Books
Posted on March 11, 2015Cheated: The UNC Scandal, the Education of Athletes, and the Future of Big Time College Sports
by Jay M. Smith and Mary Willingham
History professor Smith and Willingham, a former UNC academics counselor to athletes, have been highly visible figures in the University’s academic fraud scandal that has been determined to have lasted from 1993 to 2011. They examine the relationship between athletics and academics at the University and elsewhere and argue that some athletes have been cheated out of the college education they were promised.
Glimmerglass
by Marly Youmans ’82 (PhD)
Failed painter Cynthia Sorrel fell into the village of Cooper Patent, never expecting to find a town filled with magic. In a space that blurs the line between realism and fiction, Cynthia is on a journey to find her muse, one she may have seen by the woods behind her house. Navigating the dreamy town and its hidden depths, Cynthia is dragged into a mystery in the underbelly of Cooper Patent, looking for answers anywhere she can find them. Youmans blends Gothic storytelling with magical realism and a stunning use of imagery for an unexpected coming-of-age treat.
Harlem’s Rattlers and the Great War: The Undaunted 369th Regiment and the African American Quest for Equality
by Jeffrey T. Sammons ’82 (PhD) and
John H. Morrow Jr.
Harlem’s Rattlers, the 369th regiment composed solely of African-American soldiers fighting in World War I, is noted for having “never lost a man to capture or a foot of ground that had been taken.” In this analysis of the Rattlers, who were made popular from their depiction in the film Stormy Weather, Sammons and Morrow extensively researched and considered the social environment of the times to introduce these men in the most complete history possible. Sammons is a history professor at New York University.
Publishing: A Writer’s Memoir
by Gail Godwin ’59
Rejection doesn’t always mean failure. That’s what the acclaimed author would say after she was rejected by literary scouts during her time as a student in 1958.
Now, after 14 novels and five New York Times best-sellers, Godwin has written a book about her experiences in the sometimes ruthless publishing world. In a touching memoir about perseverance, inspiration and a love for the writing craft, Godwin illuminates the often-overlooked publishing world by telling her story, just as she did many times before — in her own words.
Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery: Where War Comes Home
by Robert M. Poole ’71
When veterans, friends and loved ones made a Memorial Day pilgrimage to Section 60, the 14-acre plot of land in Arlington National Cemetery where soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan are buried, Poole saw more than pain in their tribute. He saw a portrait of a country devastated by war — and the strength it takes to rebuild. A moving account of loss, life and service, the book by Poole, who also wrote On Hallowed Ground about Arlington, honors the courage and sacrifice of fallen soldiers in this rendition of what it means to be part of a community.
The Stronghold: How Republicans Captured Congress but Surrendered the White House
by Thomas F. Schaller ’97 (PhD)
Schaller, a professor of political science at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, examines national Republican politics since Ronald Reagan left office in 1989, to the rise of Newt Gingrich as speaker of the House through the defeat of Mitt Romney in 2012. In this Amazon No. 1 best-seller, he details a catch-22 facing the Republican Party: As the GOP grows more conservative, it also becomes more Congress-centered, and as its congressional wing has grown more powerful, the party becomes more conservative still, creating consequences not only for Republicans but for all of America.
— Sarah Vassello
