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Beyond Fossil Fools: The Roadmap to Energy Independence by 2040
By Joseph Shuster (B.S. ’55)
Beaver’s Pond Press, 2008
Shuster, a retired chemical engineer and entrepreneur, has been sounding the alarm for 25 years about relying on fossil fuels. Now he’s laid out a plan for achieving energy independence in 30 years— and explains how doing so will lead to an unprecedented economic boom. He spells out the problems with oil, coal, and natural gas—including pollution and the depletion of reserves—and then poses a plan for transitioning to cellulosic ethanol, algae biodiesel, and wind, solar, and nuclear energy (by far the safest energy industry in the world, he writes). The 19 steps to getting there include aggressively funding renewable energy research, creating incentives for students to study engineering, and demanding leadership from public officials.

The Citizen Solution: How You Can Make a Difference
By Harry Boyte
Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2008
Boyte, a senior fellow at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, offers a toolkit for repairing what he calls the slash-and-burn politics of the present day. What’s needed, he argues, is a new understanding of democracy and the ongoing work of citizens focusing on issues close to home. The Citizen Solution is a useful and inspiring blend of philosophy and down-to-earth suggestions for creating a broad-based citizen movement.

In Cod We Trust: Living the Norwegian Dream
By Eric Dregni (M.A. ’03, M.F.A. ’07)
University of Minnesota Press, 2008
Dregni recounts his young family’s adventures in the land of his ancestors when he travels to Norway for a year on a Fulbright scholarship. Just as his great grandfather Ellef had left Norway to pursue the American dream, Dregni finds himself out of place in a new land. With humor, honesty, and an anthropological eye, he observes the culture’s love of butter, myriad ways of preserving fish, and generous health-care system, which he experienced with the birth of son Eilif (Norwegian baby names rejected include Odd, Svein, Ole, and Dag, pronounced “dog”). He locates the fjord where his ancestors lived and comes to understand why Ellef left—and why he, the great grandson, was drawn back.

 Lake Superior’s Historic North Shore: A Guided Tour
By Deborah Morse-Kahn (B.S. ’79)
Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2008
Anyone who travels Minnesota’s Highway 61 between Duluth and Grand Portage ought to keep this book in the glove compartment. Morse-Kahn, a public historian concerned about the rapidly changing territory along Lake Superior, has created a guide that celebrates the heritage of the area, including its geological past, the history of Native Americans and the fur trade, and the development of fishing villages and tourist lodges. Organized by legs of the journey up the shore, the guide includes maps, locations of historical sites, information on lodging and other resources, and nearly 65 photographs.

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 Wineries of Wisconsin and Minnesota
By Patricia Monaghan (B.A. ’67, M.A. ’71)
Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2008
In a user-friendly guide to 55 wineries in Wisconsin and Minnesota, author and grape grower Patricia Monaghan chronicles the colorful history and dynamic present of the region’s wine industry. The book’s centerpiece is a series of 13 “wine trails” that paints a picture of each winery’s setting and unique flavor and includes detailed information and maps for visiting the wineries. Of special interest is the book’s exploration of the vital role that University of Minnesota researchers played in developing cold-hardy grapes.