The Smead Book List - Spring Book List

Erwin Chemerinsky and Howard Gillman explore the complex landscape of free expression in higher education, balancing rights and campus safety. The book surveys case law, campus policies, and cultural conflicts that shape speech debates. It highlights recurring tradeoffs and unintended consequences of various regulatory approaches. The authors offer frameworks for navigating disputes while preserving academic mission and student welfare. The work is aimed at administrators, policymakers, and readers interested in constitutional and campus issues.

Justin Baer traces the rise and development of Fidelity Investments, chronicling its founders, strategic decisions, and industry impact. The book examines how Fidelity shaped mutual fund distribution, marketing, and retail investing in America. Baer explores internal corporate culture, regulatory interactions, and competitive dynamics. The narrative highlights key moments that defined the firm's growth and reputation. It provides insight into the evolution of asset management and the role Fidelity played in expanding retail participation in markets.

Andrew Ross Sorkin's '1929' offers a detailed and engaging account of the Great Crash, drawing parallels between the financial and social dynamics of the 1920s and today. The book delves into the human drama behind the crisis, using extensive research from diaries, letters, and transcripts to recreate the events leading up to the crash.

In 'Seven Crashes: The Economic Crises That Shaped Globalization', Harold James examines seven pivotal economic crises from the Great Famine of the 1840s to the COVID-19 pandemic. He explores how these crises have influenced global economic integration and redefined political and economic structures. The book highlights the transformative nature of crises, often leading to significant changes in global economic policies and institutions.

'The Crazies', directed by George A. Romero, is a gripping horror film about a small town infected by a government-created virus that induces violent insanity. As the infection spreads, martial law is declared, and the military struggles to contain the outbreak. The film explores themes of paranoia, government control, and the breakdown of social order. Amidst the chaos, a small group of uninfected individuals fights to survive and escape the madness. 'The Crazies' is noted for its realistic portrayal of societal collapse and its exploration of the dark side of human nature. The film's suspenseful atmosphere and thought-provoking themes make it a chilling and relevant commentary on the fragility of civilization.

This book is a compilation of Charlie Munger's insights drawn from his decades of experience. It focuses on the importance of worldly wisdom, which involves using a range of different models from various disciplines such as psychology, history, mathematics, and philosophy to make better judgments and achieve long-term success. The book is essentially a condensed version of the contents found in 'Poor Charlie’s Almanack'.

Boom and Bust: A Global History of Financial Bubbles provides a comprehensive historical analysis of significant financial bubbles, from the Mississippi and South Sea bubbles to the subprime and Chinese stock bubbles. The authors introduce the 'bubble triangle' framework, which identifies marketability, money and credit, and speculative behavior as key components of financial bubbles. They explore how technological innovation and government policies often trigger these bubbles, and discuss their economic, social, and political impacts.

The novel, narrated by Alexei Ivanovich, revolves around his employment as a tutor for a Russian family in a German hotel and casino town. Alexei is deeply in love with Polina, the General's stepdaughter, but his attempts to win her affection through gambling lead to a cycle of addiction and financial turmoil. The story reflects Dostoevsky's own struggles with gambling and explores themes of love, debt, and the psychological effects of compulsive gambling. The novel is known for its vivid descriptions of the casino environment and the psychological state of its characters.

In 'The Forgotten Man,' Amity Shlaes offers a striking reinterpretation of the Great Depression by shifting the focus from the New Deal to the moving stories of individual Americans who endured the era. The book explores the brave leadership and perseverance of common people, such as the Schechters, a family of butchers in Brooklyn, and Bill W., the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Shlaes also examines the failures of Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt in understanding the prosperity of the 1920s and the long-lasting impact of their policies. The book argues that the real question about the Depression is why it lasted so long, rather than whether Roosevelt ended it with World War II.

This New York Times bestseller, now in its fifth edition, provides a reassuring month-by-month overview of pregnancy, covering baby's development, partner's changes, father's emotional and physical experiences, labor, delivery, and early postpartum months. Updated with the latest on fertility, prenatal care, work-life balance, financial planning, and insights from OB-GYNs, researchers, and real parents, it includes stress-relieving cartoons and emphasizes active father involvement for better outcomes.

The book details Evans's journey from his childhood to becoming a radio star, film actor, and eventually the production chief of Paramount Pictures. It includes his marriage to Ali MacGraw, his downfall due to a cocaine bust and implication in the 'Cotton Club Murder,' and his return to the studio in the early 1990s. The memoir is known for its candid and entertaining account of Evans's life, filled with anecdotes about the business of filmmaking and his interactions with various Hollywood figures.