CRIMES OF THE FUTURE: Theory and its Global Reproduction By Jean-Michel Rabaté, faculty (Bloomsbury, 2014, $29.95.) Though some have proclaimed that the “days of Theory are over” in the humanities, Rabaté, professor of English and comparative literature at Penn, sketches an overview of new and intriguing developments and trends in theory, testifying to its enduring relevance in an increasingly globalized world. BUY THIS BOOK
THE HIDDEN COAST OF MAINE: Isles of Shoals to West Quoddy Photography by Joe Devenney C’69 (Tilbury House, 2014, $34.95.) With its jagged coves, inlets, and jetties, the coast of Maine contains around 3,500 miles of shoreline (much longer if you also include the state’s 4,617 islands). Devenney, a photographer whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Audubon, spent 37 years capturing the winding and scenic coast of Maine on camera. BUY THIS BOOK
PRETTY IN INK By Lindsey J. Palmer C’05 (Kensington Books, 2014, $15.00.) When the editor-in-chief of Hers magazineis ousted for anemic sales, her replacement proves to be ruthless. In order to save the brand, staffers are asked to dish out their sexiest secrets in a high-stakes game of office politics, even as they fight to keep their jobs and their dignity. A former features editor at Self magazine, Palmer teaches literature and writing at NEST+m Upper School in Manhattan. BUY THIS BOOK
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: Inspiring Stories from Emerging Economies and Developing Countries Edited by Mauro F. Guillén, faculty (Routledge, 2013, $49.95.) This collection of stories, many of which were written by recent Penn undergraduates and students at the Lauder Institute, explores the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic development and examines the unique problems faced by women entrepreneurs. Guillén is the Dr. Felix Zandman Endowed Professor of International Management at Wharton. BUY THIS BOOK
SOCIAL NETWORKS AND POPULAR UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE AND HEALTH: Sharing Disparities By Brian G. Southwell ASC’97 Gr’02 (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013, $24.95.) One of the seemingly useful aspects of social media is its ability to seamlessly distribute important information across a vast spectrum of people. But Southwell, a senior research scientist in RTI International’s Center for Communication Science, has found that reliance on social networking may actually perpetuate inequality, and he cautions against an over-reliance on it to share information about health and science. BUY THIS BOOK
MINDFUL LEADERSHIP: Effective Tools to Help You Focus and Succeed By Wibo Koole WAM’02 (Warden, 2014, $24.95.) Nine years ago Koole, a management consultant in Amsterdam, was excited to launch his own company, only to find himself “debilitated” from exhaustion and stress—whereupon he began mindfulness training to improve his focus and prevent another burnout. Koole applies the Buddhist-inspired techniques he learned to create a framework for “mindfulness-based leadership and teamwork.” BUY THIS BOOK
MUD CREEK MEDICINE: The Life of Eula Hall and the Fight for Appalachia By Kiran Bhatraju C’07 (Butler, 2013, $25.00.) Few know the name Eula Hall, but as Hall herself once said, “Fame ain’t worth a damn.” Bhatraju, a native of eastern Kentucky, chronicles Hall’s life, from her impoverished childhood to her tireless advocacy as a community activist. He also corrects many misconceptions about Appalachia, where his immigrant parents discovered a community in which to raise a family. BUY THIS BOOK
THE UP SIDE OF DOWN: Why Failing Well is the Key to Success By Megan McArdle C’94 (Viking, 2014, $27.95.) When people asked why McArdle, a columnist at Bloomberg View, decided to write about failure, she always gave the same answer: “Write what you know.” Here she draws from personal experience and academic research to argue that failure is an integral and necessary component for success at any level. BUY THIS BOOK
COMPLEX COMMUNITIES: The Archaeology of Early Iron Age West-Central Jordan By Benjamin W. Porter Gr’07 (University of Arizona Press, 2013, $50.) Despite the harsh, arid climate and other environmental challenges, numerous settlements flourished 4,000 years ago in present-day Jordan. Porter, an assistant professor of Near Eastern archaeology at the University of California, Berkeley, carefully reconstructs these complex communities and explains how they survived in such marginal environments. BUY THIS BOOK
