Summer Reading at Montana State University 2011   Tags: reading, subject_guide  

This is an unusual book, since very likely the last time it was published in the US was in 1964. I have read it in Slovak in 80' when I was a teenager. The book describes an exploratory expedition in late 18th century to today's Yemen. This expedition was the first which discover ancient Perseopolis, copied ancient Christian documents in St. Katherine monastery in Sinai and first to enter and map out Yemen. Apart from brilliant description of the folly of the academic world (then as now) and Europe on the verge of modern age, it is an incredible adventure and a testament to human perseverance and adaptability in difficult situations.

--Recommended by Tomas Gedeon, Professor of Mathematics, Montana State University, Bozeman

The author recounts the successes and frustrations of John Wesley Powell, the distinguished ethnologist and geologist who explored the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon, and the homeland of Indian tribes of the American Southwest.

--Recommended by Matt Caires, University of Wyoming

This Oxford University based author manages to find a third way to understand the nature of poverty, neatly sidestepping the ugly media war between Jeffery Sachs and William Easterly. Collier does not receive as much press coverage, but he offers what I see as the most feasible approach to reducing extreme global poverty. A worthwhile read for anyone wanting to better understand this most important issue.

--Recommended by Lori Goss Lawson, Adjunct Instructor, Undergraduate Scholars Program, Montana State University, Bozeman

John Medina has written one of the best brain books I have read. He is a molecular biologist and director of Brain Center for Applied Learning at the Seattle Pacific University. He explains the latest research on the brain, and there have been a lot of advances recently on how the brain works. He boils them down to 12 rules that will help you in all walks of life. If you want an owner's manual for the brain then this is probably the one that should be handed out with every new-born.

--Recommended by Virginia "Ginny" Knerr, MSU Extension Agent -- Broadwater County, Montana State University, Bozeman

This brilliant novel revolves around what is broken -- limbs, family ties, trust -- and the process of rebuilding them. It starts with the birth of twin boys to a nursing nun, Sister Mary Praise Joseph, in a small hospital on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; an event which no one had expected: "The everyday miracle of conception had taken place in the one place it should not have: in Sister Mary Praise Joseph's womb." The delivery rapidly becomes a debacle when it's clear that Mary Praise Joseph can't deliver her baby normally; the last minute arrival home at "Missing" (the Mission Hospital) by Indian obstetrician Hema saves the children, but their mother dies and their presumed father father, surgeon Thomas Stone, disappears into the night.

That brief summary does no justice to Verghese's powerful and remarkable prose style or the structure of the first part of the book which, although it revolves around the tragedy that claims the life of the twins' mother, also introduces the other main characters who will take the place of their biological parents. And even when you are finished, the novel and its more-than-compelling characters will linger on in your mind...

--Recommended by David C. Sands, Professor of Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman and by Brigitte Morris, Adjunct Instructor, Modern Languages & Literatures, Montana State University, Bozeman

This is a wonderful book, written by a young medical oncologist who presents the history of this disease along with information about some of the pioneers who developed chemotherapy. This fascinating book has received several awards, including the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction and recognition as one of the 10 Best Books of 2010 by the New York Times.

--Recommended by Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University

(Alas not translated in English), Haitian writer’s evocation and description of his land, its history... after being in exile in Montreal. Poignant and heart wrenching; it was written before the 2010 earthquake!

--Recommended by Brigitte Morris, Adjunct Instructor, Modern Languages & Literatures, Montana State University, Bozeman

This graceful and nuanced work of literary nonfiction steers the reader toward engagement with global questions.

--Recommended by Teresa Greenwood, Academic Adviser, Liberal Studies, Montana State University, Bozeman

I appreciated Wright's attempt to respectfully explore the history of religion, and to introduce the novel idea that religion actually reflects society's values, as opposed to guiding them. Wright makes his compelling case for religion's evolution - which is an inherently controversial theory - and yet avoids appearing dogmatic and adversarial.
--Recommended by Lori Goss Lawson, Adjunct Instructor, Undergraduate Scholars Program, Montana State University, Bozeman

Mario Vargas Llosa, a former candidate for the presidency of Peru, is better placed than most novelists to write about the machinations of Latin American politics. In The Feast of the Goat he offers a vivid re-creation of the Dominican Republic during the final days of General Rafael Trujillo's insidious and evil regime. Told from several viewpoints, the book has three distinctive, alternating strands.

--Recommended by Brigitte Morris, Adjunct Instructor, Modern Languages & Literatures, Montana State University, Bozeman

As riveting as a World War II thriller, The Forger’s Spell is the true story of three men and an extraordinary deception: the revered artist Johannes Vermeer; the small time Dutch painter who dared to impersonate him years later; and the con man’s mark, Herman Goering, the fanatical art collector and one of Nazi Germany’s most reviled leaders

--Recommended by Meghan Phillippi, MSU Sanders County Extension Agent, Montana State University, Bozeman

This mesmerizing novel is written as a letter from a 76-year-old preacher in a small town in Iowa to his young son. But, it is far from a sermon. Rather, the letter is a "summing-up, an apologia, a consideration of the man's life." It's simply beautiful.

--Recommended by Anne Cantrell, MSU News Service, Montana State University, Bozeman

Final book in the Steig Larsson trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire).

--Recommended by Craig Stewart, Professor, Department of Health & Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman

After years of wondering about the almost ubiquitous cover of this book, I finally decided to read it. I must confess that I fell into the trap of a gripping detective story, a genre to which I have not devoted much attention. A page-turner in itself, the tragic fate of its author also adds to this book’s appeal.

--Recommended by Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University

Follow-up book to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

--Recommended by Craig Stewart, Professor, Department of Health & Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman

This book is set in India, and it is about twins, a boy and a girl, growing up in a culture that's stuck between the old ways and new, Western culture. It also deals with the caste system, and is just a beautifully-written stream of consciousness story I was introduced to in Greg Keeler's Contemporary Literature Class.

--Recommended by Alicia Exley, Junior, Sociology, Montana State University, Bozeman

Anam’s first historical novel (“set in the nineteen-seventies, a young widow and her children become caught up in Bangladesh’s war for independence”). Reminded me of one of my favorite Rushdie’s novel Midnight children.


--Recommended by Brigitte Morris, Adjunct Instructor, Modern Languages & Literatures, Montana State University, Bozeman

In Half the Sky, Kristof -- who visited MSU in 2009 -- and WuDunn report devastating statistics about the status of women worldwide, but they also share the often inspiring stories of many individual women. Their book presents a powerful argument for investing in women's health and autonomy across the globe.

--Recommended by Anne Cantrell, MSU News Service, Montana State University, Bozeman

I recommend The Heart and the Fist, for Montana State University's Summer 2012 Reading List. This book has been very well-received and appeals to a large and diverse demographic. This book confronts the same dilemma as the American military, which strives to be a strong deterrent against the evils of the world while protecting the sick and powerless. The concept of a mighty warrior with a good heart is not an original one, but the humanitarian soldier epiphany comes to an idealistic Greitens after stints in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Gaza, and Calcutta where he sees unspeakable carnage and suffering without end.

--Recommended by Christina Cobelens

By now, many of you know about my two beagles, Moncho and Lucy. Moncho is a restless two-year old male who came to Montana with me. After some months, we went to Heart of the Valley and adopted Lucy, a 6-year old female, who is his companion and playmate. However adorable, beagles can sometimes be stubborn, and in this extraordinary reference book, I have found great ideas on how to earn your dog’s trust and love.

--Recommended by Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University

In preparation for the author’s MSU visit arranged by the Leadership Institute, I read this beautiful book again. Even though health issues prevented Angelou from coming to MSU, it was good to rediscover this book. Its magical prose, the use of humor and the moments of grief that lace the narrative come together in a powerful memoir that never ceases to engage the reader.

--Recommended by Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University

This is a biography of the HeLa cell line used all over the world in biomedical research, and an important book for anyone interested in the health field, cellular biology, medical research, oncology or African American history. A confluence of fascinating research into the very intimate lives at the crossroad, or in the crosshairs, of modern medicine. Grim and funny and enraging, uplifting and humbling, enlightening and fascinating, sweeping and intimate – it’s a real page-turner.

--Recommended by Donna Williams, MT – AA program, Montana State University, Bozeman

Discover how to avoid the defensive, evasive, or contentious answers that have destroyed political careers and ruin credibility. Learn to control your entire exchange with a hostile questioner: the question, answer, interactions with questioner and audience, timing, and above all, yourself. Whether an executive, politician, fundraiser, interviewee, teacher, student -- or even a family member at Thanksgiving dinner -- you're judged on how you handle these moments.

--Recommended by Janet Trethewey, Professor, College of Education, Montana State University, Northern

The history of the first 100 years of Montana State University was proudly written by three of our very own fine faculty members. The book marked the culmination of The Centennial History Project, initiated by President William Tietz and completed by President Michael Malone in 1993.

--Recommended by David Swingle, Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University, Bozeman

If you feel there is need for improvement in your administrative processes (leaning them out by reducing wasted resources) or if you simply found this subject interesting, I would highly recommend this book. It's important to recognize that lean concepts and methodologies can be applied to administrative processes just as successfully as manufacturing and engineering processes; it's simply the way one applies the tools. In fact, you might find that a simple 5S Kaizen event would show instant results in streamlining cumbersome and time-consuming administrative processes.

--Recommended by Darrin Strosnider, Doctoral Student, Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman

Hilarious, bawdy, and exceptionally well-written romp through Bourdain's early years as a chef. You'll never eat the same way in a restaurant!

--Recommended by Linda Karell, Associate Professor, Department of English, Montana State University, Bozeman

By far the most interesting thing I read over the past year. For history and biography lovers, the 15th-century life and travels of the extraordinary Margery Kempe, who left her family to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

--Recommended by Mary Susan Fishbaugh, Dean, College of Education, Montana State University, Billings

The main character in the novel is Harrison Shepherd, a novelist who writes romantic adventures. Shepherd is born in Washington, D.C. When he is thirteen, he is in Mexico with his mother, who has abandoned America and is romantically involved with a right-wing businessman. Shepherd begins reading Mexican history and adventure novels. He also begins journaling, which makes up part of the novel. The story covers his life, including his employment with Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Leon Trotsky.

--Recommended by Melynda Harrison, MSU News Service, Montana State University, Bozeman

Published earlier this year by a former president of Princeton University, this book provides some interesting insights into the administrative complexities of leading a great university. Of particular interest are Bowen’s reflections on some of the challenges that swept higher education during his 16 years in office.

--Recommended by Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University

Winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for the remarkable efforts begun 30 years earlier, and which continue to this day, agriculturalist Norman Borlaug most recently joined Jimmy Carter working in Africa and in recent years tackled successful projects in China. But his earliest claim to fame was his painstaking fieldwork in Mexico during the 1940s, when the prairie-raised Iowan developed strains of disease-resistant wheat, training local scientists to spread his breakthrough methods to other countries. Working over the years with the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, he was later responsible for averting famine in Pakistan and India, where hope for feeding their huge populations was almost nonexistent; characteristically, Borlaug maintained his sense of humility and wonder throughout: "The enthusiasm everywhere bordered on mania. I have never seen anywhere in agriculture such euphoria...." Author Hesser, an old friend and colleague of Borlaug, is well versed in the food production revolution that Borlaug helped create (encompassing wheat, rice and maize, and still branching out), and an able writer whose direct voice evokes the Midwest spirit of its subject.

--Recommended by David C. Sands, Professor of Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman

This is the story of one man’s quest to save the poorest Haitians from the ravages of multiple-drug resistant Tuberculosis. In the telling we learn not only about Dr. Paul Farmer and MDR-TB, but we also get a case-study on global health, access, and the politics of medicine. This is a must-read for any student of the health sciences who will ever have the chance to chart the terms “non-compliant with the prescribed regimen”.

--Recommended by Laura S. Larsson, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar, College of Nursing, Montana State University, Bozeman

Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if everyone understood just a little bit more about human choices and behavior; economics, that is. In his insightful and entertaining book, Naked Economics, Charles Wheelan introduces economics in a fun, pertinent, and entertaining way. Most people don't understand that economics really is about human behavior and choices. This book helps explain what economics is and why people act the way they do. A recommended read for anybody.

--Recommended by Holly Lippke Fretwell, Adjunct Instructor, PERC Research Fellow, Montana State University, Bozeman

This book is the story of the Egyptian queen, Nefertiti. Her sister, Mutnodjmet, narrates Nefertiti's story and her role in the chess game that is life in a royal court. Nefertiti shows just how influential the queen must have been in real-life in order to become one of the most famous rulers of the ancient times.

--Recommended by Nicole Kuha, Junior, University Studies, Montana State University, Bozeman

One of my favorite books of all time. It's about a group of English children who grow up in a boarding school with a terrible secret. Touching, emotional and just a little bit futuristic.

--Recommended by Alicia Exley, Junior, Sociology, Montana State University, Bozeman

This intense book has been selected as the summer read for our entering freshmen. It is the real-life story of a young man who faces death after his right armed is trapped by a boulder while hiking in Utah. Ralston will join us for Freshman Convocation in Bozeman on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fieldhouse. Please join us!

--Recommended by Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University

Gladwell (The Tipping Point) once again proves masterful in a genre he essentially pioneered—the book that illuminates secret patterns behind everyday phenomena. His gift for spotting an intriguing mystery, luring the reader in, then gradually revealing his lessons in lucid prose, is on vivid display. Outliers begins with a provocative look at why certain five-year-old boys enjoy an advantage in ice hockey, and how these advantages accumulate over time. We learn what Bill Gates, the Beatles and Mozart had in common: along with talent and ambition, each enjoyed an unusual opportunity to intensively cultivate a skill that allowed them to rise above their peers. A detailed investigation of the unique culture and skills of Eastern European Jewish immigrants persuasively explains their rise in 20th-century New York, first in the garment trade and then in the legal profession. Through case studies ranging from Canadian junior hockey champions to the robber barons of the Gilded Age, from Asian math whizzes to software entrepreneurs to the rise of his own family in Jamaica, Gladwell tears down the myth of individual merit to explore how culture, circumstance, timing, birth and luck account for success—and how historical legacies can hold others back despite ample individual gifts. Even as we know how many of these stories end, Gladwell restores the suspense and serendipity to these narratives that make them fresh and surprising.

--Recommended by David C. Sands, Professor of Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman

Though I do not agree with everything Ridley writes in this book, I do think he has a message worth considering: Life is getting better. This positive statement is a great counterbalance to the overwhelmingly negative messages we - especially our students - receive everyday. I am convinced that if we want to motivate our students to "make the world a better place" we need to change the ratio of time we spend on doom & gloom versus hope & success stories. This book covers the entire sweep of human history, from the stone age to the Internet, and in the process Ridley presents a compelling case for becoming a rational optimist.

--Recommended by Lori Goss Lawson, Adjunct Instructor, Undergraduate Scholars Program, Montana State University, Bozeman

A meticulously researched minute-by-minute account of the day that Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, in his unsuccessful attempt to impress actress Jodie Foster. Contains background material on all the major players, and long-hidden details of what actually happened in the ER and operating room at George Washington Hospital, the situation room at the White House, and aboard Air Force Two carrying Vice-President Bush back to Washington. An intriguing description of the would-be assassin, and how all the pieces fell into place for a successful outcome. Vivid descriptions take the reader into the behind-the-scenes action. Fast paced and easy to read. One appreciates the heroism of all the participants, and the quick thinking that saved the President’s life on that fateful day in March 1981. Reads like a thriller, but no one could make this stuff up!

--Recommended by Sylvia S. Sparkman, Telephone Services, Exam Scoring and Evaluations, Montana State University, Bozeman

Before reading this paradigm-shifting book, I knew very little about the history of Turkey and Iran, nor of how pivotal US relations have been with those countries. Reset is an engaging, informative and surprisingly entertaining read, but what I liked best about it is that it avoids the stale policy debates, and instead provides an innovative and yet practical, vision for our future relationship with this region of the world. Reading Reset made me feel hopeful!

--Recommended by Lori Goss Lawson, Adjunct Instructor, Undergraduate Scholars Program, Montana State University, Bozeman

I am still in the midst of this book, but it is proving a very worthwhile read in that it synthesizes the most recent research from a vast array of disciplines, and makes it accessible, entertaining and memorable by applying it to two fictional characters, Harold and Erica.

--Recommended by Lori Goss Lawson, Adjunct Instructor, Undergraduate Scholars Program, Montana State University, Bozeman

If you feel there is need for improvement in your administrative processes (leaning them out by reducing wasted resources) or if you simply found this subject interesting, I would highly recommend this book. It's important to recognize that lean concepts and methodologies can be applied to administrative processes just as successfully as manufacturing and engineering processes; it's simply the way one applies the tools. In fact, you might find that a simple 5S Kaizen event would show instant results in streamlining cumbersome and time-consuming administrative processes.

--Recommended by Darrin Strosnider, Doctoral Student, Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman

After Thomas's husband is hit by a car while walking their dog, she must remake her life to include a husband whose mental abilities, particularly his memory, are drastically impaired. But it's not a "medical" memoir; rather, it's a lyrical, thoughtful meditation on commitment to those we love (including dogs).

--Recommended by Linda Karell, Associate Professor, Department of English, Montana State University, Bozeman

“But Always Rich” is the subtitle of this memoir written by another wonderful MSU alum. Jim shares some of the unique trials and tribulations in this one-century story of his family on Montana land. Jim generously gifted me this book (and he even sent me a quiz to ensure my full reading comprehension and enjoyment!).

--Recommended by Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University

This is the story of a blind man that summits the top peaks of the world, including Everest. More than that though, it is mainly the story of a person who becomes completely blind by age 13, due to disease, and goes on to have these great achievements. It is a very emotional and inspiring story. he would be a good person to bring in as a speaker.

--Recommended by Monica Berchan, Senior, Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman

During the celebration of National Engineering Week, I attended a dinner in which students honored our distinguished alumna, Helene Michael. A Boeing executive, Helene talked about the importance of “Value Stream Mapping.” Since then, I have been enthusiastically reading and learning about Lean Management and the company that is credited with this concept.

--Recommended by Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University

A book about a lonely outpost in Afghanistan & the men who man it. See also: Restrepo (DVD documentary) from the same book.

--Recommended by Craig Stewart, Professor, Department of Health & Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman

A story of Butte, Montana and how it came to become known as the “Richest Hill on Earth”. The book starts out earlier, with some of the gold rushes in MT and how it switched to copper with the changing times. It then goes on to discuss the 3 major players in the copper war, what sort of men they were, their ideals and the people who supported them. War of the Copper Kings discusses the politics involved in MT becoming a state, how Butte became important to members of Wall Street, about the money that influenced thousands of lives and about the environmental impact the mines/smelters had on the area around Butte.

--Recommended by Dacia A. Johnson, Housing Coordinator, Family & Graduate Housing, Montana State University, Bozeman

With its spotlight on elephants, Gruen's romantic page-turner hinges on the human-animal bonds that drove her debut and its sequel (Riding Lessons and Flying Changes)—but without the mass appeal that horses hold. The novel, told in flashback by nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski, recounts the wild and wonderful period he spent with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a traveling circus he joined during the Great Depression.

--Recommended by Matt Caires, University of Wyoming

For Children's Literature this semester we read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. It's a young reader book but spans every age. The story is about a young girl named Minli and her quest to improve the life of her, her parents and the villagers of Fruitless Mountain. It's a Newbery Award honor winner and is a truly fantastical tale.

--Recommended by Lawrence Sampson, Education student, Montana State University, Bozeman

The era of “left brain” dominance, and the Information Age that it engendered, are giving way to a new world in which “right brain” qualities-inventiveness, empathy, meaning-predominate. That’s the argument at the center of this provocative and original book, which uses the two sides of our brains as a metaphor for understanding the contours of our times.
In this insightful and entertaining book, which has been translated into 20 languages, Daniel H. Pink offers a fresh look at what it takes to excel. A Whole New Mind reveals the six essential aptitudes on which professional success and personal fulfillment now depend, and includes a series of hands-on exercises culled from experts around the world to help readers sharpen the necessary abilities. This book will change not only how we see the world but how we experience it as well.

--Recommended by Greg Young, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Montana State University, Bozeman

The first woman to serve as president of Smith College reflects on her experiences and on the role of women in higher education. I learned about this book thanks to Professor Emeritus Karen Vinton, who has been a member of a Bozeman book club that has been meeting for more than 20 years!

--Recommended by Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University

A short and sober novel with actual Nazi documentation on the story of a luthier in Auschwitz and ‘the story of the violin’. Not to be compared with any other powerful autobiography and accounts of life and death in concentration camp such as Primo Levi's "If this is a man."

--Recommended by Brigitte Morris, Adjunct Instructor, Modern Languages & Literatures, Montana State University, Bozeman

The true story of a New Orleans American-Syrian family during and after Hurricane Katrina.

--Recommended by Brigitte Morris, Adjunct Instructor, Modern Languages & Literatures, Montana State University, Bozeman

Being at Montana State University, we should read (or re-read) “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”. Robert Pirsig’s search for what defines quality, while on a motorcycle trip with his son. I can’t say that it is my favorite book, but it’s certainly thought provoking (and with an MSU backdrop).

--Recommended by Michael Franklin, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Montana State University Libraries, Bozeman