We are pleased to present the 2020 Alumni Summer Reading List, a collection of exemplary books by alumni who published within the last year. From literary icons to fresh talent, discover the powerful voices from our alumni community across an array of genres, including an imaginative novel about race and conquest by Kacen Callender '14, a brilliant love story by Kevin Kwan '98, a moving memoir by Stephanie Danler
'14, provocative poetry by Megin Jiménez '04, an eye-opening discussion of economic theory by Stephanie Kelton '01, a vibrant exploration of Dominican culture by Renell Medrano '14, an inspiring youth story by Renée Watson '09, and much more.
Stay tuned for book talks with these alumni authors taking place on Instagram throughout summer.
Post photos of your summer reads on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #NewSchoolAlumni to share your thoughts on and insights into the books.
Do you have an upcoming book that you would like to have considered for next year's Alumni Summer Reading List? Contact us at alumni@newschool.edu.
Fiction
Christopher Beha, MFA Creative Writing '05
The Index of Self-Destructive Acts
Kacen Callender, MFA Creative Writing '14
Queen of the Conquered
Sarah Gerard, MFA in Creative Writing '12
True Love
Emily Gould, BA Liberal Arts '04
Perfect Tunes
Kevin Kwan, BFA Photography '98
Sex and Vanity
Sam Lansky, BA Literary Studies '12
Broken People
Marco Rafala, MFA Creative Writing '06
How Fires End
Sara Rauch, BA Liberal Arts '03
What Shines from It
David Rice, MFA Creative Writing '19
Angel House
Polly Rosenwaike, MFA Creative Writing '09
Look How Happy I'm Making You
Jessica Sticklor, BA Liberal Arts '06
The Beekeeper's Daughter
Rufi Thorpe, BA Liberal Arts '06
The Knockout Queen
Memoir
Stephanie Danler, MFA Creative Writing '14
Stray
Greg Mania, MA Media Studies '17
Born To Be Public
Allison Moorer, MFA Creative Writing '17
Blood
Leila Taylor, MA Liberal Studies '18
Darkly: Black History and America's Gothic Soul
Social Sciences & Essays
Heather Boushey, MA Economics '96 & PhD Economics '98
Unbound: How Inequality Constricts Our Economy and What We Can Do about It
Lilly Dancyger, BA Literary Studies '11
Burn It Down: Women Writing about Anger
Andrew Gittlitz, BA Literary Studies '10
I Want to Believe: Posadism, UFOs, and Apocalypse Communism
Kathy Gunst, BA Liberal Arts '80
Rage Baking: The Transformative Power of Flour, Fury, and Women's Voices
Stephanie Kelton, PhD Economics '01
The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People's Economy
Mikaela Kiner, MS Human Resources Management '97
Female Firebrands: Stories and Techniques to Ignite Change, Take Control, and Succeed in the Workplace
Matthew Linck, PhD Philosophy '04
Wakefulness and World: An Invitation to Philosophy
Masha Tupitsyn, BA Liberal Arts '00 & MFA Creative Writing '19
Picture Cycle
Eve Turow-Paul, MFA Creative Writing '13
Hungry: Avocado Toast, Instagram Influencers, and Our Search for Connection and Meaning
Art & Design
Amy Azzarito, MA History of Decorative Arts and Design '09
The Elements of a Home: Curious Histories Behind Everyday Household Objects, from Pillows to Forks
Lisa Marie Basile, MFA Creative Writing '12
The Magical Writing Grimoire: Use the Word as Your Wand for Magic, Manifestation & Ritual
Alison King, BFA Illustration '97 & BA Liberal Arts '97
Making Architecture
Renell Medrano, BFA Photography '14
Pampara
Ray Mock, BA Liberal Arts '02
Chelsea Hotel: Living in the Last Bohemian Haven
Jack Roberts, BA Liberal Arts '04 & MS Strategic Design and Management '19
Echo Designs Her Way Out of a Paper Bag: a book about how to change anything using design thinking (& storytelling!)
Literature for Children & Young Adults
Kacen Callender, MFA Creative Writing '14
Felix Ever After
Sona Charaipotra, MFA Creative Writing '12
Symptoms of a Heartbreak
Charlotte Davis, MFA Creative Writing '16
The Good Luck Girls
Kristina Forest, MFA Creative Writing '16
Now That I've Found You
DuEwa Frazier, MFA Creative Writing '11
Alice's Musical Debut
Anna Meriano, MFA Creative Writing '15
Love Sugar Magic: A Mixture of Mischief
Amy Spalding, MA Media Studies '13
We Used to Be Friends
Renée Watson, BA Liberal Arts '09
Ways to Make Sunshine
Poetry
Megin Jiménez, MFA Creative Writing '04
Mongrel Tongue
Mai Perkins, MA International Affairs '15
The Walking Nerve Ending
Matthew Thorburn, MFA Creative Writing '01
The Grace of Distance
Faculty
Claire Potter, Professor of History
Political Junkies: From Talk Radio to Twitter, How Alternative Media Hooked Us on Politics and Broke Our Democracy