Book List

Spring 2026 Book List

NON-FICTION

 

Cracks in the Ivory Tower
Jason Brennan & Phillip W. Magness

Educational Philosophy

A data-driven critique exposing ethical failures and self-interest in modern academia.

336 pages

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    Brennan and Magness argue that universities routinely fail their stated ideals. Students, faculty, and administrators are often guided by incentives that reward bad behavior and punish good behavior.

    Author Presentation:
    March 25 · 12–1 PM
    Hetzel-Hoellein Room 321, Stewart Library

    Book Group Meetings

    Location: Hetzel-Hoellein Room 320
    Time: 12:00–1:00 PM

    • Feb 11 — Chapters 1–3
    • Feb 25 — Chapters 4–7
    • Mar 11 — Chapters 8–11
    • Mar 25 — Author presentation

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written
Walter Isaacson

History / American Revolution

A short, powerful exploration of the sentence that shaped American democracy.

80 pages

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    Isaacson unpacks the origins, editing, and enduring relevance of “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” revealing how its words still offer common ground in polarized times.

Shift
Ethan Kross

Psychology / Mental Health

Science-backed tools for managing emotions so they work for you, not against you.

288 pages

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    Kross dispels myths about emotional control and provides practical strategies grounded in neuroscience, relationships, and environment.

Slow Productivity
Cal Newport

Time Management / Success

A humane alternative to burnout culture rooted in long-term meaningful work.

256 pages

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    Newport draws on historical thinkers to redefine productivity away from busyness and toward sustainable accomplishment.

Stories That Shape Us
Steve Mann

Inspirational / Self-Help

A guided workbook for preserving wisdom, memory, and personal legacy.

180 pages

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    Through storytelling prompts and reflection, Mann helps readers strengthen intergenerational connections and pass down meaning.

Thanks for the Feedback
Douglas Stone & Sheila Heen

Communication Skills

Why feedback is hard — and how to receive it with curiosity and resilience.

368 pages

FICTION

 

The Bog Wife
Kay Chronister

Southern Gothic / Psychological Thriller

A haunting eco-gothic family saga bound by ritual, grief, and legacy.

336 pages

Mi nombre es Emilia del Valle
Isabel Allende

Spanish Language Fiction

An epic story of war, identity, love, and reinvention across continents.

344 pages

Remarkably Bright Creatures
Shelby Van Pelt

Literary Fiction / Friendship

An unexpected friendship between a grieving woman and a brilliant octopus.

384 pages

Wandering Stars
Tommy Orange

Literary Fiction

A powerful multigenerational novel exploring Native history and inherited trauma.

344 pages

CONTACT US

 

Monday – Friday: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Lampros Hall, Room 216

801-626-7667