Recommended Reading: Colby ’96, Eisner ’77, Shander ’90, and more
Paradoxx
Kate Colby ’96
Kate Colby’s latest work blurs the line between memoir, essay, and lyric poetry. Paradoxx unspools in fragments: childhood memories, reflections on parenthood, environmental anxiety, and the shifting nature of self. Colby’s voice is deeply personal yet philosophical, pulling readers into her layered meditations on memory and meaning. From musings on plastic toys buried in landfills to the destabilizing intimacy of motherhood, Paradoxx offers a luminous reading experience that rewards attention and re-reading. It’s a short and resonant work for readers who appreciate inventive, introspective prose. (Essay Press)
Carole King: She Made the Earth Move
Jane Eisner ’77, P’06, ’12
In this rich, narrative biography, Jane Eisner reintroduces Carole King as a groundbreaking force in American music. Eisner traces King’s evolution from a Brooklyn teenager writing hits in the Brill Building to the era-defining singer-songwriter whose Tapestry album reshaped pop culture. The book’s heart lies in King’s reluctance to share her story, a tension mirrored in the creation of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. In this way, Eisner highlights King’s complex legacy: a fiercely private artist whose songs defined generations, a trailblazer who achieved global stardom on her own terms, and a woman who reshaped the music industry while shunning its spotlight. (Yale University Press)
Stakeholder Whispering: Uncover What People Need Before Doing What They Ask
Bill Shander ’90
Bill Shander’s Stakeholder Whispering is part practical guide, part professional manifesto. Drawing from decades of experience as a designer and consultant, Shander argues that all knowledge work is design work—and that success hinges on listening deeply. The book blends anecdotes, strategies, and exercises to help readers uncover what their colleagues or clients actually need rather than what they say they want. With humor, clarity, and a conversational tone, Stakeholder Whispering is useful for high-level team leaders and those emerging in the workplace alike. (Wiley)
That’s Not How It Happened
Craig Thomas ’97
Craig Thomas delivers a sharp, funny, and heartfelt novel about authorship, celebrity culture, and the complicated bonds of family. The story follows the alternating perspectives of the McConnell family after mom Paige’s memoir about raising son Emmett—who has Down Syndrome—unexpectedly becomes a bestseller, thanks to a viral endorsement from a Hollywood A-lister. What follows is a satirical yet deeply empathetic exploration of parenthood, ambition, and truth in an age of curated personas. Thomas balances laugh-out-loud humor with poignant depictions of love and sacrifice, creating a novel that’s as compulsively readable as it is thoughtful. (Hanover Square Press)
College Mental Health 101
Christopher Willard ’01 and Chelsie Green ’14
With student mental health feeling more urgent than ever, College Mental Health 101 arrives as a comforting, practical guide—akin to a trusted mentor. Compiled by experts and informed by hundreds of real students, the book breaks down complex topics—choosing a therapist, navigating accommodations, handling medication, time off, and conversations with loved ones—into digestible, empathetic chunks full of clear charts, checklists, and reflection prompts. It doesn’t just lay out the “what,” rather, it leans into the “how,” offering informal self-assessments, snapshots of diverse lived experiences, and actionable tips for both students as well as those who support them. Whether you’re beginning the application process, already well into or through college life, or a part of someone’s support system, this book meets the moment with research-backed insight, gentle humor, and a sense of solidarity. (Oxford University Press)
