Essays Books

Book SynopsisWriting from the Heart offers us a unique window into what young people have learned about life. This collection of essays captures the values that matter most to teens—values such as love, perseverance, family, and helping others—in their own words. As the young writers reflect on their own experience, readers of all ages will be inspired by their wisdom and hope. From Chattanooga to China, these essays are all extraordinary. They not only celebrate the accomplishments of the young writers, but also offer an opportunity to peer into the hearts and minds of young people around the world. Readers may be amazed at some of the hardships that these teens have faced, but will have a deep sense of optimism for our future. In addition, they inspire us to make the most of our lives as well. Table of Contents Foreword by Sir John Templeton / xi On Helping Others: In Truth, Giving Is Receiving Kacey Mason, Winchester, TN / 3 On Optimism: Standing High on the Peaks of Life Arjay Velasco, Bronx, NY / 6 On Love: Sometimes to Love Means to Sacrifice Leah Webber, Crestline, OH / 8 On Forgiving Others: Nothing Should Keep Us from Forgiving Each Other Ashlee Cook, Cleveland, TN / 10 On Honesty: Is Honesty Still the Best Policy? Peter Blair, Nassau, Bahamas/ 14 On Courage: Let Me Show Courage in Everything I Do Andrew Gilman, Troy, NC / 18 On Helping Others: Learning to Give Claire Nettles, Clinton, MS / 21 On Honesty and Respect: Teaching the Values that Matter Most Kwonneung (Stephen) Kim, Brooklyn, NY / 24 On Living by Your Values: The Laws of Life Will Guide You Through the Roughest Times Ashley Cowan, Lima, OH / 27 On Kindness and Believing in Yourself: To Thine Own Self Be True William Barrie, Fairfield, CT / 30 On Respect: What I Learned from Carl Nick Maney, West Palm Beach, FL / 32 On Redemption: The Epiphany Arliss Feathergill, Winona, MN / 35 On Integrity: Keeping Your Word Peter MacLean, Port Glasgow, UK / 39 On Living Life to the Fullest: Last Day Denise Signorelli, Plymouth, MN / 42 On Family, Honesty, and Believing in Yourself: What I Learned from My Family Tamara George, Alvin, TX / 45 On Kindness: Go Out and Do Something Kind Today Joanisa Tenreiro, Naples, FL / 47 On Having Faith: We Are Here by Grace Andrew Wasuwongse, Media, PA / 49 On Family: Don’t Take a Loved One for Granted Chelsea Rose, Bryn Athyn, PA / 53 On Optimism: Positive Thinking Is Contagious Julie Johnston, Kingwood, TX / 56 On Not Judging Others: Look with Your Heart, Not with Your Eyes Melissa Jackson, Rawlins, WY / 58 On Integrity: We Must Strive to Live with Integrity Emily Garrett, Sanford, NC / 63 On Kindness: The Simple Hand That I Have to Offer Mollie Barnes, Spirit Lake, IA / 67 On Helping Others: Learning a Valuable Lesson Laia Mitchell, Tallahassee, FL / 70 On Optimism: The Only Person in Charge of My Attitude Is Me Angela Ross, Philadelphia, PA / 72 On Believing in Yourself: When You Look in the Mirror, Do You Like What You See? Elizabeth Cherry, Hickory, NC / 75 On The Importance of Learning, Faith, and Family: Reaching My Goals Anitra Raiford, Gainesville, FL / 78 On Helping Others: I Can’t Forget and I Won’t Ignore Tara Coughlin, Philadelphia, PA / 80 On Optimism: Accentuate the Positive, Eliminate the Negative! D. Michael Reynolds, Jr., North Little Rock, AR / 83 On Love: Don’t Let the Chain of Love End with You Alexandra Silverman, Clayton, MO / 85 On Love: Gone, Yet Not Forgotten Melissa Young, Acton, Ontario, Canada / 88 On Compassion and the Pursuit of Excellence: Having a Set of Rules to Live by Is a Great Tool for Success Sherrie Crouch, Kingston Springs, TN / 90 On Honesty: Honesty Will Help Me Achieve My Goals Paulina Klinkosz, Mayfield Heights, OH / 93 On Love, Justice, and Compassion: Principles for True Freedom Suzanne Schumann, Hixson, TN / 95 On Compassion: Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged Amanda Edwards, Cincinnati, OH/ 97 On Trying Your Hardest: Success Is a Journey, Not a Destination Tyler Brinkmann, Carlyle, IL / 100 On Living Life to the Fullest: Enjoy Every Second Wu Meng (Wendy Wu), Beijing, China / 102 On Having Faith and Living Life Simply: Life’s Precious Gifts Genevieve Owusu Ansah, Kumasi, Ghana / 105 On the Importance of Learning: Half Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing V. Ganesh, Chennai, India / 107 On Believing in Yourself: The Perfect Life Anne Saab, Beirut, Lebanon / 109 On Happiness: Life Has So Many Wonderful Things to Offer Elisha Reid, Victoria, Australia / 111 On Living Life to the Fullest: Don’t Toy with Time Lisa Jennings, Delta Junction, AK / 113 On Living by Your Values: The Laws of Life Will Continue to Influence My Life Vassily Polyvianny, Ivanovo, Russian Federation / 116 On Courage: Overcoming Fear Amy Schnelle, Medford, WI / 119 On Perseverance: The Greatest Law of Life Jesse Gordon, Denham Springs, LA / 122 On Kindness: Say a Kind Word to Someone Else at Least Once a Day Lindi Davis, Napa, CA / 125 On Optimism and Living Life to the Fullest: If Nothing Else, These Will Build Character Katharine Boicourt, Trappe, MD / 127 On Helping Others, Passion, and Integrity: Eight Birds, Two Mountains, and One Big Yellow Chevy Malibu Lindsay Braman, Point Lookout, MO / 130 On Love: Nurturing Love in a Flower Pot Neil Diaz, Huntington Park, CA / 135 On Helping Others: Everyone Can Make a Difference Jessica Atwell, Encinitas, CA/ 138 On Family: A Kind and Loving Family Alexander Sorenson, Altadena, CA / 141 On Having Faith: Nothing Great Was Ever Achieved Without Faith Desiree Eroy-Reveles, Oceanside, CA / 144 On Courage: The Essential Life Quality Monique Jones, Oceanside, CA / 146 On Living Life to the Fullest: My Turning Point Nadine Bastiampillai, Toronto, Ontario, Canada / 148 On Respect: Respecting Other People Can Make a Difference Malieka Overton, Albion, PA / 151 On Living by Your Values: The Train to Attain Character Kati Lestmann, Dayton, TN / 153 On Love: The Power of Love Gloria Kung, Kennesaw, GA / 156 On Living Life Simply: I Experienced Giving with the Hands of God Victoria Kintner, Shreveport, LA / 159 On Perseverance: What I Learned from My Grandmother Anna Kopel, North Mankato, MN / 162 On Patience: Getting Past the Potholes of Life Kevin Holloway, St. Louis, MO / 165 On Living by Your Values: A Recipe for Character Margaret Therese (Terry) Bruns, Greensboro, NC / 168 On Compassion: Taking the Time to Smile Nicole Kuncl, Jenson Beach, FL / 171 On Living Life to the Fullest: The Most Important Part of Life Is Life Itself Lisa Avery, Omaha, NE / 174 Indexes Listing of Contest Locations / 179 Listing of Contest Sponsors / 180 Listing of Essay Themes / 185 About Sir John Templeton / 189

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Book SynopsisIn Plato's dialogues, an idealized Socrates expounds the ideas for which Plato will, until the end of history, be famous. The world of Forms: the ideal Republic with its totalitarian masterplan; the tribute to Eros, god of lover (or at least of homosexual love); the promise of the soul's salvation - all this has come down to us in the distinctive tone of voice of Plato's teacher. But how much of it did Socrates believe? Were Plato's contemporaries really taken in? And what lay behind his philosophy, from which the real world of men and women was so rigorously excluded? Until the discovery of the 'Xanthippic Inquiries' we had no answer to those questions. Now at last the real Plato is revealed to us, by the women whom he banished from his arguaments. In this brilliant and witty expose, the mask of abstraction is lifted, to reveal the truth that lies beneath. And the truth is Xanthippe: wife of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle, and Founding Mother of the Western World. This is a book that not feminist can afford to ignore.Trade Review"A rioutous send-up of scholarly writing. If philosophy seems an unlikely subject for comedy, try this..." - 'Financial Times' "Prodigiously learned, exquisitely malicious, and relentlessly subversive of the 'bien pensant' pieties of our age. This is satire at its best." - 'Sunday Telegraph' "What is original is the working of it into a rich complex, compelling, fluent and natural-seeming fiction, in which each theme and topic seems spontaneously to arise out of its predecessor, and whole to woven together into a convincing vision, unified but not unitary, of the nature and ends of life." - Robert Grant, 'Philosophical Quarterly'Table of Contentspreface, notes, index

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Book SynopsisNaguib Mahfouz, the Arab world’s only Nobel literature laureate, is best known internationally for his short stories and novels, including The Cairo Trilogy. But in Egypt he was equally familiar to newspaper readers for the column he wrote for many years in the leading daily Al-Ahram, in which he reflected on issues of the day from domestic and international events, politics, and economics to historic anniversaries, inspirational personalities, and questions of cultural freedom. This volume brings together the 285 articles he wrote between January 1989 and the near-fatal knife attack in October 1994. In carefully crafted short texts, his social conscience is revealed as he highlights political shortcomings, economic injustice, and corruption in Egypt and the wider Arab world. His philosophical sensitivity comes to the fore as he contemplates the meaning of a historic events, contributions of an influential people, and what is required to lead a good life. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the Oslo peace accords, the spread of terrorism, the Cairo earthquake, the passing of Louis Awad, Yusuf Idris, Yahya Hakki, the third term of Hosni Mubarak, climate change, and more come under Naguib Mahfouz’s fine scrutiny. For any fan of Mahfouz’s fiction, this collection opens a window on a different side of his intellect, and it offers insights from one of the region’s greatest modern minds.

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Book SynopsisThis is a book of essays about the American West, ranging from what it means to be a poet/artist, to social justice and environmental concerns, to memory, place, and landscape. It's about looking beyond our borders for reconciliation and lessons about how we might address similar issues at home.

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Book SynopsisReflections on the Pandemic: COVID and Social Crises in the Year Everything Changed is a collection of essays, poems, and artwork that captures the raw energy and emotion of 2020 from the perspective of the Rutgers University community. The project features work from a diverse group of Rutgers scholars, students, staff, and alumni. Reflecting on 2020 from a number of perspectives – mortality, justice, freedom, equality, democracy, family, health, love, hate, economics, history, medicine, science, social justice, the environment, art, food, sanity – the book features contributions by Evie Shockley, Joyce Carol Oates, Naomi Jackson, Ulla Berg, Grace Lynne Haynes, Jordan Casteel, and President Jonathan Holloway, among others. This book, through its rich and imaginative storytelling at the intersection of scholarly expertise and personal narrative, brings readers into the hearts and minds of not just the Rutgers community but the world. Contributors include: Patricia Akhimie, Marc Aronson, Ulla D. Berg, Stephanie Bonne, Stephanie Boyer, Kimberly Camp, Jordan Casteel, Kelly-Jane Cotter, Mark Doty, David Dreyfus, Adrienne E. Eaton, Katherine C. Epstein, Leah Falk, Paul G. Falkowski, Rigoberto González, James Goodman, David Greenberg, Angelique Haugerud, Grace Lynne Haynes, Leslieann Hobayan, Jonathan Holloway, James W. Hughes, Naomi Jackson, Amy Jordan, Vikki Katz, Mackenzie Kean, Robert E. Kopp, Christian Lighty, Stephen Masaryk, Louis P. Masur, Revathi V. Machan, Yalidy Matos, Belinda McKeon, Susan L. Miller, Yehoshua November, Joyce Carol Oates, Mary E. O’Dowd, Katherine Ognyanova, David Orr, Gregory Pardlo, Steve Pikiell, Teresa Politano, en Purkert, Nick Romanenko, Evie Shockley, Caridad Svich, and Didier William​.Trade Review"In Reflections on the Pandemic: Covid and Social Crises in the Year Everything Changed, stories of personal experience and scholarly expertise shine light on the intricacies of the pandemic years...[it] covers a range of topics that were relevant to the pandemic, including science, health, racial injustice, environmental issues, politics, relationships, mortality and more." * New Jersey Monthly *“The accounts within this volume tell the story of the COVID-19 pandemic and its complex intersection with every facet of our lives. Our shared trauma, loss, resilience, and hope are reflected in its pages. I thank the Rutgers community for these important reflections and for all they did to propel us through those difficult days.” -- Governor Phil Murphy of New JerseyTable of Contents Preface Reflections in a COVID Photograph by Jonathan Holloway pantoum: 2020 by Evie Shockley Mercy (As If) by Mark Doty Writing My Last Book by Rigoberto González Taking the Court by Steve Pikiell The New Normal by Revathi V. Machan Emerging Not Stronger or Weaker but Different by Stephanie Bonne Looking for a Better End Game by Mary E. O’Dowd Pandemic Dispatches (East Africa–North America) by Angelique Haugerud War of the World: How Humans Became a Destructive Force of Nature by Paul G. Falkowski Jared (2020) by Jordan Casteel Reflections on Being Human in the Twenty-First Century by Yalidy Matos Risking Delight in the Middle of a Pandemic by Yehoshua November Days of 2020: Fear without Knowledge by Mark Doty A Litany for Survival by Naomi Jackson Sojourner Truth, Founding Mother by Grace Lynne Haynes A Letter to Juneteenth on the Embodied History of Life in 2020 by Gregory Pardlo We Cannot Escape History by Louis P. Masur Paying Attention by James Goodman A Reckoning with Names: Signs, Symbols, and the Meanings of History by David Greenberg The COVID States Project: Empowering a National Response by Katherine Ognyanova I’ve Missed You (2021) by Didier William Burning Bologna, 2021 by Susan L. Miller Pandemic Theology: “Bliss and Grief” by Susan L. Miller Kid’s Cloth Face Mask from Cat & JackTM by Belinda McKeon Call the Midwife by Leah Falk Slap Roti and the Story of New York City by Marc Aronson From The Journal of a Therapy Cat by Joyce Carol Oates Black and Gray by Teresa Politano Playing with Anxiety by Christian Lighty Virtual Class #219, March 2021, 2:50 p.m.–4:10 p.m.by Mackenzie Kean It’s Harder for Extroverts by Kelly-Jane Cotter The Old Has Passed Away, Behold, The New Has Come (2 Corinthians 5:17) by Stephen Masaryk Rutgers Spit Test by Nick Romanenko Connectivity, Connection, and Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Vikki Katz and Amy Jordan The Faculty Parent: Juggling Parenting, Teaching, Research, and Writing in Uncertain Times by Patricia Akhimie Resiliency, Resourcefulness, Responsibility, and Reinvention by David Dreyfus COVID-19 and Spaces of Confinement by Ulla D. Berg STOP! (2021) by Stephanie Boyer The Climate Crisis and the University by Robert E. Kopp 2020: A New Jersey Economy Reinvented by James W. Hughes Work in the Pandemic and Beyond by Adrienne E. Eaton The Tolling Bell by Katherine C. Epstein Stagecoach Mary by Kimberly Camp On Racism in Museums by Kimberly Camp STYLE Bird by Grace Lynne Haynes Meet Me at the Theater at the End of the World: Thirteen Illuminations and an Afterglow by Caridad Svich What Kind of Pain by Leslieann Hobayan Be Still by Leslieann Hobayan Sorrow by David Orr The Only Replacement by Ben Purkert Acknowledgments Notes Contributors Text Permissions

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Book SynopsisReflections on the Pandemic: COVID and Social Crises in the Year Everything Changed is a collection of essays, poems, and artwork that captures the raw energy and emotion of 2020 from the perspective of the Rutgers University community. The project features work from a diverse group of Rutgers scholars, students, staff, and alumni. Reflecting on 2020 from a number of perspectives – mortality, justice, freedom, equality, democracy, family, health, love, hate, economics, history, medicine, science, social justice, the environment, art, food, sanity – the book features contributions by Evie Shockley, Joyce Carol Oates, Naomi Jackson, Ulla Berg, Grace Lynne Haynes, Jordan Casteel, and President Jonathan Holloway, among others. This book, through its rich and imaginative storytelling at the intersection of scholarly expertise and personal narrative, brings readers into the hearts and minds of not just the Rutgers community but the world. Contributors include: Patricia Akhimie, Marc Aronson, Ulla D. Berg, Stephanie Bonne, Stephanie Boyer, Kimberly Camp, Jordan Casteel, Kelly-Jane Cotter, Mark Doty, David Dreyfus, Adrienne E. Eaton, Katherine C. Epstein, Leah Falk, Paul G. Falkowski, Rigoberto González, James Goodman, David Greenberg, Angelique Haugerud, Grace Lynne Haynes, Leslieann Hobayan, Jonathan Holloway, James W. Hughes, Naomi Jackson, Amy Jordan, Vikki Katz, Mackenzie Kean, Robert E. Kopp, Christian Lighty, Stephen Masaryk, Louis P. Masur, Revathi V. Machan, Yalidy Matos, Belinda McKeon, Susan L. Miller, Yehoshua November, Joyce Carol Oates, Mary E. O’Dowd, Katherine Ognyanova, David Orr, Gregory Pardlo, Steve Pikiell, Teresa Politano, en Purkert, Nick Romanenko, Evie Shockley, Caridad Svich, and Didier William​.Trade Review"In Reflections on the Pandemic: Covid and Social Crises in the Year Everything Changed, stories of personal experience and scholarly expertise shine light on the intricacies of the pandemic years...[it] covers a range of topics that were relevant to the pandemic, including science, health, racial injustice, environmental issues, politics, relationships, mortality and more." * New Jersey Monthly *“The accounts within this volume tell the story of the COVID-19 pandemic and its complex intersection with every facet of our lives. Our shared trauma, loss, resilience, and hope are reflected in its pages. I thank the Rutgers community for these important reflections and for all they did to propel us through those difficult days.” -- Governor Phil Murphy of New JerseyTable of Contents Preface Reflections in a COVID Photograph by Jonathan Holloway pantoum: 2020 by Evie Shockley Mercy (As If) by Mark Doty Writing My Last Book by Rigoberto González Taking the Court by Steve Pikiell The New Normal by Revathi V. Machan Emerging Not Stronger or Weaker but Different by Stephanie Bonne Looking for a Better End Game by Mary E. O’Dowd Pandemic Dispatches (East Africa–North America) by Angelique Haugerud War of the World: How Humans Became a Destructive Force of Nature by Paul G. Falkowski Jared (2020) by Jordan Casteel Reflections on Being Human in the Twenty-First Century by Yalidy Matos Risking Delight in the Middle of a Pandemic by Yehoshua November Days of 2020: Fear without Knowledge by Mark Doty A Litany for Survival by Naomi Jackson Sojourner Truth, Founding Mother by Grace Lynne Haynes A Letter to Juneteenth on the Embodied History of Life in 2020 by Gregory Pardlo We Cannot Escape History by Louis P. Masur Paying Attention by James Goodman A Reckoning with Names: Signs, Symbols, and the Meanings of History by David Greenberg The COVID States Project: Empowering a National Response by Katherine Ognyanova I’ve Missed You (2021) by Didier William Burning Bologna, 2021 by Susan L. Miller Pandemic Theology: “Bliss and Grief” by Susan L. Miller Kid’s Cloth Face Mask from Cat & JackTM by Belinda McKeon Call the Midwife by Leah Falk Slap Roti and the Story of New York City by Marc Aronson From The Journal of a Therapy Cat by Joyce Carol Oates Black and Gray by Teresa Politano Playing with Anxiety by Christian Lighty Virtual Class #219, March 2021, 2:50 p.m.–4:10 p.m.by Mackenzie Kean It’s Harder for Extroverts by Kelly-Jane Cotter The Old Has Passed Away, Behold, The New Has Come (2 Corinthians 5:17) by Stephen Masaryk Rutgers Spit Test by Nick Romanenko Connectivity, Connection, and Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Vikki Katz and Amy Jordan The Faculty Parent: Juggling Parenting, Teaching, Research, and Writing in Uncertain Times by Patricia Akhimie Resiliency, Resourcefulness, Responsibility, and Reinvention by David Dreyfus COVID-19 and Spaces of Confinement by Ulla D. Berg STOP! (2021) by Stephanie Boyer The Climate Crisis and the University by Robert E. Kopp 2020: A New Jersey Economy Reinvented by James W. Hughes Work in the Pandemic and Beyond by Adrienne E. Eaton The Tolling Bell by Katherine C. Epstein Stagecoach Mary by Kimberly Camp On Racism in Museums by Kimberly Camp STYLE Bird by Grace Lynne Haynes Meet Me at the Theater at the End of the World: Thirteen Illuminations and an Afterglow by Caridad Svich What Kind of Pain by Leslieann Hobayan Be Still by Leslieann Hobayan Sorrow by David Orr The Only Replacement by Ben Purkert Acknowledgments Notes Contributors Text Permissions

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