5 New Books to Read in September From the Longhorn Universe

By Danielle Lopez in 40 Acres, Good Reads, Sept | Oct 2017 on September 1, 2017 at 8:00 am | No Comments

Woman Walk the Line: How the Women in Country Music Changed Our Lives
edited by Holly Gleason

Chock-full of essays written by and about female country artists, Woman Walk the Line highlights some of the genre’s most influential women. From rocker Grace Potter’s dedication to Linda Ronstadt to author Caroline Randall Williams’ praise for Rhiannon Giddens, the book celebrates country, Americana, bluegrass, and the women who’ve shaped them.

 

 

Texas Sports: Unforgettable Stories for Every Day of the Year
by Chad S. Conine

Texas Sports is equipped with tales about the Lone Star State’s legendary athletes—one for every day of the year, like UT’s first football game in 1893 and Babe Zaharias’ fourth Western Open golf championship win. Covering more than 25 sports from high school to the pros, the book is a comprehensive testament to Texas’ wealth of sports history.

 

Different Latitudes: My Life in vthe Peace Corps and Beyond
by Mark D. Walker, MA ’77

When Mark D. Walker finished his undergraduate degree in 1971, he joined the Peace Corps, a decision that would change his life forever. During a vigorous journey in the Caribbean and Central America, he faced near-death experiences and met the love of his life and future mother of his children. In his memoir, he delineates the many cross-cultural experiences he had and how his time abroad helped him launch a career dedicated to global philanthropy.

 

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple
by Jeff Guinn, BA ’73

Bestselling author Jeff Guinn shares the story of Jim Jones, the preacher responsible for the largest murder-suicide in American history: the Jonestown Massacre. The narrative explores Jones’ actions that led up to that day in November 1978 when more than 900 people died after drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid. To create this definitive work of the massacre, Guinn examined thousands of pages of FBI files and traveled to Jones’ hometown and the Jonestown site in Guyana, uncovering new details from survivors.

 

Marfa: The Transformation of a West Texas Town
by Kathleen Shafer, PhD ’14

When minimalist artist Donald Judd moved from New York City to the sleepy desert outpost of Marfa in 1971, he paved the way for the small town’s art scene. Now a popular destination, Marfa brings artists, writers, and tourists alike to West Texas’ Chihuahuan Desert. Visitors peruse many of Judd’s permanent installations and other artists’ creations that belong to the Judd Foundation and the Chinati Foundation. When artist and photographer Kathleen Shafer, PhD ’14, spent three months in the town as an intern at the arts space Ballroom Marfa in 2011, she was inspired. But not necessarily just to create art—she wanted to tell Marfa’s story. The Alcalde caught up with her before the book’s release to get a look at what it’s all about.

Tags: good reads