5 Books from the Longhorn Universe to Kick Off the New Year

By Marisa Charpentier in Good Reads, Jan | Feb 2018 on January 1, 2018 at 8:00 am | No Comments

American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West
by Nate Blakeslee

In his latest book, award-winning journalist Blakeslee, MA ’96, cinematically chronicles the life of O-Six, an alpha female wolf named after her birth year. She was called “the most famous wolf in the world” by The New York Times after she began attracting wolf-watchers to her home in Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar Valley.  Wolves were reintroduced to the park in 1995, which sparked controversy among hunters, ranchers, and environmentalists alike. Blakeslee’s book gives voice to the hunters and conservationists on opposite sides of the debate. Read the Alcalde‘s interview with him here.

What Unites Us
By Dan Rather

In this collection of essays, renowned journalist Dan Rather reflects on the question: What does it mean to love America? Rather grew up during the Great Depression, saw America through the JFK assassination and Watergate scandal, and has interviewed every living president since Eisenhower. In What Unites Us, he analyzes the freedoms we cherish and the institutions on which we depend.

 

Sisters First
By Barbara Bush and Jenna Bush Hager, BA ’04

Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush know a thing
or two about growing up in the spotlight. They watched their grandfather become president of the United States when they were young girls, and just over a decade later saw their own father take on the same role. In Sisters First, the duo shares personal stories from their lives in the public eye and they reflect on the support system they’ve cherished through it all—sisterhood.

 

The Which Way Tree
By Elizabeth Crook

Award-winning Texas author Elizabeth Crook’s latest novel is a narrative of pursuit. After a panther attacks a young girl named Samantha’s family in the remote Texas Hill Country, mauling her face and killing her mother, she sets out to kill the infamous creature. Around the Rio Grande, though, rumor has it that the animal isn’t just a panther—it’s a demon. Along with a Tejano outlaw, a preacher, and her half-brother Benjamin, Samantha embarks on a journey to avenge her mother’s death.

As We Saw It
By Gregory J. Vincent, Virginia A. Cumberbatch, MPAff ’16, and Leslie A. Blair

Just over 60 years ago, The University of Texas at Austin accepted African-American students for the first time. As We Saw It, written by current and former UT faculty members, tells the story of UT’s integration through the eyes of 25 students, faculty, and administrators.