Book Clubs

Meet students from other fields, read a book, and join a discussion.

Library bookshelves

Hosted by the Graduate School’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs and Office of Graduate Student Life, book clubs are a great way to meet other students, learn practical life lessons, and have a good time.

Summer 2022 Book Clubs

“Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman

Meeting Date: Wednesday, June 1 at 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET (in person, lunch provided)

Four Thousand Weeks book coverRejecting the futile modern obsession with ‘getting everything done,’ Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing rather than denying their limitations. Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman sets out to realign our relationship with time – and in doing so, to liberate us from its tyranny. (2021, Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Facilitated by Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs Jan Allen.

“The Productive Graduate Student Writer: How to Manage Your Time, Process, and Energy to Write Your Research Proposal, Thesis, and Dissertation and Get Published” by Jan Allen

Meeting Date Options: 
Thursday, June 2 at 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET (in person, lunch provided)
Monday, June 6 at 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET (remote via Zoom)

Book cover for Productive Graduate Student Writer

Join the author, Associate Dean Dr. Jan Allen, and your peers to discuss strategies for becoming a more productive writer and completing your degree. Attendees will receive a copy of the book, The Productive Graduate Student Writer: How to Manage Your Time, Process, and Energy to Write Your Research Proposal, Thesis, and Dissertation and Get Published.” (2019, Stylus Publishers).

“Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

Meeting Date Options: 
Tuesday, June 7 at 12:00 – 1:30 pm ET (in person, lunch provided)
Tuesday, June 14 at 12:00 – 1:30 pm ET (in person, lunch provided)

Designing Your Life book cover

In this book, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans show us how design thinking can help us create a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling, regardless of who or where we are, what we do or have done for a living, or how young or old we are. (2016, Knopf) Facilitated by Graduate Student Life Advisor Angela Yantorno.

“Sister Pie: The Recipes & Stories of a Big-Hearted Bakery in Detroit” by Lisa Ludwinski

Meeting Date:  Tuesday, June 7,  4:00 – 5:30 pm ET (in person, dinner provided)

Book cover for Sister Pie

Join Associate Dean Dr. Jan Allen to make a pie (to take home to bake), talk pie, eat pie and meet pie-loving and pie-novice friends. (2018, Lorena Jones Books)

 

“Options are Power: Career Strategies for High Performers Who Want a Life” by Donna Peters

Meeting Date: Friday, June 10 at 12:00 – 1:30 pm ET (in person, lunch provided)

Options Are Power book coverQuoting Amazon: “No matter where you are right now, you need options. When you have options, you’re in control. You make decisions from a position of strength. You run to something, not from something. Options Are Power provides strategies for surrounding yourself with options.” Join this session to come away with a personal plan to increase your career options. Hosted by the Executive Director of the Graduate School’s Careers Beyond Academia, Susi Varvayanis, and featuring in-person the author, Donna Peters MBA ’99. (2022, Elite Online Publishing)

“Stopping the Noise in Your Head: The New Way to Overcome Anxiety and Worry” by Reid Wilson

Meeting Date Options: 
Wednesday, June 22 at 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET (in person, lunch provided)
Wednesday, June 29 at 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET (remote via Zoom)

Stopping the Noise in Your Head book coverWe may have experienced how crippling excessive worrying can be, especially at a moment when there are constant thoughts that are distressful. “Stopping the Noise is Your Head: The New Way to Overcome Anxiety and Worry” by Dr. Reid Wilson provides tools and strategies for how to overcome anxiety and worry by moving away from comfort and security to willingly moving towards uncertainty, distress, and discomfort. The goal of this is for readers to learn how to confront anxiety head-on and step into the face of threat. (2016, Health Communications Inc.) Facilitated by Senior Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Life Janna Lamey.

“Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience” by Brené Brown

Meeting Date Options: 
Thursday, June 23 at 10:00 – 11:00 am ET (remote via Zoom)
Tuesday, June 28 at 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET (in person, lunch provided)

Atlas of the Heart book coverBrené Brown’s newest book, “Atlas of the Heart,” is sure to provide you with a better understanding of the human experience. In “Atlas of the Heart,” some eighty-seven emotions and experiences define what it means to be human and what is needed to cultivate meaningful connections. For the discussion, we will review “places we go when things are uncertain or too much” where we go when we are stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, worried, avoid, excited, dread, fear, and vulnerable. In addition, we will review “places we go when things don’t go as planned,” which includes, boredom, disappointment, expectations, regret, discouragement, resignation, and frustration. Finally, we will talk about “places we go when we search for connection,” including, belonging, fitting in, connection, disconnection, insecurity, invisibility, and loneliness. If these places sound familiar to you, come and join us for an open and honest conversation with Dr. Brown’s wisdom. (2021, Random House) Facilitated by Senior Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Life Janna Lamey.

“Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage” by Alfred Lansing

Meeting Date: Tuesday, July 12 at 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET (in person, lunch provided)

Endurance book coverEndurance (by first time book author Alfred Lansing) is a book about the true story of Ernest Shackleton’s South Pole adventure/fiasco; an incredible treatise of persistence and positivity despite despair, with great lessons on leadership, teamwork, looking out for each other across differences (economic backgrounds, social status, experience, age, personalities, countries of origin) and learning from failure. We’ll also look at the amazing historical images taken by the photographer, Frank Hurley, that were part of an American Museum of Natural History’s exhibition. Come be inspired! (2015, Basic Books) Facilitated by the Executive Director of the Graduate School’s Careers Beyond Academia, Susi Varvayanis.