Northwestern University

12/17/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/17/2024 11:16

10 books from 2024 to add to your reading list

10 books from 2024 to add to your reading list

Check out a graphic novel mystery, a pop culture deep-dive, poetry and more from Northwestern faculty over the past year
December 17, 2024 | By Teresa Nowakowski
We're highlighting 10 books our faculty put out this year, from poetry to graphic novels. Northwestern Now staff photos

It's the perfect time of year to curl up under a blanket with a warm beverage and a great read. Northwestern Now has rounded up 10 books penned by Northwestern faculty in 2024 to add to your reading list.

Background for Love

By Helen Wolff, translated by Tristram Wolff, associate professor of English, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

This autobiographical novel by renowned publisher Helen Wolff is a tale of love and self-discovery set against the backdrop of 1930s Côte d'Azur and rising fascism in Nazi Germany. Tristram Wolff, the author's grandson and Northwestern professor, has translated the recently recovered text into English for the first time. The edition also features a companion essay by historian Marion Detjen, the author's great-niece.

Evil Eyes Sea

By Ozge Samanci, associate professor of radio/television/film, School of Communication

A feminist political mystery set in Istanbul in 1995 tells the story of two students who witness an unusual death on a scuba diving expedition and become entangled in a web of political corruption and religious pressure. Samanci's college years in Istanbul inform this graphic novel, which offers a window into a country that can be both beautiful and cruel.

Freedom Was in Sight!

By Liz Clarke and Kate Masur, professor of history, Board of Visitors Professor, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

The Reconstruction era was born from the tumult and violence of the Civil War and delivered the most powerful changes the U. S. had seen since its founding. The graphic history "Freedom Was in Sight!" draws on the words and experiences of people who lived during Reconstruction, narrating how the impacts of the war and emancipation rippled outward for decades.

A feminist political mystery set in Istanbul in 1995, Evil Eyes Sea tells the story of two students who witness an unusual death on a scuba diving expedition and become entangled in a web of political corruption and religious pressure.

The Home I Worked to Make

By Wendy Pearlman, professor of political science, Jane Long Professor of Arts and Sciences, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

War forced millions of Syrians from their homes, forcing them to rethink the meaning of home itself. In "The Home I Worked to Make," Syrians now on five continents share stories of leaving, losing, searching and finding - or not finding - home. Pearlman challenges readers to grapple with the hard-won wisdom of those who survive war and to see anew what home means in their own lives.

The House of Being

By Natasha Trethewey, Board of Trustees Professor of English, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Natasha Trethewey revisits her Mississippi childhood in "The House of Being," recalling the Confederate flags proudly flown; her gradual understanding of her identity as the child of a Black mother and a white father; and her grandmother's collages that offered glimpses of an ideal world. Trethewey sees writing as reclamation, both of our own lives and the stories of the forgotten.

Inside the Invisible Cage: How Algorithms Control Workers

By Hatim Rahman, associate professor of management and organizations, PepsiCo Chair in International Management, Kellogg School of Management

As algorithms and AI increasingly run our world, Rahman examines how organizations use algorithms to control workers in an "invisible cage." This book traces how the invisible cage developed, explores its implications for the spread of new technology and provides insights on how to ensure the future of work has truly equitable, mutually beneficial outcomes.

The Rent EATS First

By Eric Sirota, clinical associate professor, director of Tenant Advocacy Center, Pritzker School of Law

In this poetry collection, Sirota draws on his experience as a public interest lawyer representing low-income tenants as he uses biting satire and honest anger to critique the social and governmental systems that breed disparities. The collection also reminds readers that the political is emotional, as Sirota shares struggles with mental health, self-image and relationships in the face of social crisis.

The graphic history "Freedom Was in Sight!" draws on the words and experiences of people who lived during Reconstruction.

Three Poems

By Reg Gibbons, professor emeritus of English and classics, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

The trio of poems in this book explore themes both personal and societal. "Mōdor: An Elegy" is a reminiscence and imagining of Gibbons' mother's life, while "Mother Tongue" satirizes the language of purveyors of falsehoods and fanaticism. Finally, "Elegy" weaves the story of a friend from Gibbons' youth who died too young with passages from a book of poetry that brought the two together.

We Are the Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything

By Arionne Nettles, former lecturer and director of audio journalism programming, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications

Black Chicago culture is American culture, writes Nettles, whose book published while teaching at Medill. Chicago was the headquarters of the tastemaking Johnson Publishing Company and the birthplace of "Soul Train." It's where Oprah Winfrey premiered her record-breaking talk show and Michael Jordan led the Bulls to six championships. In this pop culture deep-dive, Nettles offers insight into the ways culture spreads and influences our lives.

Your Values-Based Legacy: Making a Difference at Every Age and Phase of Life

By Harry M. Kraemer, clinical professor of management and organizations, Kellogg School of Management

The fourth installment in Kraemer's series on values-based leadership invites readers on a journey of introspection and exploration to discover how they can help make the world a better place. Kraemer's writing offers actionable guidance alongside inspiring first-hand accounts from dozens of individuals who are building legacies by tackling some of the planet's biggest challenges, including hunger, climate change and more.

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