Elsewhere Than Vietnam, a historical novel-cum-memoir by classmate David Schwartz, is a fictionalized account of his experience as an Army language specialist and interrogator for military intelligence.
As both a novel and a memoir, Elsewhere takes us to places where Dave served and wandered, from the Army’s language school in California to Munich and even to an Israeli kibbutz.
![Calling All [JE] Spiders: A new History of JE is available](https://www.yale1969.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/book-cover-300x215.jpg)
The Spiders’ Way features a historical account by three former administrators, plus ninety reminiscences by alumni, fellows and former staff, extending back to the 1940s. It provides a vivid portrait of life in the College over the decades: founding, traditions, co-education, social life and famous alumni.
Richard Seltzer keeps up the torrid pace of publishing with the release of his latest novel, Shakespeare’s Twin Sister. He reports, “I had a LOT of fun with this one!”
The plot device is clever: Shakespeare’s twin sister Kate wakes up in the body of a 99-year-old woman in a nursing home in 1987. She has […]
Three years after we graduated in 1969, classmate Frank Shorter would win the gold medal in the men’s marathon in the 1972 Summer Olympics. His book My Marathon, coauthored with John Brant, tells how Frank prepared for and won that race as well the fascinating story of his life before and after Munich. In the…
Breeze (Amazon), a young woman in present-day Connecticut, goes into a medically inexplicable coma. Her boyfriend, Yannie, a senior at Yale, has to get her the help she needs to survive while trying to solve the mystery of this goddess-like free spirit who appeared out of nowhere two months before.
In part two, Breeze awakens in a different body in a […]
Editor’s Note: In addition to three books of poetry, Chris Hoffman just released a revised and expanded edition of his seminal book of ecopsychology, The Hoop & The Tree: A Compass for Finding a Deeper Relationship with All Life.
The Hoop & The Tree is a book on psychology, spirituality, and native wisdom, which The Bloomsbury Review called “therapeutic, enlightening, and a joy to read.” Professionally, Chris has combined his backgrounds in psychology (Licensed Professional Counselor and M.Ed. in Community Mental Health) and business (M.B.A.) to facilitate […]
Editor’s Note: Classmates Bill Sacco, a professional photographer, and Jim Porter, a Ph.D. scientist, have been working hard to bring Bill’s stunningly beautiful coffee-table book, A Photographic Guide to the Caribbean Coral Reef, to a bookstore near you.
When this book is printed, its 200+ pages and more than 500 color photographs will drive the cover price quite high. But Bill has generously offered all classmates early-bird access to a high-resolution pdf of the final draft for FREE!
Read on and download your copy at the end of this post.
Our prolific classmate, Richard Seltzer, has yet another novel published this year: Nevermind.
The lives of Ruth and Mark are transformed by Nevermind magic that Ruth learned from her mother—magic that can undo what has been done and alter the shape of reality. Ruth learned from her mother—magic that can undo what has been done and alter the shape of reality. They fall in love and […]
Editor’s Note: This post introduces a new section of the website for deep-dive BOOK REVIEWS by classmates, even if the book itself is not a “Yale-related book” of the sort normally populating the Books section. Send us YOUR book review if you feel passionately about a book.
Alongside Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead (1943), The Road to Serfdom (1944) by Friedrich A. Hayek is one of the foundational texts for libertarian American conservatism as exemplified by Milton Friedman’s economics writings and Ronald Reagan’s assertions that “government is the problem.” I was therefore fascinated by a recent article in an economics journal on “The Road to […]
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There have been 12 really influencial books in my life: The Magus by John Fowles. I relate to it because Nicholas Urfe, the protagonist, became an English teacher abroad when he couldn’t think of anything else to do – just like me. It’s essentially a lesson in learning to love and this is one of…
I was recently introduced to the concept of a “Quake book” — a book (or other work of art) that profoundly changed the way you look at things. “Occasionally I stumble across something really wild. Gray matter lurches and heaves. Neural pathways are destroyed and rebuilt. When the tremors finally stop, nothing looks the same.”
What were YOUR quake books? List yours here. See what books “shook” your classmates … and why. Who knows, you might see something you’ve been meaning to read!
Richard Seltzer is accelerating his output of novels, having published Parallel Lives only 6 months ago. (See our review of it — Richard Seltzer’s New Novel: Parallel Lives.). Rumor has it that he has two more novels accepted for publication and another under contract. Can you say “prolific?”
Beyond The 4th Door is now available on Amazon, which describes the novel thusly:
Without knowing why or how, two college students wake up 50 years older than they were when they went to sleep and with no memo […]
As a podcast lover and as Editor of Yale1969.org, I notice when a classmate creates a podcast. There was no surprise when we heard that Michael Medved had a podcast. Michael is a pro, of course … someone who has successfully navigated the modern media landscape for decades. But what about us ordinary mortals? Did…
In October 1856, Herman Melville left the tinted hills of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, for a lengthy excursion to Europe and the Holy Land. Just thirty-seven years old, Melville was a half-broken man. He suffered from headaches, sciatica, eyestrain, crushed hopes — in a word, burnout. His epic Moby-Dick had failed to catch on in 1851, and his next novel, Pierre: or, The Ambiguities, was head-scratching at best, a laughing stock at worst. Subsequent […]
Editor’s Note: This report describes a podcast series created by a classmate.
I’ve been listening to this podcast for a few months now. I’ll do a full review next month, but I can tell you already that it is very rich, deeply researched and seriously worth your time, especially if you enjoy new integrations of history and science toward a theory that explains both the current dysfunctions and a promising path ahead. Click through to read a more complete description.
“An erudite retiree enters this facility in the isolated atmosphere of the White Mountains with hopes of finding personal revelations in the relatively structured and tranquil existence at Arcadia Estates. As soon as he enters, with the intent of reading his prized, classic books by his recliner, his life takes an unexpected […]
