a female student leans against a tree on the quad while reading a book

UA Faculty and Staff Share Summer Reading Picks

UA leaders and faculty members share what books they’re looking forward to cracking open this summer.

“Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know”
Malcolm Gladwell

“Gladwell offers valuable and relevant perspective on the adage ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’ by exploring with actual case studies how conversations with people and people themselves are not always what they seem.”

— Dr. Russell Mumper, Vice President for Research and Economic Development

“How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America”
Clint Smith

“Though the history of slavery seems like it is everywhere in public conversations today, we too rarely grapple with its ongoing imprint on the American landscape or think especially hard about the various ways we remember or choose not to remember it. Smith is a brilliant writer who spent years traveling to places around the country that show us how slavery remains present all around us and how the history of the institution is continually relevant. I’ve been looking forward to the publication of this book for some time, and now that it has finally been released, it will be one of the first things I read this summer.” 

— Dr. Joshua Rothman, Professor and Chair, Department of History


“Strategic Doing: Ten Skills for Agile Leadership”
Edward Morrison, Scott Hutcheson, Elizabeth Nilsen, Janyce Fadden, and Nancy Franklin

To move an organization, any organization, forward, we need to be able to effectively span boundaries inside and outside of the organization. This book’s authors have identified skills that based on research have been successful in accelerating collaborations, innovation and change within organizations. I’m hoping to learn some leadership tools I can use to help our business school navigate the changing landscape in higher education today, resulting in an even stronger position than what we now hold.

Dr. Kay Palan, Dean, Culverhouse College of Business

“The Bomber Mafia”
Malcolm Gladwell

Intentionally designed as an audiobook, Gladwell tells the story of a group of tactical aviators at Maxwell Field in the 1930s (the bomber mafia). Packed with authentic audio from the archives at the Air Force Historical Research Agency in Mobile, Alabama, it brings life to the story of their efforts and two leaders who emerged to change the course of World War II.

Dr. Jim Dalton, Executive Vice President and Provost


The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business 
Charles Duhigg 
 

“Like many people, I have a desire to be more disciplined, but I often struggle to maintain healthy habits. One of the most impactful books I’ve read in the last several years is ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear. Clear’s work led me to this book, which explores the science behind habit creation and reformation.”

—  Ryan Bradley, Interim Vice President for Strategic Communications 


“Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success”
Adam Grant

“I wanted to find new ways to mentor and support others who are at different periods of life and whose interests span multiple disciplines. Adam Grant’s ‘Give and Take’ discusses the styles of givers, takers and matches, and suggests the benefits of adopting an attitude of helping others to drive mutual success. In my new role in the Honors College, I want to learn strategies to help the students and colleagues that I work with to achieve their own academic and career goals, and this book seemed to be a great resource for my summer reading.” 

Dr. Jeff Gray, Director of Randall Research Scholars and Professor of Computer Science