Ah, summer: A great time to kick back with a new paperback (or Kindle or Nook or iPad). Here, Bentley readers share their recent literary finds, beach worthy and otherwise.
A Fistful of Rice: My Unexpected Quest to End Poverty Through Profitability by Vikram Akula ● Christine Mann '11, Corporate Finance and Accounting
“Shows the amazing possibilities that come from the power of a service heart and a business mind. An incredible read for graduates entering the business world.”
Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh ● Franziska Griecci '13, Accountancy “A nice combination of comedy and romance set in the Regency period.”
The Social Animal by David Brooks ● Aaron Nurick, Professor of Management and Psychology
“Draws on lots of brain research, but written in a highly engaging and accessible style. It’s about how the unconscious mind drives so much in our life, from love and relationships to decision-making.”
Decision Points by George W. Bush ● Tom Ralston, Leadership Gifts Officer
“A very interesting read. Not a chronological history, but a biography which jumps around through the different stages in his life, and the reasons he did what he did with his life and why.”
The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean by Susan Casey ● Cindy Cunha, Administrative Assistant and Coordinator of Student Health Insurance
“Anyone interested in surfing or in our changing ocean floor and huge waves beyond anyone’s imagination will love this book.”
Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes (translation by Edith Grossman) ● Gordon Hardy, Senior Associate Director of Marketing Communication
“A powerful reminder of Cervantes’s genius – his insight into humanity and unmatched powers of language. I linger over every page.”
Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy ● Michael Montalbano, Lecturer in Management
“Great insights into the history of the Middle East, and justice for all.”
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke ● Roger Danchise, Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Counseling and Student Development
“A lengthy tome about two magicians who tried to restore magic to England in the early 19th century. I felt I was there, and even tried a few spells myself. At some point deep into the book I started to believe it was possible.”
Children of Jihad by Jared Cohen ● Nicole Chininis, Program Assistant, Cronin Office of International Education
“Takes an in-depth look at how youth in the Middle East are reacting to Islamic Fundamentalism. Tackles hot topics including nuclear war, western culture and Hezbollah.”
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly ● Kip Nixon, Accounts Payable Clerk
“Excellent, in the same genre as John Grisham. I can’t wait to see the movie to see how close they come to portraying the characters as I imagine them.”
The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge ● Nina Schneider, Adjunct Lecturer in English and Media Studies
“Explains to the lay public the latest developments in neuroscience. Discusses the plasticity of the human brain at all ages, including the elderly, and how we can improve aging and health, both physical and mental.”
Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantages by Daniel Esty and Andrew Winston ● Amanda King, Manager of Sustainability
“Provides information about companies that have gained market share and competitive advantage by addressing environmental issues in their operations.”
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford ● Deanna Chiampa, Executive Assistant, Office of the President
“A good beach read that explores age-old conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese Americans in the Seattle area during WWII, and the depths and longing of deep-felt love.”
Still Alice by Lisa Genova; Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese ● Judy Metz, Print Buyer and Traffic Manager, Marketing Communication
“Still Alice is a very interesting fictional look at a 50-year-old woman diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Cutting for Stone is set in Ethiopia and New York, and follows the lives of twin boys, born to a nun, who go on to become doctors. The father comes back into the story later on.”
The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt; Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose by Tony Hsieh ● Mark Davis, Professor of Management
Anthropology of an American Girl by H.T. Hamann; The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy by Pietra Rivoli; The Economist (magazine) ● Edith Joachimpillai '12, Economics-Finance
“Rivoli’s book sheds light on the history of cotton production, the T-shirt production process, and the difficult journey a T-shirt makes to get into the hands of an American consumer. More importantly, the book highlights the lives that the T-shirt industry touches and the changes in the industry during the last century. Anthropology is about the awakening of a teenage girl named Eveline as she grows up. Definitely recommended for a fun read on the beach. Yes, The Economist is a magazine, but it reads like a high-level book. The combination of data, analysis and current events is simply stunning."
WAR by Sebastian Junger; With Privilege: Essential Readings on the Other Side of Racism by Paula Rothenberg; Storm Prey by John Sanford ● Tim Anderson, Associate Professor of Sociology
“WAR is a gripping description of the day-to-day lives of a platoon of young American soldiers in Afghanistan. With Privilege illuminates the nature of privilege and power in American society. And Storm Prey is an edge-of-the-seat detective story with great characters.”
Campy: The Two Lives of Roy Campanella by Neil Lanctot; The Siege of Washington by John and Charles Lockwood ● Rick Frese, Associate Professor of Sociology
“Campy is a terrific biography of the Brooklyn Dodger great. The Siege is a gripping story of Washington under threat in April 1861.”
The Big Short by Michael Lewis ● Rick Cleary, Professor of Mathematical Sciences
“A tremendous story, beautifully written. It tells the tale of the recent financial crisis from the point of view of some fringe characters who saw it coming. It presents some captivating details of individual deals gone wrong, while also raising alarming, big-picture questions.”
Lonesome Dove, Streets of Laredo, Dead Man’s Walk and Comanche Moon by Larry McMurtry ● Russell Robbins, Fire Alarm Technician
“I’ve read them all a few times. Just when I think I’ve got a favorite, I read another and the cycle starts again.”
Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart and The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball by FreeDarko ● Jeff Stern, Lecturer and Production Manager, English and Media Studies
“My pick for the best novel of 2010, Super Sad is a terrifying and hilarious portrait of a society in the near future that is obsessed with its digital self. Read it in 15 years and it may be qualified as nonfiction. The Undisputed Guide is so much more than a sports book. The collective known as FreeDarko have assembled a history of pro basketball that manages to put it in historical, political, social and cultural contexts. If you love sports but are frustrated by the lack of depth and nuance in sports coverage, this book is for you.”
The Help by Kathryn Stockett ● Elisa Vincent, Associate Director, Women’s Leadership Institute
“A truly inspirational book about three African-American maids and the racial divide in 1960s Missisippi. A wonderful portrayal of courage and friendship between women that defies the status quo and motivates change. A great companion to summer traveling.”
Interdisciplinary Conversations: Challenging Habits of Thoughts by Myra H. Strober ● Fred Ledley, Professor of Natural and Applied Sciences
“Explores the challenges faced when faculty from diverse disciplines come together in search of common understandings. Strober demonstrates how difficult it is for even committed individuals to put aside disparate habits of mind, and open themselves to seemingly incompatible perspectives. In doing so, she provides a source of confidence for those who value such conversations, that our stumbles on the path are not necessarily symptoms of discord or even discoordination, but rather the rather the nature of the journey.”
Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell ● Andy Aylesworth, Associate Professor of Marketing
“A nonfiction history of the annexation of Hawaii, written by the very funny (really), dry and sarcastic author of Worthy Shipmates, another great book about Puritans. Vowell has been on The Daily Show, Letterman and Conan O'Brien and is truly funny.”
TechCrunch, Mashable, ReadWriteWeb, Engadget, Lifehacker ● Mark Frydenberg, Senior Lecturer, Computer Information Systems.
“My RSS reader is set to provide me with daily updates from blogs that keep me up to date with the latest technology trends and developments.”
www.defense.gov/home/features/2011/0111_initiative/strengthening_our_military_january_2011.pdf
● Dee Lane, Managing Director, Campaign Adminstration
“I have been doing a lot of reading/research on how military families (primarily National Guard and Reserve) cope with deployments (before, during and after). I am a veteran of the Air National Guard and my brother was deployed to Iraq for 14 months, so this is close to home. PTSD and TBI (Traumatic Brian injury) are so common and just now getting publicity.”
For reading recommendations and reviews of current books from staff of the Bentley Library, check out blogs.bentley.edu/bookbuzz/.