After Visiting Friends: A Son’s Story, Michael Hainey ’86 (Scribner). Was it truly a heart attack? When the body of the author’s 35-year-old father, a Chicago Sun-Times employee, is found near his car on Chicago’s North Side, the mystery surrounding his death haunts his son for years. In the author’s quest to learn the facts, he uncovers a legacy of secrets that ultimately unveils new truths about his mother, his father and his father’s newspaper friends who abided by an honor code of silence. The author is the deputy editor of GQ.
Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, Jennifer Chiaverini ’91 (Dutton). The best-selling author of the Elm Creek Quilts Series debuts a historical novel told from the perspective of Mary Todd Lincoln’s friend and dressmaker, Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, who was born a slave. As the friendship between the first lady and the freedwoman grows, Elizabeth is witness to key events in the White House. She also founds the Contraband Relief Association, to help care for tens of thousands of former slaves who seek refuge in Washington.
Blind Over Cuba: The Photo Gap and the Missile Crisis, David M. Barrett ’73, ’90Ph.D., Max Holland (Texas A&M University Press). Just how was the Soviet Union able to place missiles in Cuba in 1962? Using recently declassified documents, secondary materials and interviews with key participants, the authors offer an account of the Cuban Missile Crisis that highlights the discordant relationship of the Kennedy administration and the intelligence community.
Catholic Spiritual Practices: A Treasury of Old & New, edited by Colleen M. Griffith and Thomas H. Groome (Paraclete Press). How does one sustain and grow a vibrant faith? It’s all about practice, the editors say, and this collection offers essays on practices of prayer, care and spiritual growth. Contributors include Joan D. Chittister, OSB, ’68M.A.; Joseph Sandman ’91Ph.D.; and Brian E. Daley, S.J., a Notre Dame professor of theology.
Scars, Exile & Vindication: My Life as an Experiment, Charles Thomas Jr. ’02 (Tate Publishing). In his inspirational memoir, the former ND basketball player shares some of the lessons, successes and failures that have made up his life journey. “Writing my story,” he says, “gave me a deeper meaning into what this world has in store for all of us, and it gave me the opportunity to . . . hopefully be a blessing to others.” Here, he highlights the importance of faith, resilience and patience.
Wings and Tales: Learning About Birds Through Folklore, Facts, and Fun Activities, Jennifer L. Kroll ’89 (Libraries Unlimited). Along with a sampling of traditional tales about common North American bird species, this book for children offers scientific information on birds in easily understood language, coloring book pages, backyard bird-watching tips and activity suggestions. The Midwest Book Review calls it “[A] font of rainy-day fun for young bird lovers."
Creative work, web extra
Separation Anxiety, Mutts (Mutts Music). The Chicago blues/rock trio — Mike Maimone ’04, keyboard and vocals; Bob Buckstaff, bass; and Chris Pagnani, drums — continues to address societal issues in their newest CD. From “Washington (Still) Owns People” to “Uninvited,” the group focuses on “our increasingly connected — and simultaneously disconnected — society.” The album’s cover art is a tribute to the Robert Frost poem “Mending Wall.” Songs from the 10-track CD can be downloaded at muttsmusic.com.
The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church: Distinguishing Fact from Fiction about Catholicism, Christopher Kaczor ’94MMS, ’96Ph.D. (Ignatius Press). A look at the major misunderstandings many secular people carry against the church, including their ideas that it opposes science, is indifferent to earthly welfare, hates women and is homophobic. The author clarifies official Catholic teaching, separates fact from fiction and presents arguments for Catholic belief and practice.
Moral Minority: The Evangelical Left in an Age of Conservatism, David R. Swartz ’08Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania Press). The religious right is a political force to be reckoned with. But what happened to those on the evangelical left, whose members stood for civil rights, anti-war and anti-consumer principles? In this comprehensive history of progressive evangelicals, the author traces the rise, fall and political legacy of a group that could not agree on an identity or overcome its theological disputes.
The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom, Candida Moss (HarperOne). The professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Notre Dame argues here that the stories of early Christians meeting gory, untimely deaths because of their beliefs are just that — stories. In her examination of religious persecution, she found that the early church frequently either exaggerated or invented tales of martyrdom as a way to fight heresy, inspire the faithful and fund individual churches. This language of martyrdom, she writes, is in use today by groups that want to galvanize their fellow “soldiers” to silence dissent and fight what they see as an ongoing war against their faith.
The Time Remaining, Samuel Hazo ’49 (Syracuse University Press). The acclaimed poet here turns to fiction in the form of a modern-day political thriller. Journalist Dodge Didier Gilchrist heads from Washington, D.C., to Israel and Palestine to investigate the killing of his former college roommate, Palestinian scholar Sharif Tabry. As he begins to uncover clues, Gilchrist’s connection with Raya, Tabry’s niece, grows deeper. The author is the McAnulty Distinguished Professor of English Emeritus at Duquesne University.
The Family Council Handbook: How to Create, Run, and Maintain a Successful Family Business Council, Christopher J. Eckrich ’85, Stephen L. McClure (Palgrave). A manual for those involved in a family business, with tips on the forms of structured family governance, what purpose a family council serves, how such a council can be established and maintained, and how these councils can evolve. Eckrich is an adjunct professor in Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.
Military Fly Moms: Sharing Memories, Building Legacies, Inspiring Hope, edited by Linda Maloney (Tannenbaum Publishing Company). A collection of true stories from 71 aviators who balanced a military career with motherhood. One of the contributors is F-16 pilot Major Kate Wildasin Lowe ’97, the mother of two daughters. The book is illustrated with 75 color photos, and a portion of the profits will be donated to Girls With Wings, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping girls achieve their aspirations.
Our Experience, Ourselves: How Experience Came to be Valued so Highly by People in the West, Lyn Paul Relph ’61 (lulu.com). Backed by his research and a 30-year career teaching literature at a California university, the author presents a gallery of characters both fictional and real in this chronological account of how experience was defined and valued as Western Civilization emerged. Available as a paperback and ebook.
Rediscovering the Hindu Temple: The Sacred Architecture and Urbanism of India, Vinayak Bharne, Krupali Krusche (Cambridge Scholars Publishing). This study examines the Hindu temple as a cultural entity, both formal and informal, historic and modern, monumental and modest. Krusche is an assistant professor in the Notre Dame School of Architecture.
Soul-Centered Healing: A Psychologist’s Extraordinary Journey into the Realms of Sub-Personalities, Spirits, and Past Lives, Thomas Zinser ’71 (Union Street Press). The clinical psychologist, who works with multiple personality patients, says he learned that sub-personalities exist even in healthy individuals. Eventually he began working with a woman who channeled a spirit named Gerod through automatic writing. Zinser writes that the sessions with Gerod led “to a wider understanding of the soul’s structure and journey.”
Dysfunction: Identify It. Own It. Eliminate It, Dennis C. Lewis ’71, ’76Ph.D. (Black Opal Books). The author, a psychologist specializing in the treatment of family dysfunction, writes that healing from dysfunction requires that people stop pretending and discover the truth they have been hiding from themselves. He offers examples and techniques to help people free themselves from destructive, repetitive behavior patterns.
Inquiring Scientists, Inquiring Readers: Using Nonfiction to Promote Science Literacy, Grades 3-5, Jessica Fries-Gaither ’99, ’01M.Ed., Terry Shiverdecker (NSTA Press). Classroom tested for effectiveness, the units described here cover life, physical, Earth and space science, as well as the nature of science. The authors, both science educators, suggest ways that teaches can integrate a variety of nonfiction texts, such as field guides, reference books and expository texts, into science instruction.
Supply Chain Transformation: Practical Roadmap to Best Practice Results, Richard Sherman ’72, ’73M.A. (Wiley). Using real-world examples, this practical guide explains how to manage the process of supply chains in the global marketplace. Along with step-by-step advice that covers sourcing, production, logistics and emerging technologies, the book also discusses how to overcome managerial resistance to change.
The Education of a Notre Dame Science Dean: My Four-Year Ride with the Irish, Gregory P. Crawford (Corby Books). Although he has served as a professor and administration at Notre Dame, the author does not focus on those professional roles here. Instead, he writes about “what I have learned from the unique family that is Notre Dame.” Those lessons involved several visits to Haiti, a cross-country bicycle trip and helping “coach” the football team with Coach Lou Holtz at the Japan Bowl.
Simone Weil: Attention to The Real, Robert Chenavier, translated by Bernard E. Doering (University of Notre Dame Press). Originally published in French in 2009, the book traces the philosopher’s work on spirituality and materialism, as well as her concept of decreation. Doering, a professor emeritus of Romance languages and literature at Notre Dame, has won two national prizes for translation.
Apples, Bean Dip, & Carrot Cake: Kids! Teach Yourself to Cook, Anne Dinshah ’91, Freya Dinshah (American Vegan Society). Photos of kids preparing the recipes included here mean young chefs can easily create healthy snacks and meals. The cookbook also features tips on the safe use of knives, the stove, oven and blender; how to measure ingredients; properly preparing fruits and vegetables; and easy cleanup techniques.
The Seven Deadly Sins: A Visitor’s Guide, Lawrence S. Cunningham (Ave Maria Press). The Notre Dame emeritus professor of theology traces the roots of the sins — gluttony, lust, greed, sloth, envy, anger and pride — and discusses when they were first identified and by whom. Citing examples from scripture, Christian tradition and modern life, he explores each sin through its corresponding virtue. He ends by offering practical tools to turn away from the sins and toward purity of heart.
The Charism of Priestly Celibacy: Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Reflections, edited by John Cavadini (Ave Maria Press). This collection of reflections on the grace of priestly celibacy offers an exploration of its biblical, historical and theological roots, along with discussions of celibacy as a gift that provides personal and spiritual growth for priests. Cavadini is the director of Notre Dame’s Institute for Church Life.
A Frame for Flowers, Sean Storin ’04MBA (Sean Storin). This debut suspense novel offers the story of an abusive husband, a long-hidden crime and a mother who finds the courage to right past wrongs and give her child the life he deserves. When garden-loving Kate Bruno learns she has cancer, she begins to sow the seeds of fate to assure that there is justice in the world.
Tread Softly: Bullying and the Death of Phoebe Prince, E.J. Fleming ’81MBA (Hall Hill Press). Irish transfer student Phoebe Prince’s decision to kill herself in 2010 was attributed to the relentless bullying she underwent at the hands of several of her Massachusetts high-school classmates. The author here offers an account, based on hundreds of interviews, of the toxic culture that prevailed in the small Massachusetts town of South Hadley. Available as an ebook only.
The Peace Maker, Michele Chynoweth ’83 (Ellechor Publishing House). The author of The Faithful One, a modern-day story based on the Book of Job, updates another Biblical story in her second novel. The Peace Maker, which is set during a presidential election year, is based on the story of David and Abigail from the First Book of Samuel. In this story of hardship, courage and faith, the wife of an abusive alcoholic must decide on a course of action that might preserve peace but could risk her own life.
Sleeping in the Homes of Strangers: A Month-long Journey of Trust, Mark Dickinson ’87 (Amazon Digital Services). “My journey during the summer 2010 was an experiment to see if a person could travel through Turkey for a month relying strictly on the generosity of others,” writes the author. The Dalton, Georgia, high school teacher undertook his 15-city, 2,000-mile trip to prove to his students that people can be generous and helpful. Available as an ebook only. See the author’s blog at travelingteacher2010.blogspot.com/.
Notre Dame’s Happy Returns: Dublin, The Experience, The Game, Brian Ó Conchubhair, Susan Mullen Guibert ’87, ’93M.A., photography by Matt Cashore ’94 (University of Notre Dame Press). The 2012 Emerald Isle Classic football game between ND and Navy saw close to 35,000 Fighting Irish fans swarm Dublin to watch the gridiron contest and revel in the city’s historic sights and culture. The travel guide, sports book and photographic essay features nearly 200 photographs as well as essays on Irish history, culture and the Notre Dame-Irish connection.
Love at the Speed of Email, Lisa McKay ’03M.A. (Karinya Publishing). Life for this single woman, a published author and forensic psychologist who serves as a stress management trainer for humanitarian aid workers, is full of fascinating work and travel. But as she turns 31, the author begins to wonder what it means to commit to a person, place or career. In this memoir, she traces her search for an answer to those questions, and the answer that may be found with the help of an intriguing stranger who emails her out of the blue.
Princely Brothers and Sisters: The Sibling Bond in German Politics, 1100-1250, Jonathan R. Lyon ’99M.A., ’05Ph.D. (Cornell University Press). The author focuses on nine aristocratic families during the Staufen period and discusses how their “sibling relationships played crucial roles in shaping [their] political and territorial interests.” He also addresses such issues as successions, inheritance and court politics.
Surprising Lord Jack, Sally MacKenzie ’76 (Kensington Books). The second book in the writer’s Duchess of Love trilogy, this Regency romance focuses on the third son of a matchmaking duchess. As Jack Valentine tries to escape his mother’s matchmaking plans he finds himself attracted to a new friend who might not be who he — or is it she? — appears to be. Bedding Lord Ned, the first book in the trilogy, was named by Booklist as one of the Top 10 romances in 2012.
The Church Building as a Sacred Place: Beauty, Transcendence, and the Eternal, Duncan G. Stroik (Hillenbrand Books). The ND professor of architecture has lectured for 25 years on the design and meaning of our houses of worship. Here, along with more than 170 photographs, he presents 23 essays on such topics as church modernism and modernity; renaissance and renewal; and principles of church design. “Sacred architecture,” writes Stroik, “is a means for us to articulate the meaning of life for ourselves, our communities, future generations — and to honor God because, though he does not need our worship nor our temples of stone, he deserves them.”
The Final Act of Creation: A Poetic Way of the Cross, David Michael Belczyk ’03 (Liguori). This Stations of the Cross devotional merges two faith perspectives — the traditional with one implemented by John Paul II in 2003 that is based on scripture. These stations, writes the author, “emphasize the Eucharist as an ever-present unity with God and Christ’s timeless sacrifice, through which the Passion shines as an enduring and current reality of love in all times and seasons.”
The Powers: A Novel, Valerie Sayers (Northwestern University Press). The Notre Dame professor of English takes readers to 1941, a year filled with such giants as Joe DiMaggio, Dorothy Day and Walker Evans, as her book follows the journey of discovery of Agnes O’Leary, an Irish-Catholic Brooklynite torn between the love of two boys. Sayers’ previous novels — Due East, How I Got Him Back, Who Do You Love, The Distance Between Us and Brain Fever are being republished by Northwestern University Press.
Explorations in the Theology of Benedict XVI, edited by John C. Cavadini (University of Notre Dame Press). This volume represents a conference at Notre Dame on the occasion of the pontiff’s 85th birthday. Essayists here offer a look at Benedict’s theology, from his Augustinian stance to his criticism of relativism. Notre Dame scholars included among the contributors are Gary Anderson, professor of Catholic theology; Lawrence S. Cunningham, professor of theology emeritus; Robert M. Gimello, research professor of theology and of East Asian languages and cultures; Francesca Aran Murphy, professor of systematic theology; Cyril O’ Regan, professor of theology; Daniel Philpott, associate professor of political science and peace studies; and editor Cavadini, professor of theology and director of the Institute for Church Life.
Leadership by Choice: Increasing Influence and Effectiveness through Self-Management, Eric Papp ’06 ( John Wiley and Sons). Being a strong leader, the author says, means finding creative ways to be productive and to speak with influence. He presents techniques for improving communication, team leadership, productivity and personal development. Book chapters include “The Abdication of Accountability,” “Leading the Entitlement Generation” and “Finding Strength in Silence.”
Jack and Leslie, Walter “Bud” Stuhldreher ’53 (Xlibris). In the author’s fifth book and his first work of fiction, he tells the story of an adventurous young couple, Jack Winship and Leslie Wainwright, who face life’s perils in both their personal and professional lives through the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. The R-rated saga is also available as an ebook.
Preacher Kid: A Story from the Heartland, Kathleen McCarthy Walsh ’86 (CreateSpace). In a book that combines biography, memoir and genealogy, the author writes about her grandmother, Esther Miller, who was born in 1908. The daughter of Methodist preacher, Esther came of age in Depression-era Ohio and faced several challenges through her life, including destitution in her early years, losing a child and outliving three husbands.