By Andy DeRoche (PhDHist'97)

(iUniverse, 2024)

In Global Goals, author Andy DeRoche carefully examines the life of Eric Weinrich, who played in over 1,000 NHL games and represented the United States in more international hockey tournaments than any other player. Based on thorough research, this book details the actions of Eric “Weino” Weinrich on and off the ice during his over 30 years playing hockey. It also puts his career into the context of the final years of the Cold War in terms of US relations with the USSR. In addition to being a great athlete, “Weino” was a cultural ambassador who befriended former Soviet players such as Alexei Kasatonov. DeRoche is an old-fashioned historian who has written many previous books or articles, but what makes this work unique is that Eric Weinrich himself added considerable commentary in each chapter identified as “Weino’s Wisdom.”

After first playing hockey in Rumford, Maine in the late 1970s, “Weino” led North Yarmouth Academy to a state championship in 1985. He skated for the University of Maine Black Bears for over two full seasons, helping to build the Maine program into a national powerhouse. After he played in the 1988 Olympics for the USA, he went pro with the Utica Devils in the AHL. He moved up to the New Jersey Devils in 1990, and then enjoyed a long and successful career in the NHL in Chicago, Montreal, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and elsewhere. He ended his career on the ice as a player-coach for the Portland (Maine) Pirates and would later be inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

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By Ken McConnellogue (Edu'90)

(MBB 5280 Press, 2024)

Bruce Benson was a man in a hurry. Born on the Fourth of July, he drew on a fierce work ethic learned on a World War II-era farm outside Chicago to propel him through his eventful and remarkable life. He overcame an early family upheaval and elusive educational success to attend an Ivy League university. Unsatisfied, he left school and hitchhiked West, where he worked as a roughneck in the Wyoming oil patch. He learned rigs from the ground up before earning a Geology degree at the University of Colorado, where he learned the science of what was below ground.

After early struggles, he used grit and savvy to build a prosperous oil and gas business. Its success allowed him to pursue his passion for making a difference in education, politics, philanthropy and community service. After his first marriage ended, he met and married his soulmate Marcy, whose journey before Bruce took her from Oklahoma to the White House, where she worked for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. They were partners in all they did, and they did plenty, using deep commitment to elevate the fortunes of countless community organizations, causes and civic endeavors.

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By Patrick Hoffman (Edu'98)

(Grove Press, 2025)

Bunny Simpson grew up poor in Grand Junction, Colorado. Now in his twenties, working in Denver, he has simple dreams: He wants to help his uncle pay rent, save a little money, maybe start a business one day. His best friend Jerry LeClair fantasizes about moving to California. The problem is, they don’t have any prospects. Enter: Helen McCalla, an attorney with an ax to grind against her ex-husband, who happens to be a judge in the local court. She offers the boys a deal: scare the man, rough him up a little, and she’ll give them a few thousand dollars. It’s simple—just friends helping friends, right?

Part crime novel, part portrait of friendship, extremism, and inherited trauma, celebrated novelist Patrick Hoffman is at his brilliant best in these pages. Bunny never wanted any trouble. So how the hell did he end up at a white supremacist compound in rural Colorado? Fast-paced, suspenseful, and by turns funny and terrifying, Friends Helping Friends is an electrifying thriller that moves at a breakneck pace, examining the vulnerability of our destinies—and how friendship can survive it all.

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By Janet Bornschlegel Marks (Edu'81)
(Illumify Media, 190 pages; 2024)

We all come into this life gasping for air then spend our years striving to make each breath matter. This book shows you how to use those breaths to slow down, look deeper within and contemplate the health of your soul.

Are you unsure if your wounded soul will ever mend?

Is the condition of your soul unclear?

Do you sense there could be more to your spiritual life?
God placed distinctive gifts in you and uses them to help restore your soul. Each chapter in this book offers gentle consideration of soul health and includes reflective thoughts to ponder your soul's unique journey. With humor and unwavering honesty, author and speaker 

Janet K. Marks guides you to bravely face your spiritual wounds and rediscover your beautiful soul.
 

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By Thomas Phillips (OrgMgmt'71)
(Vanguard Press, 430 pages; 2024)

The YouTube Candidate is a political thriller set in the divisive atmosphere of the present day. When Matt Anderson stands behind the family's kitchen table and makes a speech a president might deliver to the American people, his intention is to help his daughter with her class project. Instead, his presentation captivates the nation and elicits calls for him to enter the on-going campaign. Replete with warmth, humor, and unexpected moments of high drama, the story traces the formation of an advisory 'Dream Team' whose "outside the box" campaign innovations and dynamic ideas seek to overcome the new party's late start and underfunding. Results on election night lead to employment of a little-known constitutional process and the nail-biting suspense of determining the next President of the United States.

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By Michelle Mink (TeleCom'95)
(SEE Publishing, 173 pages; 2023)

Through a captivating narrative, readers are introduced to a diverse cast of characters, each representing a different industry, from technology startups to pet products, hospitality to manufacturing, and beyond. As readers follow the characters on their entrepreneurial journeys, they are immersed in a dynamic world where they witness the characters' triumphs, setbacks, and the crucial decisions they make along the way.

The book provides a comprehensive exploration of key issues and considerations that entrepreneurs commonly encounter, such as market research, product development, branding, marketing strategies, financial management, legal protections, and organizational structuring of a business. By weaving these lessons into engaging stories, readers gain a deep understanding of how to navigate the intricacies of each industry, while also grasping fundamental principles that are universally applicable to entrepreneurship.

With its imaginative approach, "Beyond Startup Week" encourages readers to step into the shoes of the characters and experience the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. It sparks self-reflection, prompts critical thinking, and stimulates creative problem-solving, empowering entrepreneurs to anticipate challenges, make informed decisions, and ultimately thrive in their respective industries.

Written by an experienced entrepreneur with a wealth of real-world knowledge, this book not only equips aspiring business owners with practical wisdom but also inspires them to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and pursue their dreams with determination and resilience. Whether you're considering a tech startup, a restaurant, a posh pet brand, or any other entrepreneurial endeavor, " Beyond Startup Week" is an indispensable guide that bridges the gap between imagination and real-world business success.

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By Nancy Pelander Johnson (Span'77)
(AMG Publishers, 361 pages; 2024)

What if you could change your thoughts? The negative ones —that make you question your faith, that keep you from enjoying the fullness of God’s peace, hope and joy, that deplete the spiritual pantry of all the good things God has in store for you. You work hard. You do your best to live by faith and care for those around you. But when you’re living in the “in-between times”—when the natural order of life becomes stressful and wears you down—it can be a challenge to maintain an optimistic outlook each day. If you’ve felt this way, you’re not alone. God’s people today—as in Jesus’ time—grapple with negative thoughts and circumstances, but faith-inspired answers help them overcome such thinking. You, too, can overcome negative thinking and turn your “negatives” into “positives.” Join author Nancy Johnson’s journey as she takes you through personal experience stories—hers and others (including scenarios of biblical characters)—and how each found optimism through God’s goodness and Word. "Just One Good Thing: A Faith-Inspired Recipe for Optimism" will guide you through 28 devotional readings along with a three-step “recipe” to defeat negativity and face each day with a renewed outlook and faith. Questions for study and self-reflection and a journal application are included. Be prepared to sit at God’s table of optimism, where you will feast on abundant servings of His peace, hope, and joy!

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By Tony Tekaroniake Evans (Anth'85)
(Washington State University Press, 240 pages; 2021)

Based on more than thirty interviews with students and staff, Teaching Native Pride employs both Native and non-Native voices to tell the story of the University of Idaho's Upward Bound program. Their personal anecdotes and memories intertwine with accounts of the program's inception and goals, as well as regional tribal history and Isabel Bond's Idaho family history.

A federally sponsored program dedicated to helping low-income and at-risk students attend college, Upward Bound came to Moscow, Idaho, in 1969. Isabel Bond became director in the early 1970s and led the program there for more than three decades. Those who enrolled in the experimental initiative--part of Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty--were required to live within a 200-mile radius and be the first in their family to pursue a college degree. Living on the University of Idaho campus each summer, they received six weeks of intensive instruction.

Recognizing that most participants came from nearby Nez Perce and Coeur d'Alene communities, Bond and her teachers designed a curriculum that celebrated and incorporated their Native American heritage--one that offers insights for educators today. Many of the young people they taught overcame significant personal and academic challenges to earn college degrees. Native students broke cycles of poverty, isolation, and disenfranchisement that arose from a legacy of colonial conquest, and non-Indians gained a new respect for Idaho's first peoples. Today, Upward Bounders serve as teachers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and social workers, bringing positive change to future generations.

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By Scott Bealer (Bio'86)
(Sweetgrass Books, 184 pages; 2024)

Contrary to popular belief, trout are not intellectuals! However, they are keen observers of their environment and well attuned to the elements important to their survival. If you plan on chasing them with a fly rod, you need to learn how to pay attention to those details. True mastery of the sport isn't about memorizing lots of facts, but rather having a sense of curiosity and spending time out on the water.

Scot leads you on a journey of discovery, recalling occasions when he, or sometimes his clients, learned important lessons. His stories are warm, funny, and full of great advice to improve your skills and better enjoy your time on the water. His comments on gear, guides, and other aspects of the sport are based on decades of practical experience.

The images from Lea's camera bring Scot's stories to life and will leave you yearning to get out there. If you enjoy fly fishing, being outdoors, or just want to learn more, you will love this book.

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By Jenny Terry Powers (ChemEngr'97, PhDMicro'05) and Luke Comer
(River Grove Books, 298 pages; 2024)

While giving many benefits, aspects of modern society can also be harmful to our physical, mental, and cultural health. We can overcome many of these detriments if we better understand and express our primal self, which is largely encoded into our DNA.

On the Origin of Being outlines the misalignments between our genetic design and modern lifestyle that reduce our well-being and even cause disease. Jenny Powers, PhD in immunology, and Luke Comer, author and producer, pay homage to Charles Darwin by investigating the evolution of many human behaviors. They identify the origins of these behaviors in the single-cell organisms of billions of years ago and then trace them through primates, hominoids, and up the evolutionary chain to modern humans. They then demonstrate how to realign our behaviors to enjoy more vital, loving, and robust lives here and now.

Book one of this three-part series addresses four behaviors that are most significant to our health: sleep, nutrition, work and rest, and our relationship with nature.

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