Here’s what the law librarians and staff have read this summer:
Beneath a Scarlet Sky, by Mark Sullivan.
A fascinating true story of heroism and intrigue by a young man, Pino Lella, in Milan and along the Swiss border during WWII. The risks and dangers this young man faced to save others is a remarkable testament to the untold sacrifices made by ordinary citizens to undermine Nazi power and control. — Gail Partin, Law Library Director
Invisible Influence : The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior, by Jonah Berger.
If you think that you are not easily influenced by other people, you are wrong and Jonah Berger can explain why. In fact, refusing to do something because others are doing it, is a powerful form of influence that we often fail to recognize. From what you order in a restaurant to how hurricanes can influence baby names, to why things become popular, you will be shocked to find out how powerful invisible influences can be. Do you want to learn how to be a better negotiator or how to make more money in tips? Then I highly recommend you read Invisible Influence to learn both how you are being influenced by others and how you can learn to be influential in your work and life. — Laura Ax-Fultz, Associate Law Librarian and Assistant Director
The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand
I’m currently reading The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand. My husband read it a few years ago and recommended it to me. Commonly accepted as a modern classic, this novel was written in 1943 and tells the story of two architects who display very different characteristics. I’ve only just started reading it, so I have much more to discover! According to an Amazon.com review, The Fountainhead is “the revolutionary literary vision that sowed the seeds of Objectivism, Ayn Rand’s groundbreaking philosophy, and brought her immediate worldwide acclaim.” — Heather Shumaker, Acquisitions & Budget Specialist
Lamentation, by C.J. Sansom
I enjoy historical mysteries and anything about Tudor England, so the C.J. Sansom novels have been great reads. The series occurs throughout the reign of King Henry VIII. The main character is a lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, who is commissioned over the years by Cromwell, Cranmer, and Queen Catherine Parr to investigate crimes and murders. Lamentation takes place at the end of Henry’s reign, when power struggles over succession and religion are just a small part of the mayhem of court life. I’m really enjoying this series! — Susie Zullinger, Technical Services & Government Documents Manager
A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange should be shelved alongside 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451. It follows Alex, the protagonist, through a ubiquitous cityscape where hooliganism, violent crime, drug use, and a curious slang dialect corrupt and define the youth. Alex fights, robs, and ravishes his way through this teenage wasteland until, upon his capture and imprisonment, he faces a medical treatment that removes his capacity to do bad, but destroys his power of choice. Deprived of basic human agency, is Alex a man at all, or merely a tool that others will use to accomplish their devious ends?
Such a philosophically charged novel, which contemplates fundamental questions of authority, free will, and the nature of man, is done a disservice by the ending in the original U.S. release. But the ending differs between editions; read the one that the author intended. It corrects the flaw in the U.S. release (which Stanley Kubrick repeated in his film adaptation) of leaning on nihilism, the classic cop-out of reaching a more salient point. — Sean Kraus, Student Assistant, J.D. Candidate — Class of 2019
Barbarians at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco, by Bryan Burrough & John Helyar
Recommended — Irene Zeng, Student Assistant, J.D. Candidate — Class of 2018