Alumni Bookshelf
James Bruno, BA '72, has published a political thriller set in Afghanistan. Tribe (Bittersweet House Press, 2011) is an American take on John Le Carré's gray world of espionage. Mr. Bruno's previous two novels, Permanent Interests and Chasm, have been steady Amazon Kindle bestsellers since late 2010. The author served more than two decades as a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Department of State.
Amy Chazkel, BA '91, an associate professor of history at the City University of New York–Queens College, published Laws of Chance: Brazil's Clandestine Lottery and the Making of Urban Public Life (Duke University Press, 2011). The book explores the origins and evolution of the clandestine Brazilian lottery called the jogo do bicho, or "animal game"—a precursor to the informal economies that have become a central part of daily life in urban Latin America.
Lindley "Lin" DeVecchio, AA '60, BA '63, wrote We're Going to Win This Thing: The Shocking Frame-Up of a Mafia Crime Buster (Penguin, 2011) with Charles Brandt. Mr. DeVecchio, a former FBI agent with more than 30 years of service, recounts first-hand the New York's mafia wars in the '70s and '80s, and his subsequent struggle against false accusations of corruption and murder.
John Donaldson, PhD '05, published Small Works: Poverty and Economic Development in Southwestern China (Cornell University Press, 2011). The book, based on his GW dissertation, addresses the purported correlation between economic growth and poverty reduction. It draws on his extensive fieldwork in two Chinese provinces where the two are less straightforwardly interwoven.
Diana B. Henriques, BA '69, a senior financial writer for the New York Times, published the Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust (Times Books, 2011), which chronicles Bernie Madoff's $65 billion Ponzi scheme. HBO is developing the book into a TV movie. Ms. Henriques is also a member of the board of trustees.
Mary Ellen Hombs, BA '73, authored Modern Homelessness: A Reference Handbook (ABC-CLIO, 2011). This in-depth examination reviews strategies that have reduced homelessness in the United States and other Western democracies in the past decade.
Frank Gromling, MS '75, co-authored Tracks in the Sand: Sea Turtles and Their Protectors (Ocean Publishing, 2010), a profile of Florida's rich coastal heritage and of efforts by local volunteers to conserve its wildlife. The book is illustrated with photography from Mr. Gromling's decades of volunteer service in conservation.
Roger B. Jeans, MPhil '72, PhD '74, edited and wrote the introduction to The Marshall Mission to China, 1945-47: The Letters and Diary of Colonel John Hart Caughey (Rowman & Littlefield, 2011). The papers of Colonel Caughey, who was General Marshall's top aide at the time, provide an insider's account of the failure to avert war between Communists and Nationalists in China.
Ari Kaplan, JD '97, is the author of Reinventing Professional Services: Building Your Business in the Digital Marketplace (John Wiley & Sons, 2011). In this handbook, Mr. Kaplan presents easy ways for modern businesspeople to increase their web presence and to distinguish themselves more effectively from their competitors.
Yahia Lababidi, BA '96, has published Fever Dreams (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2011), his third book and first collection of poetry. Mr. Lababidi is a Pushcart-nominated poet, aphorist, and essayist whose work has been included in numerous publications including Harper's and AGNI.
Laurette E. McCarthy, MA '87, wrote Walter Pach (1883-1958): The Armory Show and the Untold Story of Modern Art in America (Penn State Press, 2011). Although Mr. Pach, a critic, agent, and art historian, had a far-reaching impact on 20th-century art and culture, this is the first biography written about him.
In The Myth of Fair and Efficient Government: Why the Government You Want Is Not the Government You Get (Prager, 2011), Michael L. Marlow, BA '75, discusses the economic effect of a romanticized view of government, and concludes with suggestions for promoting a fairer and more efficient one.
Stephanie McNulty, PhD '06, published Voice and Vote: Decentralization and Participation in Post-Fujimori Peru (Stanford University Press, 2011). In 2001, following disgraced ex-President Alberto Fujimori's flight to Japan, Peru's newly elected government had to design new institutions to encourage broader citizen participation. Dr. McNulty explores the possibilities and limitations of the decision to restructure political systems in a way that promotes participation.
Brandi Moore, MS '06, wrote The Little BRIC Book: Cracking the Code for Global Management of Projects in Brazil, Russia, India and China (Global Manager Publishing, 2010). The book is a "crib sheet" for employees with international responsibilities, detailing the ways in which business preferences across the four BRIC cultures can affect corporate activity.
New Mexico's Tasty Traditions (New Mexico Magazine, 2010), by Sharon Niederman, BA '69, is a travelogue and guide to the state's culinary roots. Illustrated with the author's own photographs, it also contains recipes and tips on preparing traditional New Mexican fare.
Benish A. Shah, BA '04, edited and authored a chapter in Sandstorm: A Leaderless Revolution in the Digital Age (Global Executive Board, 2011). The book, which chronicles the sweeping effect of social media on the reformist movements known collectively as the Arab Spring, has reached No. 24 on Amazon's Kindle.
An associate professor of anthropology at CCNY, Irina Carlota (Lotti) Silber, BA '91, wrote Everyday Revolutionaries: Gender Violence and Disillusionment in Postwar El Salvador (Rutgers University Press, 2011), an analysis of the legacy of war in a community racked by political violence. The book explores political processes in one of El Salvador's former war zones.
Andi Stein, BA '82, wrote Why We Love Disney: The Power of the Disney Brand (Peter Lang, 2011). Ms Stein, who teaches a graduate course called "Deconstructing Disney" at California State University, Fullerton, explores the evolution and effect of the Disney Co.'s branding and marketing strategy since its inception.
Cases on Business and Management in the MENA Region: New Trends and Opportunities (IGI Global, 2011) was edited by the El-Khazindar Business Research and Case Center, led by Ahmed Tolba, PhD '06. The casebook explores business and management trends in the Middle East and North Africa.