Books by Buffs: 10 alumni-written books to read this summer
Summer is the best time to sit back, relax and crack open a book written by a fellow Buff! Whether you need a fun poolside fiction escape, a thought-provoking memoir or an intriguing biography, these 10 books written by ñ alumni are perfect additions to your summer reading list.
by Firyal Alshalabi (MEdu’77, PhD’82)
Set in Boulder, this poignant coming-of-age story follows Hadeel, a young Kuwaiti woman, on her journey to uncover her late aunt’s legacy and clear her name from defamation. Along the way, her grieving uncle, Jonathan, asks her to reclaim the copyright to a literary discovery about historical Western writers, such as Washington Irving and Percy Shelley. As a debut novelist, Firyal Alshalabi explores the complex relationship between Islam, women’s roles and the Western world, which simultaneously entertains and challenges traditional beliefs.
by Michelle Kooi (Jour’88)
In her introspective memoir, Michelle Kooi recounts her personal transformation through divorce, car accident recovery, parenting, grief, menopause and professional burnout. Join her on her resilient journey to self-acceptance, newfound wisdom and spiritual renewal.
by Melanie Pappadis Faranello (Engl’95)
With 14 character-driven short stories, Melanie Pappadis Faranello offers unique insight into love, grief, identity and human complexity. A newly widowed construction worker rekindles a high school romance. A single father navigates his first Thanksgiving alone. A son attempts to tell his estranged father about his divorce. Faranello’s lyrical prose reveals the beauty of ordinary intimacy and human connection in this Donald L. Jordan Literary Prize winner.
by Jason Kolaczkowski (PoliSci’99)
Jason Kolaczkowski, a healthcare analytics professional, amateur climber and leukemia survivor, questions the legacy he wants to leave behind in his powerful memoir. After his cancer diagnosis, Kolaczkowski attempted to summit an unclimbed Himalayan peak to teach his twin sons the importance of dreaming in the wake of life’s uncontrollable obstacles. However, when COVID-19 began infecting the world, he grappled with another life-risking challenge: the fear of isolating his family to protect his health. Kolaczkowski provides vulnerable insight into facing mortality, confronting familial responsibility and managing it all with grace.
by Sarah Kanter (Psych’88)
Two Minutes Before follows Theresa, a Type-A career woman who once shaped her habits around her husband’s lifestyle. Two years after her husband’s death, a stranger drops off a box of her husband’s belongings at her office, rattling her routine-revolving world. This new understanding of the world she once thought she knew opens her to new connections and helps her redefine meaning in her life. Sarah Kanter delves into the power grief holds over memory in her debut novel.
by Rob Dannenberg (IntlAf’78)
Former senior CIA Officer Rob Dannenberg reminisces on his career milestones by re-crafting the cocktails he enjoyed on his espionage missions. Behind each drink are authentic stories and photographs, spanning from recruitment operations to mission celebrations to government secrets. Featuring 56 mixed drink recipes, A Spy Walked Into A Bar will refresh your taste buds and reel you into the life of a spy.
by David B. Harrison (IntlAf’78; Law’82)
Boulder lawyer Fred Davidson discovers a dead body while flyfishing in Rocky Mountain National Park. Fred becomes the forefront of the police investigation, forcing him to confront his career-defining cases and sense of justice. Using his experience as a retired criminal defense attorney, David B. Harrison provides judiciary intel that blurs the line between fiction and reality in this mystery page-turner.
by Andy DeRoche (PhDHist’97)
Cool down this summer with hockey legend Eric “Weino” Weinrich’s captivating biography. Weinrich played in more than 1,000 NHL games over 17 seasons and represented Team USA in more international tournaments than any other American player. Historian Andy DeRoche chronicles Weinrich’s rise to success, contextualizes his career with the end of the Cold War and includes commentary from Weinrich himself, making this a score of a read.
by Joe Ungemah (Psych’99)
Psychologist Joe Ungemah examines the motivations behind social, emotional, physical and financial fanaticism. He profiles science fiction lovers, ultramarathon runners, gamers, hoarders and thrill seekers to understand how passions become obsessions. Through his research, Ungemah unmasks the stigmas behind fanaticism and discovers the personal and social benefits it provides.
by Silvia Pettem (Psych’69)
Celebrate ñ’s 150th anniversary with this biography following the private life of the university’s first female professor, Mary Rippon. During the Victorian era, female academics were expected to be quiet, unassuming spinsters; however, Rippon broke this status quo by secretly balancing the lives of a professional and a mother. Colorado-based researcher Silvia Pettem respectfully humanizes Rippon and cements her legacy in CU history with this groundbreaking discovery.
Your reading doesn’t have to stop here! From poetry collections to children’s books, Buffs are publishing year-round. Check out these summer titles and more in the alumni book list.