Jacobo’s Rainbow
Fredric Price WG69, writing as David Hirshberg
Fig Tree Books
In his latest novel, Fredric Price writes of being an outsider, of social upheaval, and the turbulence of war in the 1960s through the eyes of Jacobo Toledano. Upon leaving his small Jewish community for college, Jacobo is exposed to the internal workings of the Free Speech Movement on his campus and finds himself part of a protest that ultimately gets him sent to jail — and, eventually, war. Price, writing under the pseudonym David Hirshberg, has received several accolades for his work, including the 2021 Independent Press Award for Literary Fiction and the National Indie Excellence Award for 2021 Best Regional Fiction in the Southwest.
Survivor: Life in the SAS
Mark Wales WG14
Pan Macmillan Australia
“There is a side of war that is rarely told by those who experience its rough embrace,” begins Mark Wales in his author’s note for this autobiography. In the book, Wales recounts his journey to becoming a soldier for the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and his subsequent experiences of war in Afghanistan. The book also chronicles his struggle to recover from what he witnessed and his return to civilian life, including his path to Wharton and his professional success since.
The Altruistic Capitalist: How to Lead for Purpose and Profit
Lynn Yap WG10
New Degree Press
In her new book, Lynn Yap demonstrates how socially and environmentally conscious business practices can benefit businesses and communities alike. Initially inspired by the quick convergence of public and corporate interests during the pandemic, Yap argues that profits can increase significantly when businesses act in the name of public interest or invest in communal resources. The Altruistic Capitalist explores the idea that sustainable practices are mutually beneficial to firms and consumers, and helps pave the way forward for a new brand of business.
Bringing Up the Boss: Practical Lessons for New Managers
Rachel Pacheco WG11 GRW21
Matt Holt
In Bringing Up the Boss, alumna Rachel Pacheco offers a comprehensive field guide for managers at fast-growing startups. Divided into three parts — managing individuals, managing teams, and managing yourself — the book touches on integral skills to help managers ensure smooth-functioning workplaces, good habits, and healthy working relationships. With a touch of humor, Pacheco — who is also a management instructor at Wharton and Penn’s Graduate School of Education — encourages readers to acknowledge their own managerial mistakes before offering invaluable advice for the future. [Publishing August 10, 2021]
Retiring? Your Next Chapter Is About Much More Than Money
Ted Kaufman WG66 and Bruce Hiland WG66
Houndstooth Press
“Four years ago, we were comparing experiences and discovered how many friends, acquaintances, and former colleagues were unhappy in their retirements,” Wharton classmates Ted Kaufman and Bruce Hiland write in their new book. According to other retirees they spoke to, it was easy to get caught up and complete the financial planning necessary for a successful retirement, but what about the other aspects of life after work? In response, Kaufman and Hiland wrote a handbook for planning out the nonfinancial facets of retirement, ranging from combating boredom to managing physical, social, and emotional health.
The Conscience Code: Lead With Your Values. Advance Your Career.
G. Richard Shell
HarperCollins Leadership
Based on his own students’ reports of unethical behaviors in the workplace, Wharton professor G. Richard Shell aims to provide readers with the tools necessary to stand by their moral convictions in high-pressure environments. Structured around 10 rules, The Conscience Code offers professionals a step-by-step action plan for when employers, bosses, and co-workers fall short of their values.
Big Med: Megaproviders and the High Cost of Health Care in America
Lawton Burns and David Dranove
University of Chicago Press
Why has health care become so expensive? Some of the most common answers lay the blame on health-insurance companies and increasing drug costs. But according to research conducted by Wharton professor Lawton Burns and the Kellogg School of Management’s David Dranove, the fault might just lie with megaproviders: medical-care facilities that have been consolidated under one corporate head. In Big Med, Burns and Dranove trace how these health-care providers came to dominate the industry, and contemplate methods for driving down costs — while improving care — for consumers.
The Stranglehold
Curtis Pontz W61
Dorrance Publishing Company
Inspired by an argument between two friends that has extended for 14 years, Curtis Pontz’s The Stranglehold tackles the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, examining an important facet of an ever-evolving, complex global issue. Tracing the history that led to the creation of the Israeli state in the 1940s, Pontz argues that a key element preventing a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians is the topic of whether Israel was “justifiably and justly created.”
