New Releases

"The Essential Marcus Aurelius" (Penguin-Tarcher, '08) by Philosophy Professor Jacob Needleman and classics scholar John P. Piazza (B.A., '99; M.A., '04) offers a new translation of the thoughts and aphorisms of the great philosopher-king.

In "The Gambler & the Bug Boy: 1939 Los Angeles & the Untold Story of a Horse Racing Fix" (University of Nebraska Press, '07), John Christgau (B.A., '58; M.A., '61) reveals how a bookie pulled a promising young jockey or "bug boy" into a web of deceit.

Claudia Kawczynska (B.A., '80) and Cameron Woo, co-editors of Bark magazine, celebrate the joy of living with dogs in "Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit" (Crown, '07). Contributors include Al Franken, Pam Houston and Dave Barry.

"Surfing: Women of the Waves" (Gibbs-Smith, '08), a book by Linda Chase with photography by Emmy Award?winning filmmaker Elizabeth Pepin (B.A., '94), highlights female surfers who have made an indelible mark on the sport.

Pultizer Prize?finalist Susan Griffin (B.A., '65; M.A., '72) blends history, cultural criticism and memoir to explore the essence of our nation's democracy in "Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy: On Being an American Citizen" (Trumpeter Books, '08).

"Life Over Easy" (Kensington Books, '07), a novel by Margo Candela (B.A., '97), focuses on Natalya, a successful caterer who decides to spice up her life after her live-in boyfriend leaves her.

In "Moloka'i Nui Ahina: Summers on the Lonely Isle" (Lemon Shark Press, ?07), a novel by Kirby Wright (M.F.A., ?94), two brothers spend summers on their grandmother's ranch, where they learn about her wild past and intense struggles.

"Retrospections" (Foghorn Classics, '08) by the University's resident Alexander String Quartet is a recording of the complete quartets of Professor Emeritus Wayne Peterson, winner of the 1992 Pulitzer Prize in Music.

"From the Primaries to the Polls: How to Repair America's Broken Presidential Nomination Process" (Praeger, ?07) by Thomas Gangale (M.A., ?06) offers an in-depth critique of the presidential nominating process.

"Music Time" (CDBaby.com, ?07) is Sam Massarsky's (B.A., ?72) collection of original songs for young children styled in ?60s-era rock, country and folk. The recording received an iParenting Media Award Winner for Outstanding Children's Products for 2007.

"Dead Letters: Error in Composition, 1873-2004" (Hampton Press, ?07) by Tracy Santa (B.A., ?78; M.A., ?85) is a longitudinal study that explores writing instructors' visions of writing error.