an education.”
—Melissa Hurley, ’91
Radical Abundance: How a Revolution in Nanotechnology Will Change Civilization by K. Eric Drexler, PublicAffairs (2013)
“Drexler explains the nanotechnology revolution, and how and why it is still occurring (albeit later than expected and with less visibility). Drexler makes it clear what nanotechnology is not and what can be expected as the result of its applications.”
—Arel Lucas, ’62
Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns, Knopf (2023)
“Powerfully captures the evolution of American attitudes toward the bison as a natural resource. Early U.S. policies encouraging bison eradication dovetailed with efforts to settle the West and restrict Native Americans to smaller geographies on reservations.”
—Stephen Saul, ’76
Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore, Vintage (2014)
“It is fascinating history, well written.”
—Sandra Farell Wilborn, ’65
