Paul A. Cummins '80, Quantum Entanglement (Available on Kindle Books). A fast-paced thriller starring scientist Tom Graves, whose research into quantum physics leads him to create a "God" device that just might lead to world peace. Naturally, the earthly powers-that-be are very interested. Flashes of philosophy bring depth to the storyline—is Graves' creation science, or religion?

Jeff Jewitt '76, Spray Finishing Made Simple (Taunton). This guide, which covers everything from building your own knock-down spray booth to tips on adding toner to spray finishes, deserves a place on any serious woodworker's bookshelf. Illustrated with photos and packaged with a how-to DVD video.

Cheryl Lachowski '78, The Secret Life of Hardware (FutureCycle Press). Lachowski takes ordinary objects—pliers, a hinge, paint—as titles for her economical poems, and the sum is far greater than its parts. Take "Twopenny Nails:" "Being the least / and most numerous / among us / it is said / they are blessed / / and / like every blade / of grass / have souls."

Adam Lazarus '04 and Steve Schlossman, Chasing Greatness: Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer, and the Miracle at Oakmont (New American Library). Lazarus and Schlossman build a riveting narrative around one of golf's historic upsets: the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, where an unknown named Johnny Miller beat out an astonishing roster of greats that included Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

David Meerman Scott '83 and Brian Halligan, Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead: What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Before "guru" became a term used to describe CFOs, the Grateful Dead were carving out a path to marketing enlightenment. Authors Scott and Halligan posit that the Dead pioneered many of today's business trends, such as viral marketing, choosing memorable brand names, being willing to experiment, and offering free content.

Frank Svec '68, Adieu, My Belarus (Lulu). Brothers Franchev and Yaroslev grow up on their father's estate in turn-of-the-century Russia, privy to the nation-shaking changes taking place around them.

Frank Svec '68, Immortal Remains (Lulu). An archaeologist discovers the most famous missing body in history, and becomes a pawn in the struggle of nations.

Jeffrey S. Theis '79, Writing the Forest in Early Modern England. Theis, an associate professor of English at Salem State College, interweaves literary analysis with the history of English forests in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Issues of ownership, spirituality, and environmentalism shape this insightful examination.