lifelong learning
2022–2023 UW Alumni Book Club Archive
Personal stories, timely topics, transformative fiction… We love to dig into amazing books together! Below is an archive of the books and related events from the 2022–2023 reading season. The UW Alumni Book Club is a collaboration between UWAA, the UW Libraries, the University Book Store — and passionate readers like you.
2022-2023 Reading List
Reading Period:
Aug. 5–Oct. 7, 2022
Reading Period:
Oct. 14–Dec. 16, 2022
Reading Period:
Jan. 6–Mar. 10, 2023
Reading Period:
Mar. 18–May 20, 2023
Reading Period:
May 27–July 29, 2023
2022-2023 UW Alumni Book Club Archive
“Free Speech: A History From Socrates to Social Media” by Jacob Mchangama
We teamed up with our partners at UW Impact to delve into a very timely topic! From the lawyer and human rights advocate who brought us the “Clear and Present Danger” podcast comes “Free Speech: A History From Socrates to Social Media.” This debut book traces the first recorded glimmers of free speech in ancient history. Follow its progress (and setbacks) through conquests, revolutions and changing technology. Why has free speech so often has led to societal panic and brutal backlash throughout the course of history?
“A vivid, highly readable account of how today’s most pitched battles over free speech reflect tensions and impulses that are as old as history itself.”
― Suzanne Nossel
Recorded Event
The Trickier Side of Free Speech
UW Impact, the UW Alumni Association’s legislative advocacy program, hosted a discussion that explores the contemporary issues and challenges associated with free speech. State Senator David Frockt, media litigator Caesar Kalinowski, ’17, and UW political science professor Victor Menaldo brought their insights and experience to the panel.
What parts of free speech are the least understood? What threats or rollbacks of this revered hallmark of American democracy might be on the horizon? Does the First Amendment create challenges in maintaining order during political or social unrest?
Senator David Frockt
46th Legislative District, D-Seattle
In the decade he has served in the Washington State Legislature, David Frockt has championed health care, higher education, a clean environment and firearm responsibility. Frockt currently serves as vice chair of the Ways & Means Committee and the Health & Long Term Care Committee.
Early in his Senate career, Frockt served in his party’s leadership in the Senate. Long considered an effective legislator even when his party was in the minority, he has served as the Senate’s lead capital budget writer. He has worked to alleviate homelessness, increase access to behavioral health services and build strong communities throughout Washington.
Frockt graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in political science and earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Caesar Kalinowski IV
Media Litigator at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Caesar Kalinowski, ’17, takes an expansive view of his clients’ First Amendment and intellectual property rights, regularly defending lawsuits targeting expression, religious practice, and fair use of artistic material.
Drawing on his background in global special operations and intelligence collection, Kalinowski loves working in small teams under demanding circumstances to push back on government overreach. He also regularly litigates issues related to press freedoms and fair reporting on matters of public concern, in addition to championing First Amendment and Section 230 protections for social media platforms and technology providers.
Kalinowski completed his bachelor’s degree in Intelligence Studies from the American Military University and earned his Juris Doctorate degree with honors at the UW School of Law.
Victor Menaldo
Professor of Political Science, University of Washington
Victor Menaldo specializes in comparative politics and political economy. His interests include property rights, industrialization, innovation, liberal democracy and development.
Menaldo is affiliated with the Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences, Near and Middle Eastern Studies and the Center for Environmental Politics. He co-founded and co-leads the UW Political Economy Forum. His book “Authoritarianism and the Elite Origins of Democracy” examines what actually happens when democracy displaces authoritarian regimes, in terms of the lived experiences of citizens.
Menaldo graduated from Colorado College with an M.A. in philosophy. He went on to earn his M.A. in political science from Claremont Graduate University. He was awarded a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University.
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
We threw it back to 1818 — just in time for Halloween! “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” is an acclaimed gothic novel with elements of both horror and science fiction. Behind the lumbering monsters and dramatic murders, Mary Shelley’s story has a deeply political and philosophical slant. What are the consequences when scientists are not willing to take responsibility for their creations? Who is the real monster here: the irresponsible researcher determined to play God, the strange creature reanimated on stormy November eve, or the society that universally responds to difference with fear and rejection?
“Learn from me… at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge.” —Victor Frankenstein
Related Readings
Nancy’s Picks: Diving Deeper into “Frankenstein”
Nancy Pearl is an American librarian, best-selling author, literary critic, well known speaker and the former Executive Director of the Washington Center for the Book at the Seattle Public Library.
She is also a legend among librarians. During her time on the faculty at the Information School at UW, Nancy trained new librarians in the art and science of helping patrons find their next good reads. UW Alumni Book Club invited her to recommend some other books after they’d picked up “Frankenstein” this reading period.
The juicy list she compiled offers a few different angles on Mary Shelley’s classic gothic novel. Dig into more spooky stories and early science fiction from the Victorian age. Explore the unconventional lives of the writers, artists and poets of Mary Shelley’s circle. Then discover modern women writers who are taking science fiction in bold new directions, as well!
Meet Nancy Pearl
Nancy Pearl is a former UW faculty member and current UW Master of Library and Information Science advisory board member. Nancy is known for her 2003 notable book “Book Lust,” which guides people through finding the right book for the right mood. During her time on faculty at the Information School, Nancy taught Readers Advisory, a course that trains new librarians in the art and science of helping patrons find their next good book. You may also recognize Nancy as the model for Archie McFee’s quirky librarian action figure.
Nancy is the former executive director of the Washington Center for the Book at Seattle Public Library. In 2011, Library Journal selected Nancy as Librarian of the Year. In 2021, the National Book Foundation named her “Literarian,” which is awarded to an individual for a lifetime of achievement in expanding the audience for books and reading.
“The Book of Form and Emptiness” by Ruth Ozeki
We dove into the winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2022! Awkward teenager Benny Oh starts hearing the voices of inanimate objects after his father’s death. The noisy clutter of his mother’s hoarding drives him to take refuge in a local library, where at least the books know how to whisper! This complex, offbeat and magical story will have you thinking about the roots of creativity — and the ways we try to fill the empty spaces in our lives — in all new ways.
““This tale of a mother and son finding their voices… is both deeply affecting and uplifting.” —The Guardian
Recorded Event and Related Readings
Libraries as Safe Spaces
Inspired by Benny’s journey, we invited two iSchool Huskies who are serving their communities at public libraries in urban and rural centers to gather in conversation. Our panelists they shared insights about libraries being more than a place for books.
- CiKeithia Pugh, Early Learning Program Manager, Seattle Public Library
- Tess Wilder-Cervantes, ‘15, Supervising Librarian, Madrona-Sally Goldmark Branch, Seattle Public Library
Nancy’s Picks: Diving Deeper into “The Book of Form and Emptiness”
A legend among librarians, Nancy Pearl is well-known for her talent in helping readers find their next great read. She’s so good, she taught a class on this skill to future librarians here at the UW!
UW Alumni Book Club invited Nancy to recommend some other books after they’d picked up “The Book of Form and Emptiness” this reading period. The juicy list she compiled offers a few different angles on our quirky and complex novel. Explore beginners’ guides to the practice of Zen Buddhism. Browse playful novels that focus on the power of letters, language, books and words. Get recommendations on some of Ruth Ozeki’s earlier novels as well!
Meet Nancy Pearl
Nancy Pearl is a former UW faculty member and current UW Master of Library and Information Science advisory board member. Nancy is known for her 2003 notable book “Book Lust,” which guides people through finding the right book for the right mood. During her time on faculty at the Information School, Nancy taught Readers Advisory, a course that trains new librarians in the art and science of helping patrons find their next good book. You may also recognize Nancy as the model for Archie McFee’s quirky librarian action figure.
Nancy is the former executive director of the Washington Center for the Book at Seattle Public Library. In 2011, Library Journal selected Nancy as Librarian of the Year. In 2021, the National Book Foundation named her “Literarian,” which is awarded to an individual for a lifetime of achievement in expanding the audience for books and reading.
“The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise” by Pico Iyer
UW Alumni Book Club partnered with UW Alumni Tours to read the latest from acclaimed travel writer Pico Iyer. From mountain-tops to mosques, from remote beaches to silent cemeteries, what does it mean to search for paradise? The author has journeyed around the world for decades and written extensively about travel, history and philosophy. In “The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise,” Iyer explores ideas of where we might discover utopia. Weaving insights from his travels across Asia, Europe and Australia, Iyer looks for meaning in holy places and war zones alike. This is a surprising and lovely exploration of whether inner peace can be found in our earthly lives.
“In his guise of travel writer, Iyer has really been our most elegant poet of dislocation.” —The Guardian
“The Overstory” by Richard Powers
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction!
The tree under which you met your wife. The tree you planted when your child was born. The tree that reminds you of your family farm. The tree that, amazingly, saved your life. Nine unrelated characters (engineers and artists, college dropouts and war veterans…) all have a deep connection to their own personal trees. What would happen if fate pulled them together to protect forests on a larger scale? And how will their idealism hold up in the face of life’s harsh realities?
“This is a gigantic fable of genuine truths.”
–Barbara Kingsolver
Campus Connections
The University of Washington is a great resource when it comes to reading about — and interacting with! — trees and forests. These articles and activities nicely complement the fictional themes in “The Overstory” with the work of real-life researchers.
The Collective Power of Trees
Diane Harris, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, selected “The Overstory” as one of the three titles that we voted on for this reading season. In this short essay, she discusses the idea of treating trees “as if they were persons.”
Forest Bathing with UW Botanic Gardens
How do you relax and recharge? Forest bathing is a simple relaxation activity for people of all ages to de-stress and boost their well-being. Check the Washington Park Arboretum events calendar for the next time they offer their guided forest bathing classes.
UW Botanic Gardens also has handouts and an audio guide that will start you on the path to forest bathing, no matter where you live!
Check out these free guided tours of Washington Park Arboretum and this virtual tour of the Miller Seed Vault, as well.
Forestry alum helps design Barbie dolls focused on science
“What if … Barbie could do ecology instead of going to the prom?” Forest ecologist Nalini Nadkarni, ’83, has studied the forest canopies in Costa Rica and the Olympic Rain Forest, up close and personal. She shares her story of how dolls can help children imagine themselves as scientists with UW Magazine.
Share Your Book Ideas!
Have suggestions for upcoming book club titles?
Submit your ideas to our Book Club Suggestion Form.
Check out the books that have already been suggested.
The UW Alumni Book Club is a collaboration between UWAA, the UW Libraries, the University Book Store—and passionate readers like you.
