The Spartan Book List: Great Reads by MSU Alums
The Spartan Book List: Great Reads by MSU Alums
Looking for a good book? Here are a few interesting titles by Spartan authors.
June 21, 2023There are thousands of Spartan authors out there, and their works grace the shelves of every section in the bookstore. Here are a handful of interesting titles to consider for your reading list.
FOR NOVEL LOVERS
One More Seat at the Round Table: A Novel of Broadway’s “Camelot”
Susan Dormady Eisenberg, ’72, Arts and Letters
Set in the chaotic backstage world of Lerner and Loewe’s now-classic 1960 musical, “One More Seat at the Round Table” depicts a feisty productions assistant, Jane, and a gifted singing knight, Bryce, who fall in love during the musical’s Toronto tryouts. The true-life travails of “Camelot’s” road to Broadway create a wild setting for a riveting story, which Dormady Eisenberg calls “part coming of age saga, part rom-com, and part theatrical history.”
In a twist of Spartan serendipity, Dor
mady Eisenberg worked with editor and fellow MSU alum, Colleen Alles, ’05, Arts and Letters on “One More Seat.” Alles recently released her second novel “Master of Arts,” which follows protagonist Viola Hartman as she moves in with her sister and brother-in-law to help care for their toddler and new baby. While Viola comes prepared to change diapers, she isn’t prepared to learn about her sister’s secrets. Slowly, Viola must unravel the truth—and come clean herself.
susandeisenberg.com | colleenalles.com
FOR BUSINESS BUILDERS
The Successful Entrepreneur Playbook: How to Build a Successful Business
Paul H. Woodruff, ’59, ’61, both in Engineering
In this roadmap for creating a successful business—or growing an existing one—Woodruff shares his lifetime of practical and personal experience. “The Successful Entrepreneur Playbook” outlines the key ingredients that every entrepreneur should consider in assessing their likelihood of success. Woodruff would know, he founded the consultancy Environmental Resources Management, Inc. (the ERM Group) from his home in 1977 and grew it into a global group of 66 companies and more than 2500 employees.
FOR THE KIDS
Benson’s Adventures Series
Shannon Cooper-Toma, ’99, Social Science, ’00 Education
Cooper-Toma and fellow elementary educator Tracy Foster joined forces on this series that takes young readers on a series of colorful adventures with Benson, an animated traveling turtle. The three books showcase notable Michigan and U.S. locales through postcards, fun facts and kid-friendly challenges. The Benson’s series ignites an excitement for travel and learning, while also helping children discover the world of opportunities before them. Or, as Cooper-Toma puts it, “kids learn that they can be the authors of their own adventures.”
FOR MYSTERY ENTHUSIASTS
California Redwoods: A Mickey Matthews Mystery
Jim Sargent, M.A. ’68, Ph.D. ’72, both in Social Science
In “California Redwoods,” the latest novel in Jim Sargent’s Mickey Matthews Mysteries series, fictional history professor and writer Mickey Matthews follows a cold case to Northern California in the winter of 1945. While trying to uncover what happened to the long-missing Sara Strauss Clarkston, Mickey finds himself wrapped up in a world of blackmail, deceit and murder. Sargent has previously published five other titles in the Mickey Matthews series.
jimsargentbooks.com/california-redwoods
FOR A DOSE OF HEALTH AND HUMOR
Ripple of Change
Joshua J. Judy, ’06, Engineering
Co-authored with Todd R. Otten, M.D., a burned-out physician (Otten) and his frustrated patient (Judy) deploy sharp insight, experience and irreverent humor to launch a much-needed discussion about today’s health care system. Through a combined wellness journey, Otten and Judy propose simple, elegant solutions for change. The poignant Yin and Yang transparency of doctor and patient makes for an inspiring read, but most importantly, their story demonstrates what health care can and should aspire to.
Are you a Spartan author? We want to hear about your work. Email your news to SpartanMagazine@msu.edu
