Leading From the Edge

co-authored by Karen Conway ’79

Global executives share strategies and discuss how they used their strengths for global success in this new look at globalization. The old model of globalization — including offshoring to save money — no longer applies. Globalization now means leaders can better position their company for innovation and growth. The book looks at 10 essential traits successful global leaders embody, noting that each leader doesn’t possess all 10, but they all embody a healthy mix.

ISBN-13: 978-1562868727. Published by ASTD, 2013.

The Sky Unchanged

Translated by Joan Ericson, professor of Japanese

In March 2011, Ericson was on sabbatical in Kyoto when a powerful earthquake hit, followed by a tsunami and nuclear meltdowns. Ericson, along with two other specialists of Japanese literature, was asked to translate the tanka, or 31-syllable poems, that appeared after the disasters in the Asahi newspaper poetry column. The book, “Kawaranai sora nakinagara warainagara” (“The Sky Unchanged: Tears and Smiles”), is a compilation of 75 poems by 55 poets.

Published by Kodansha (a Japanese press), 2014.

Outdoors in the Southwest

by Andrew Gulliford ’75

Advocating an outdoor ethic based on curiosity, cooperation, humility, and ecological literacy, this collection features essays by renowned Southwestern writers such as Terry Tempest Williams, Edward Abbey, Craig Childs, and Barbara Kingsolver, as well as scholars, experienced guides, and river rats. The final chapter features examples of “wilderness tithing”— giving back to public lands through volunteering, stewardship, and eco-advocacy. Gulliford is professor of Southwest studies and history at Fort Lewis College in Durango.

ISBN-13: 978-0806142609. Published by University of Oklahoma Press, 2014.

 

Asian and Feminist Philosophies in Dialogue

co-authored by Jennifer McWeeny ’98

In this collection of original essays, international scholars put Asian traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, into conversation with one or more contemporary feminist philosophies, founding a new mode of inquiry that attends to diverse voices and the complex global relationships that define the world. One reviewer says, “This path-finding book exhibits a subtle awareness of cross-fertilization between empowerment of gender and inclusion of diverse voices in philosophy.”

ISBN-13: 978-0231166256. Published by Columbia University Press, 2014.

Climate Change in Deep Time

by A. Richard Conroy ’54

Subtitled “The Science Against Human-Caused Warming,” Conroy argues that the EPA’s regulatory process to reduce carbon dioxide emissions will have no discernible effect on the climate, will have a severe negative effect on the American economy, and will waste taxpayer resources. He states that the primary problem with the argument that manmade greenhouse gases are driving warming is that those advocating that position have not sufficiently researched climate change through geologic time.

ISBN: 978-0-9788768-3-8. Published by Arcon Publishing, 2014.

Remarkable Alaska Women
and
Myths and Mysteries of Alaska

by Cherry Wagner Lyon Jones ’60

Part of the More Than Petticoats series, “Remarkable Alaska Women” profiles the lives of 14 Alaskan historical female figures, recognizing the women who shaped “the Last Frontier.” Teachers, writers, entrepreneurs, and artists from across the state are illuminated through short biographies and archival photographs and paintings.

ISBN-13: 978-0762774302. Published by Globe Pequot Press, 2014.

“Myths and Mysteries of Alaska” features true stories of unsolved and unexplained incidents. From the hair-raising stories of the “Hairy man” to the unsolved Cache Creek murders, the book makes history fascinating and pulls back the curtain on 12 of the state’s most compelling stories.

ISBN-13: 978-0762772223. Published Globe Pequot Press, 2013.

Chimpanzee Voices

by Samantha Struthers ’86

After graduating from CC, Struthers became the environmental enrichment director at what was then the world’s largest captive colony of chimpanzees being used in biomedical research. A decade of experience led to the book, which is equally memoir, analysis, and critique of dealings with others — human and not. Based in science, the book also is a meditation on the ethics of biomedical research and an account of some of the subjects of that research.

ISBN-13: 978-1493769889. Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013.

Saved by the Prince of Peace

by Bob Allison ’81

This book helps readers understand how an addict thinks, how addiction progresses, and how to find a spiritual solution. Allison survived a 28-year battle with chemical dependency, including 13 treatment centers, and was homeless for a year. Defeated, he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. With 16 years of sobriety, Allison helps others find peace, faith, and sobriety.

ISBN-13: 978-0615950174. Published by Robert J. Allison, 2014.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

by Andrew Farago ’98

Subtitled “The Ultimate Visual History,” this book leaves no shell unturned as it follows the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from their humble beginnings in black-and-white comics created in a home studio in Dover, New Hampshire, to their multimillion-dollar success and position as four of the best-loved characters of all time. Featuring interviews with every key figure in the Turtles’ evolution, the book presents the tale straight from the mouths of those who were there.

ISBN-13: 978-1608871858. Published by Insight Editions, 2014.

enCYCLEpedia Southern California

by Richard Fox ’79

Subtitled “The Best Easy Scenic Bike Rides,” this guidebook contains more than 200 detailed ride options that explore the highlights of Southern California, from the ocean to the mountains to the deserts. Routes are mostly on trails with minimal hills and away from traffic. Nearby restaurants, campgrounds, spots to watch birds and whales, beaches, and local attractions are described. A companion website, www.enCYCLEpedia.net, keeps the book updated and contains
additional features.

ISBN-13: 978-1-56579-659-1. Published by Big Earth Publishing, 2014.

The Lamp of Darkness

by Dave Mason ’95 and Mike Feuer ’96

The book, which has been called a “Biblical Harry Potter,” is the first installment in a planned “The Age of Prophecy” series that focuses on the life of Lev, a 12-year-old orphan, shepherd, and musician living 579 years after the Exodus. The authors, both orthodox rabbis in Jerusalem, spent years researching the oral and Kabbalistic traditions detailing the inner workings of prophecy and the world of ancient Israel.

ASIN: B00IS6Y7E8. Published by Lionstail Press, 2014.

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel

by Kathryn Gibbs Davis ’76

Ten months before the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, there was no centerpiece to rival that of the previous fair’s Eiffel Tower. But George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. had a vision. Having no better choices, organizers begrudgingly accepted his proposal but offered no funding. This illustrated picture book/biography, aimed at readers aged 6-10, sheds light on how Ferris defied gravity and seemingly impossible odds to invent the world’s most iconic amusement park attraction, the Ferris wheel.

ISBN-13: 978-0547959221. Published by HMH Books for Young
Readers, 2014.

Trapline

by Caroline Davis ’86

Davis, a recipient of Stanford University’s Wallace Stegner fellowship in poetry, is San Mateo County, California’s, first poet laureate. “Trapline” is set at the edge — of the sea, the swamp, the wilderness. These are poems of rot and salt, dragonflies and reeds, where the world is always with the reader — raw and omnipresent, beautiful and terrible. Her poems navigate physical and metaphysical landscapes, embodying experience and a world both awful and awe-full.

ISBN-13: 978-1482620658. Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013.

From Uncle Tom’s Cabin to The Help

by Claire Oberon Garcia, professor of English and director of the Race and Ethnic Studies Program

Although films such as “The Help” and “Django Unchained” have achieved popular acclaim, they have also been the subject of controversy, demonstrating that the touted “post-racial America” has yet to come to terms with the power of race in imaginative and social lives. Subtitled “Critical Perspectives on White-Authored Narratives of Black Life,” these essays investigate the promise and perils of racial ventriloquism — white authors appropriating the history and stories of black life.

ISBN-13: 978-1137446251. Published by Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.

Women, Gender and Disease in Eighteenth-century England and France

co-edited by Felicia Berger Sturzer ’68

Based on encyclopedias, medical journals, historical, and literary sources, this collection of interdisciplinary essays focuses on the intersection of women, gender, and disease in England and France. Diverse critical perspectives highlight contributions women made to the scientific and medical communities of the 18th century. In spite of obstacles encountered in spaces dominated by men, women became midwives, and wrote self-help manuals on women’s health, hygiene, and domestic economy.

ISBN: 9781443855518. Published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014.

Rude Dude’s Guide to Food

by Tim Myers ’75

The subtitle of this anecdote-filled history of popular foods says it all: “Stories Behind Some of the Crazy-Cool Stuff We Eat.” Aimed at upper-elementary and middle-school students, this guide to food includes such morsels as Mongols actually did put raw meat under their saddles to “tenderize” it, fortune cookies don’t come from China, and Chinese archaeologists found 4,000-year-old noodles in an overturned cup.

ISBN-13: 978-1939629210. Published by Familius, 2014.

Roman Architecture in Provence

by James C. Anderson Jr. ’73

The book provides a survey of the architecture and urbanism of Provence during the Roman era. Provence, or “Gallia Narbonensis” as the Romans called it, was one of the earliest Roman colonies in Western Europe. Anderson, the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Classics Department at the University of Georgia until his 2014 retirement, examines the layout and planning of towns in the region, both those founded by the Romans and those redeveloped from native settlements.

ISBN: 978-0-521-82520-7. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2013.

Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works
and
Euripides’ Medea: A New Translation

by Diane Rayor ’80

Sappho, the earliest and most famous Greek female poet, sang her songs around 600 BCE on the island of Lesbos. Of the little that survives from the approximately nine papyrus scrolls collected in antiquity, all is translated here: substantial poems, fragments, single words — and, notably, two new poems that came to light in 2014. Yet the power of Sappho’s poetry — her direct style, rich imagery, and passion — is apparent even in these remnants.

ISBN: 9781107023598. Published by Cambridge University
Press, 2014.

 

“Medea,” Euripides’ most enduring Greek tragedy, is a fascinating and disturbing story of how far a woman will go to take revenge in a man’s world. Critics note that “Medea” comes alive in Rayor’s “accurate yet accessible translation that reflects the play’s inherent theatricality and vibrant poetry.”

Rayor, a classics professor at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from CC in 2010.

ISBN-13: 978-1107652217. Published by Cambridge University
Press, 2013.

Arranging Gershwin

by Ryan Bañagale ’00, assistant professor of music

In his book, subtitled “Rhapsody in Blue and the Creation of an American Icon,” Bañagale approaches Gershwin’s iconic piece not as a composition but as an arrangement — a status it has in many ways held since its inception in 1924, yet one unconsidered until now. Based on newly discovered manuscripts, the book alters existing historical and cultural conceptions of “Rhapsody” as it shifts emphasis away from the notion of the piece as a static work by a single composer.

ISBN-13: 978-0199978380. Published by Oxford University Press, 2014.

Thorn

by Evan Morgan Williams ’87

“Thorn,” a collection of short stories, was awarded the Sharat Chandra Fiction Prize for Short Fiction. The stories portray hardships of characters from a variety of backgrounds, especially Native Americans and those from the Pacific Coast. With descriptions of the characters and their experiences, Williams explores their psyches and personal struggles, but common themes tie these stories together in ways that invite readers to view their own struggles and relationships in new ways.

ISBN-13: 978-1886157941. Published by BkMk Press, 2014.

Teaching Argumentation

co-authored by Katie Rogers ’12

Subtitled “Activities and Games for the Classroom,” the book explains why it is so important for students to develop and practice argumentation skills, and provides a framework for understanding the nature of these skills. At its core is a wealth of practical and relevant research-based strategies useful for teachers seeking to improve their ability to teach the fundamental democratic skills of argumentation in ways that are engaging and interesting.

ASIN: B00MYO1ID8. Published by Marzano Research, 2014.

Bummed Out City

by Scott Burr ’05

Readers have called this debut novel “a surprisingly honest account of millennial angst.” Aspiring writer David Moore is living the unremarkable life he always equated with failure: Instead of holding book signings, he’s scraping to pay the bills; instead of selling movie rights to his novel, he’s arguing with his girlfriend. The book echoes a generation’s belief “that we are all special little snowflakes — and the reality that we are not,” says one reviewer.

ISBN-13: 978-0990722700. Published by The Artless Dodges Press, 2014.

The Wild Wisdom of Weeds

by Katrina Blair ’91

Blair’s book focuses on 13 weeds found worldwide, each of which represents a complete food source and extensive medical pharmacy and first-aid kit. Her philosophy is simple: “If we can open our eyes to see the wisdom found in these weeds right under our noses, instead of trying to eradicate an ‘invasive,’ we will achieve true food security.” The book includes more than 100 recipes as well as first-aid and self-care uses for the plants.

ISBN: 9781603585163. Published by Chelsea Green Publishing, 2014.

Wildfire

by Mary Pauline Lowry ’97

Julie’s pyromania leads her to a job as a firefighter on an elite, Type 1 “Hotshot” crew of forest firefighters who travel the American West battling wildfires. The only woman on the 20-member crew, she struggles to prove her worth and find a place in the dangerous, insular, and very masculine world of fire. Lowry knows of what she writes: She worked for two years as a forest firefighter on the elite Pike Interagency Hotshot Crew in Colorado.

ISBN-13: 978-1629144979. Published by Skyhorse Publishing, 2014.

The Activist Learner

co-authored by Sara Fry ’96

The book explores a variety of ways teachers can integrate service learning to enliven their classroom, meet the unique developmental needs of students, and satisfy the next generation of standards and assessments. The authors demonstrate how inquiry-based teaching with service learning outcomes cultivates, requires, and rewards literacy, as well as important skills such as perspective taking and compassion. Fry is an associate professor at Boise State University in Idaho.

ISBN-13: 978-0807755952. Published by Teachers College Press, 2014.

Conservatism and Pragmatism

by Seth Vannatta ’95

This book by Vannatta, associate professor of philosophy at Morgan State University in Baltimore, builds on the insights of classical British conservative thought and classical American pragmatist philosophy in order to illustrate the methodological norms which inform inquiry into ethics, politics, law, and history. Bringing together two great traditions that have too often been viewed as strangers, the book explores the common ground occupied by conservatism and pragmatism, while also playing the ideas of their representative thinkers off against one another in illuminating fashion.

ISBN-13: 9781137466822. Published by Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.