Dive into summer reading: Discover the latest works from faculty and staff

Posted by
On June 19, 2024

Hands holding a book outdoors

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Check out a sampling of books written by Missouri S&T faculty and staff. From history of wars to history of breakfast cereal to women Egyptologists, not to mention an entire book on the origins of the term “dude,” there are several topics to choose from for your summer reading.

2024

Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age by Dr. Kate Sheppard

Set for release this July, Dr. Kate Sheppard’s forthcoming book, Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age, shares the true never-told-story of the women who paved the way of exploration in Egypt.

Derrida and Inheritance in Environmental Ethics by Dr. Michael Peterson

Dr. Michael Peterson examines environmental ethics and the responsibilities we have for future generations regarding removing/storing nuclear waste in his book, Derrida and Inheritance in Environmental Ethics.

2023

A new biography on the life of Fred Kummer by Dr. Larry Gragg

Last fall, a new biography on the life of Fred Kummer was released. It was written by Dr. Larry Gragg.

Bugsy’s Shadow: Moe Sedway by Dr. Larry Gragg

If the world of the Mafia fascinates you, Dr. Gragg also wrote a book that delves into the mob scene in Las Vegas. It is called Bugsy’s Shadow: Moe Sedway, “Bugsy” Siegel, and the Birth of Organized Crime in Las Vegas.

Origin of the Term ‘Dude’ by Dr. Gerald Cohen

If American slang is of interest, etymologist Dr. Gerald Cohen, a renown etymologist, wrote Origin of the Term ‘Dude’.

To the End of the Earth: The U.S. Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945 by Dr. John C. McManus

Speaking of history, Dr. John C. McManus has a new book on military war history that covers the final months of World War II in the Pacific. It is called To the End of the Earth: The U.S. Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945, and is the final book in his WWII trilogy.

Breakfast Cereal: A Global History by Dr. K.C. Dolan

Breakfast Cereal: A Global History by Dr. K.C. Dolan traces this quick, tasty breakfast staple from its agricultural roots in the Fertile Crescent to today’s sugary versions.

Nanotechnology for Civil Infrastructure by Dr. Kamal Khayat

Interested in nanotechnology and how it can be used for infrastructure? Dr. Kamal Khayat, vice chancellor for research and innovation, wrote Nanotechnology for Civil Infrastructure: Innovation and Eco-efficiency of Nanostructured Cement-Based Materials.

Urban Landslide Hazzard Mapping by Dr. J. David Rogers

Dr. J. David Rogers researches a specific area prone landslides in his book Urban Landslide Hazard Mapping: A Case Study in Orinda, California, USA.

Dynamics of Hydrocarbon Migration by Dr. Wan Yang

Explore the world of hydrocarbon dynamics with a publication by Dr. Wan Yang, who wrote Dynamics of Hydrocarbon Migration: Quantitative Dynamics Studies and Applications.

Urban Enlightenment: Multistakeholder Engagement and the City by Dr. Shane Epting

Dr. Shane Epting’s book applies the concept of moral ordering to urban affairs. It demonstrates how multi-stakeholder engagement can enhance the quality of city life while supporting ambitions such as ethical urban sustainability and human flourishing.

Ethics in Agribusiness: Justice and Global Food in Focus by Dr. Shane Epting

This book offers an original perspective on food supply chains. Epting argues that the ability to trade food on a global scale could be intrinsically good aside from any instrumental value that people gain from it.

Stress-Free Student by staff member Derek Zboran

S&T’s staff also have the writing bug. Derek Zboran, who works as a student well-being training and outreach coordinator, has written three books, including Stress-Free Student: Time Management Secrets for College Students Who Study Less, Score High, and Skip Burnout.

Missing Library Book by Derek Zboran

This children’s book brings to life the artwork of children in a storyline that fosters curiosity and reflection.

2022

Roadhouse Justice

Roadhouse Justice: Hattie Lee Barnes and the Killing of a White Man in 1950s Mississippi by Dr. Trent Brown

If true crime is your interest, check out Dr. Trent Brown’s book Roadhouse Justice: Hattie Lee Barnes and the Killing of a White Man in 1950s Mississippi. It is his second book on the topic and continues the story of civil rights and the southern legal system.

Power Podcasting by Derek Zboran

Interested in starting a podcast? Check out Zboran’s book titled Power Podcasting: How to Start a Podcast That Grows You.

The Missouri Home Guard: Protecting the Home Front during the Great War by Dr. Petra DeWitt

Dr. Petra DeWitt wrote about Missouri’s contributions during World War I in The Missouri Home Guard: Protecting the Home Front during the Great War.

Tea on the Terrace book cover

Tea on the Terrace: Hotels and Egyptologists’ Social Networks, 1885-1925by Dr. Kathleen Sheppard

Dr. Kathleen Sheppard’s book details the influence European-style hotels in Egypt had in the archaeological expeditions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The paperback version comes out on June 25.

Quantum Electrodynamics: Atoms, Lasers, and Gravity by Dr. Ulrich Jentschura

You can learn about atoms, lasers and gravity – and quantum electrodynamics – in a book by Dr. Ulrich Jentschura.

Two written guides on programmable logic contrllers by Dr. Kelvin Erickson

Interested in programmable logic controllers? Check out two comprehensive guides written by Dr. Kelvin Erickson, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of electrical and computer engineering.

The Phanerozoic Geology and Natural Resources of Egypt by Dr. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe

Interested in Egypt and geology? Dr. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe authored The Phanerozoic Geology and Natural Resources of Egypt.

Two books on composite materials and catalysts applications by Dr. Hany El-Azab

Dr. Hany El-Azab published PVP Based Catalyst for Catalysis Applications and Composite Materials based on Twaron and Nano Materials.

A Coracle for Dreams by Dr. Agnes Vojta

Dr. Agnes Vojta, teaching professor of physics, is a prolific poet. She will often host or share her poetry at local poetry readings. Check out selected poems from her book A Coracle for Dreams.

Wild Muse featuring poetry by Dr. Agnes Vojta

Dr. Agnes Vojta is one of nine Ozarks poets with works in this collection of contemporary poetry engaging Ozarks nature and environment.

2021

Cattle Country: Livestock in the Cultural Imagination by Dr. Kathryn Dolan

Cattle Country: Livestock in the Cultural Imagination, written by Dr. Kathryn (K.C.) Dolan, associate professor of English and technical communication, examines beef and cattle production in 19th-century America and the cow’s ascension to the nation’s representative food animal.

The Digital Role-Playing Game and Technical Communication by Drs. Daniel Reardon and David Wright

The Digital Role-Playing Game and Technical Communication, by two members of our English and technical communication faculty, Drs. Daniel Reardon and David Wright, evaluates the evolution of video game companies and how they convey complex information to consumers.

Discourse in Old Norse Literature by Dr. Eric Bryan

Discourse in Old Norse Literature, by Dr. Eric Bryan, professor of English and technical communication, examines what dialogues and direct speech in Old Norse sagas mean, beyond their immediate face value. Bryan asserts that saga writers were the masters of indirectness in their speech. 

Family Business in China, Volume 1: A Historical Perspective co-authored by Dr. Hanging “Chevy” Fang

Family Business in China, Volume I: A Historical Perspective, is co-authored by Dr. Hanqing “Chevy” Fang, assistant professor of business and information technology. This book examines the social foundations and historical legacies of families and family businesses in China. After you’ve read this book, check out Volume 2.

Island Infernos: The U.S. Army’s Pacific War Odyssey, 1944 by Dr. John C. McManus

Island Infernos: The U.S. Army’s Pacific War Odyssey, 1944is the second book in a trilogy that Dr. John C. McManus, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of history, is writing about the U.S. Army in the Pacific during World War II. Hailed “a feat of prodigious scholarship and exhaustive research” by the Wall Street Journal, the book was also selected by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as one of its favorite books of 2021 and I couldn’t agree more!

The Liberating Art of Philosophy: A Foundational Anthology by Dr. Ross Reed

The Liberating Art of Philosophy: A Foundational Anthologyby Dr. Ross Reed, a lecturer in philosophy, introduces readers to philosophical ideas and concepts by reimagining what introductory material is presented in a beginner philosophy course. He wrote this book “in hopes of making the subject matter not only more accessible, but also more interesting.” 

Lyapunov Inequalities and Applications co-authored by Dr. Martin Bohner

Lyapunov Inequalities and Applicationsco-authored by Dr. Martin Bohner, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of mathematics and statistics, compiles much of the currently available research on math problems called Lyapunov-type inequalities. 

The Morality of Urban Mobility: Technology and Philosophy of the City by Dr. Shane Epting

In The Morality of Urban Mobility: Technology and Philosophy of the CityDr. Shane Epting, assistant professor of philosophy, highlights a school of thought that wrestles with questions about living in a rapidly urbanizing world.

Saving Cities: A Taxonomy of Urban Technologies by Dr. Shane Epting

In Saving Cities: A Taxonomy of Urban TechnologiesDr. Shane Epting reveals how exploring transportation philosophically deepens our understanding of what it means to move about the city. 

Multi-Valued Variational Inequalities and Inclusions co-authored by Dr. Vy Le

Multi-Valued Variational Inequalities and Inclusionsco-authored by Dr. Vy Le, professor of mathematics and statistics, focuses on a class of math problems for which the book is named.

Refusing to Kiss the Slipper: Opposition to Calvinism in the Francophone Reformation by Dr. Michael Bruening

Refusing to Kiss the Slipper: Opposition to Calvinism in the Francophone Reformation, by Dr. Michael Bruening, professor of history and political science, tells “a history of the losers” of the Reformation. These individuals include those who were opposed to John Calvin, a 16th-century theologian who had an enormous influence on the Reformation in the French-speaking world.

2020

Forged in Gold by Dr. Larry Gragg

Perhaps one of Dr. Larry Gragg’s most-read books, Forged in Gold, is available as an e-book now. It is a deep dive into Missouri S&T’s history and was commissioned to commemorate our 150th anniversary.

Murder in McComb: The Tina Andrews Case by Trent Brown

What remained of the badly decomposed body of twelve­-year­-old Tina Marie Andrews was discovered underneath a discarded sofa in the woods outside of McComb, Mississippi, on August 23, 1969.

Fostering Linguistic Equality: The SISE Approach to the Introductory Linguistics Course by Sarah E. Hercula

This book offers one possible solution in the pursuit of linguistic equality by exploring how the Structural Inquiry of Stigmatized English (SISE) approach to linguistics pedagogy can be used to empower linguistics students and researchers as ambassadors for change.

Organofluorine Chemistry: Synthesis and Applications by V. Prakash Reddy

This book gives a comprehensive outlook on modern synthetic methodologies for organofluorine compounds. Dr. Reddy passed away in 2024.

Communities and Knowledge Production in Archaeology (Social Archaeology and Material Worlds) by Kathleen Sheppard

The dynamic processes of knowledge production in archaeology and elsewhere in the humanities and social sciences are increasingly viewed as the collaborative effort of groups, clusters and communities of researchers rather than the isolated work of so-called ‘instrumental’ actors.

Please send an email to ghtkp@umsystem.edu or call 573-341-7765 if you believe a book has been mistakenly omitted.

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