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Human Library: 2012 (Jan.)

The Human Library offers human books available to check out by readers curious to find out more about something the book has experienced or believes.

PREVIOUS TITLES (from January 2012)

Bagpiper Member of the "Eh" Team

This book is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada (eh?).  He is an activist, promoter, and fundraiser for causes promoting international civility, humanitarian aid, and quality of life for all people.  Hurricane Katrina and the San Diego wildfires are two disasters for which he has traveled and provided humanitarian aid.   A Highland bagpiper, he is co-founder of the USU bagpipe band, the Scotsmen, which has performed at many venues.  He loves his involvement with the USU international student population.

Common preconceptions:  All Canadians like hockey; Canadians are all very friendly and exceedingly polite;  Bagpipe players have red hair and names like "Angus"; Non-profit charities are all pretty much the same, no need to research who to give to

Common questions:  What do you wear under that kilt?  Do you say "eh" and "aboot"?  What is it like to be evacuated as a result of a disaster?  How does someone living in Logan, Utah learn to play the bagpipes?  How do you help someone else when your own safety is at risk?  How do you find out more about charities that need help?  Is it hard to learn the bagpipes?

Balancing Act: Mexican/American, Catholic/LDS

This book is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who migrated to the U.S. illegally.  Her parents eventually obtained U.S. citizenship, and she would like to share what it has been like being a minority and what it was like for the family during those years that they were illegal immigrants.  Though in ESL programs in addition to regular classes, she was not able to communicate fully in English until 3rd or 4th grade. From having to act out what she was trying to say as a kindergartner, to later being recommended for honors class, she is now working on a Master's degree.  Beside balancing Mexican and U.S. cultures and traditions, this book also draws on two religious traditions, the Catholicism she grew up with and the Mormonism she converted to as an adult.

Common preconceptions:  Children of illegal Mexican immigrants do not do well academically; the fact that someone doesn't speak English means they are lazy or ignorant; illegal immigrants do not become U.S. citizens

Common questions: Did you marry your husband to get U.S. citizenship?  Do you speak Mexican?

Being On the Air: College Radio and Being "Uncool"

"'Looking back twenty years from now, this is one of those moments I will remember," said my co-host as we positioned ourselves in front of the microphones for the first time.  It is only five years down the line, but I still reflect on the sessions I spun, the records I love and still love.  Please enjoy these brief stories about DJ-ing, working in college radio stations, and the occasional story about my brushes with rock stars.

Common preconceptions:  Radio DJs are all hipsters that have little to no taste in music; DJs are all about the money; college radio is a dying format; little to no oversight is given to college radio; DJs are automatically cool

Common questions:  What does a DJ do while on the air?  What controversial issues does a DJ have to work with?  Is radio a dying medium?  How can I become a radio DJ?

Colombian Immigrant: Beyond the Stereotype

This book is from Bogota, Colombia.  A college graduate, she immigrated to U.S. where she got her masters in Communication in Louisiana and moved to Utah to work on her PhD at U of U.  She works as a consultant online and works locally with diversity issues in Cache Valley, promoting multiculturalism.

Common preconceptions:  Colombian immigrants are poor and uneducated; they come out of drug and violence-ridden background; they are illegal immigrants; hispanic women immigrants work as maids and housekeepers

Common questions:  What is the difference between a green card and a visa?  Did you come to the U.S, because there are no job opportunities in Colombia?  Why do you look white?  Where did you learn your English?  Is Colombia very dangerous?  Is it hot?

Conversations Over Chemo Cocktails

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, this book underwent chemotherapy and radiation while working full-time.  During her treatment she never threw up and would like to share how she did that.  During this time, she learned about joy, gratitude, nutrition, exercise and how to let things flow.  She currently is working on a second B.S. degree in Religious Studies, and volunteering for a local hospice.

Common preconceptions:  When you are dealing with cancer, that is all you can do, it takes over your whole life.

Common questions:  Weren't you too sick to work full time?  What's good about cancer?

The Dark Side: Anthropologist in Marketing

This book works as a cultural anthropologist who studies consumer behavior and culture on behalf of marketing companies.  Some other anthropologists may view this type of work as going over to the dark side, using cultural anthropologist skills to help companies sell stuff.  She views her work more as research, finding out how people consume and why they buy one thing instead of another.

Common preconceptions:  Anthropologists live out in the jungle with the peoples they are studying; anthropologists study marginal, primitive or indigenous cultures; they are "drab, eccentric, elderly, bookish," and disheveled; they have little to do with anything outside of academia

Common questions:  Do you have a lot of cool bones at your house?

Extreme Weather Chaser

This book is a meteorologist who studies atmospheric phenomena such as measuring the lowest temperatures in record-breaking places like Peter Sinks.  He has chased storms in various parts of the country and is consulted by Hollywood movie studios and ad agencies for accurate weather predictions to facilitate shooting film in desired weather conditions.  He also investigates past weather conditions for forensic cases.  Other people think of bad weather as a nuisance; he thinks of bad weather as a fascinating opportunity to study it.

Common preconceptions:  Tornado chasers are all adrenaline junkies; they are "reckless yahoos who drive in reverse on interstate highways...through someone's  crops, or start fights in gas stations"; tornados involve cows and 18-wheelers swirling around inside the tornado;  if we had the technology and knew enough, we could fix the inversion problem in Cache Valley; global warming is created by humans and can be stopped by modifying human behavior

Common questions:  Why is the TV weather man/woman so often wrong about their weather predictions?  What do you think about global warming?


Female Gamer

This book is a fantasy/sci-fi gaming nerd.  This scientist and educator plays Dungeons and Dragons, anything made by BioWare, Magic the Gathering, and a bunch of board games. She's not big into FPS, World of Warcraft, or fighting games, but she's open to chat.  Come with an open mind or challenge her to Magic. (We hope she remembers her deck.)

Common preconceptions:  Female gamers don't exist; female gamers only want attention; games are addictive and suck up all your time;  violent games make people more violent;  there is nothing socially redeeming about games

Common questions:  What are FPS, Dungeons and Dragons, Magic, and the World of Warcraft?  Which games are the most popular?  Why do you play games?  Are all games violent?  Do you need a computer to play games?

From Haiti to Health Care: Learning from the Human Experience

This book has provided humanitarian aid in Haiti twice.  First time was 14 days after the 2010 earthquake when he provided health care in the ruins of General Hospital and in tent cities around Port-au-Prince.  He has just returned from his second trip (December) when he helped build a community center in the small agricultural community of Papaye.  He wants to learn how to contribute to long term solutions to Haiti's problems.  He has worked in health care for 32 years, the last 12 in mental health working with people of all ages.  Problems he helps with include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, , autism, personality disorders, and various forms of abuse.

Common preconceptions: Providing humanitarian relief is hopeless; people in Haiti should be able to help themselves; if you are a professional with a full time job, you can't spare the time to provide humanitarian help

Common questions:  Why help people with problems so big they haven't been solved in decades -- why subject yourself to this frustrating experience?  What is it that you do to help people?  How do you meet your own needs when people around you need the basics so desperately?

From Small Town to Big World: The Making of a World Traveler

This book grew up in Richmond, Utah, participating in 4-H and learning to parallel park between bales of hay.  Despite these small rural town beginnings, she has blossomed into a world traveler and developed exotic, colorful tastes in food, apparel, and music.  How did this come about?  She learned about Chinese and Hawaiian culture from three older half-siblings whose father was Chinese/Hawaiian and has toured the world, visiting 11 countries.  Traveling experiences include Study Abroad programs in Europe and Asia, financing micro-credit as an intern in Ghana, and cruising with friends to Mexico.  

Common preconceptions: People who grow up in Cache Valley and go to USU for college probably have not experienced much of the world; If you live in a small town, you must like country music

Common questions:  How were you able to afford to do so much world traveling?

Half-Full or Half-Empty?

This Texas-born book is half white/half latina.  She moved around a lot as a child.  In 3rd grade, her teacher told her she needed to decide if she was going to be white or latina. Because she is light-skinned, people are often surprised to find how involved she is with Latino culture.  She is a Latin dancer, a first-generation college student, a member of the Domestic Peace Corps (AmeriCorps VISTA), and has studied abroad in Bulgaria.

Common preconceptions:  People who are all or part Latino speak Spanish as their first language, English as their second;  Their behavior and character are determined by their Latino ethnicity; Whites can't dance

Common questions:  Do you have a driver's license or a green card?  Why don't you choose one ethnicity or the other -- how can you be both?

Harmonious Diversity in a small Middle East country: Told by a Lebanese Muslim and a Lebanese Christian

This book is a two volume set (i.e. two people) and discusses how the people of Lebanon, a small country in the Middle East, are managing to peacefully exist and collaborate in an area where cultures are clashing.  Lebanon has 3.5 million people across 4,000 square miles, 40% Christian and 60% Muslim, with 18 religious sects.

Common preconceptions:  All countries in the Middle East experience constant war; Christians and Muslims can't get along

Common questions:  How did this country wind up being nearly half Christian and half Muslim?  What  accounts for the harmonious coexistence of different religions in Lebanon in contrast to the situation in some other Middle East countries? 

Is the Road Really That Long? Is There Even a Road?

This book is a gay black male who grew up in hard circumstances, surviving homelessness and molestation.  After obtaining a GED, he attended college.  In his second year of college, he took on raising his brothers after his mother passed away.  After graduating with a wealth of experience and dreams of success, he spent six months without any kind of work.  "It was the most depressing time in my young adult life" he says.  "Though that experience was very hard, many good things came out of it.  I am preparing to undertake my master's degree in England, I have an understanding of what my mother went through raising a family on limited means, and I learned how to throw down a feast for next to nothing!"

Common preconceptions:  Gay people are faithless; not having a regular high school diploma means you can't go anywhere in life; if you aren't walking the same road as everyone else, you are lost

Common questions:  What good has come from the adversity you faced?  Aren't you angry about the things that have happened to you?  How do you handle being out of work for six months following graduation?

Leaving ED Behind Me

This book has dealt with with eating disorders (ED) since she was 14 years old.  She struggled with bulimia and anorexia through her college years at USU, but since being treated at the Center for Change, she is "in a much healthier place" with a steady relationship, pets, and a good life.

Common preconceptions:  People with eating disorders are drastically underweight and look like skeletons; only white teenage girls having eating disorders; eating disorders are a choice people make, they could stop any time

Common questions:  Why don't you just eat normally?

Live Out Loud

This book started life in a small rural town and became a globetrotter working with diplomats. She juggles the multiple responsibilities of caring for an aging parent, coming to terms with life long health concerns, and being a single parent. None of this impacts her passion for pursuing the life she wants to live. On her journey toward balance, she is committed to the emotional and spiritual journey of knowing one's self.  She is pursuing a college degree and has even worked in Africa, taking her young son with her.

Common preconceptions:  Going to school and being a single parent can't be done; single parents can't travel abroad with children; extracurricular experiences are only open to traditional students; once you have a child you have to put the rest of your life on hold; if you have health issues you might as well give up career or adventure; romance is not acceptable for single parents; young women are too inexperienced to be competent; young single mothers are irresponsible and leave childcare to grandparents

Common questions: What did you do in Africa?  Where did you go?  How did you manage childcare and school for your child while you were overseas?  Did you have to take care of your parents and your child at the same time?  Were you resentful of having to take care of your parents as a young adult?  What is your approach to dealing with difficulty in life?  Is it possible to keep a positive attitude in the face of diversity?  What support have you had to make all of your activities possible?

Living Large, but Blind

This book was born in India, raised in Dubai, and has  lived in U.S. since he came to USU alone to attend school when he was 17.  He speaks 4 languages and travels the world for both business and pleasure.  He enjoys returning to the Middle East to visit family and friends.  Despite the images of the Middle East conveyed by media focus on war-torn areas, most of the people living in the Middle East lead normal lives and are in less danger of getting killed than people living in West Valley, UT.  He advocates for civil rights for people with disabilities, traveling often to Washington DC and elsewhere as needed.  This book is a big outdoors enthusiast -- he hikes, backpacks, waterskis, kayaks, camps and more.  This book also happens to be blind.

Common preconceptions:  Blind people need to be led by the hand to get around; Blind people cannot freely travel; living or visiting anywhere in the Middle East is dangerous

Common questions:  Can I pet your dog?  Aren't you scared to travel to the Middle East?

Mormon Turned Pagan

This book was raised L.D.S. but has been a pagan since he was 18.  Consequences of his beliefs include loss of family and friends as well as discrimination at work and school.  Paganism refers to non-Abrahamic (Islam, Christianity, Judaism), polytheistic (more than one God) religious traditions such as: Polytheism (Egyptian, Celtic, Norse, and Hellenic), Ethnic/Folk religions (Native American, Chinese folk, African traditional religion), and Neopaganism.

Common preconceptions:  All pagans are: Wiccans/Witches; devil worshippers; atheistic; immoral; Renaissance Faire types who dress in weird clothes; believe in Free Love; bisexual or gay; despise Christians; Goths; violent and antisocial; barefoot, hairy and unwashed; tree huggers; crystal fanatics, hippies, vegans; tattooed and pierced; nudists

Common questions:  What is a Pagan?  Do you worship Satan?  Do you use black magic?  What is a Book of Shadows/Grimoire? Are you tree huggers?  Aren't Pagans immoral?  Do Pagans perform sacrifices?

Not My Kind of Party

This book grew up in Hungary during its communist era and worked as a teacher for several years.  When she was in her 20s, she married an American and they moved to Germany before eventually coming to the U.S.  She has lived in various places in the U.S., settling in Logan in 2003.  Living in a small town in Hungary with a strong family and friends network enabled her to live "below the radar" so she did not feel the restrictions and hardships as keenly as people living in Budapest and other cities.  This book has lived in several countries amid several cultures and languages; she feels that people are people regardless of location.

Common preconceptions:  Everyone who lives in Eastern Europe is a communist; people who live in the U.S. are "free" people; Western politicians, like President Obama, who attempt to improve social services, are socialists; people are victims of their circumstances and have little control over their satisfaction or happiness in life; all liberals are socialists.

Common questions:  Were the living conditions the same in all Eastern Bloc countries? Was there religion behind the iron curtain? What stereotypes did you have about Americans growing up? What kinds of government control did you experience? How do you feel about living in the United States? Do you miss your home country?

Perpetual Minority

This book considers herself a "perpetual minority."  She was born and raised LDS in Mexico City where Catholicism is predominant.  When she came to Utah, she thought she would finally be like everyone else, but instead has encountered discrimination because she is so obviously Mexican.  Even within the Hispanic LDS community, she is different because she is a female ex-missionary.  She is in a bi-cultural marriage, the mother of small children, a community volunteer, a full-time employee, and full-time student.  She says "I am improving myself to break stereotypes and inspire my children and others to do the same."

Common preconceptions: Anyone with a Hispanic accent must be an illegal alien; being busy with school and work conflicts with being a mother

Common questions:  Did you marry to obtain citizenship?  What language do you speak at home?

Sprosty: Czech for Indecent

This book was born and raised in Vernal, Utah but traveled as a child to a lot to places, and lived in South Korea, due to his father's work.  During high school he started to self-identify as gay, but did not "come out" because of fears his peers and LDS family would reject him.  He finally became openly gay in college, has had a long-term relationship, and is active in the gay community, currently serving as president of LIFE, the campus Gay Student Association.

Common preconceptions: Gays are promiscuous, exhibit effeminate mannerisms, invariably have good taste, abuse alcohol and drugs, and are not religious.  When two gay men are out somewhere together, people assume they are dating.  It's okay to say "that's so gay" to mean "that's so stupid"

Common questions:  Who is the boy in your couple?  Do you want to get married?  Do you want to have kids?

Striving to Survive While Making Good on Second Chances

A Hispanic male born and raised in Logan, this book experienced the negative effects of various kinds of abuse as a child and later personally struggled with alcoholism.  He converted from Catholicism to Mormonism and went on a mission to Tijuana, Mexico.  A significant work injury has kept him out of school and work for the last five years, but he has used that time to stop drinking alcohol.  His message is that we all make mistakes and face challenges; it is how we view these events and react to them that determines our level of success and happiness.  An important thing he learned from his academic mentors is that when one receives a helping hand in time of need, it comes with an obligation to "Pay it Forward" and help others in need later.

Common preconceptions:  All Hispanics are from somewhere else than Cache Valley; all Hispanics have an accent, darker skin; once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic; your circumstances determine who you are

Common questions: Why don't you have an accent?  As a formerly very active person, how do you cope with not being able to play sports now that you are hurt?  How do you break the cycle of abuse?

Top Ramen for the "Mature" College Student's Soul

This book returned to college at 25.  He says "I raised my brothers in a hard part of Dallas, Texas after my mother passed away and decided to move to Utah to give them (and myself) a better chance.  While in college I went through the self discovery that many college students experience.  For part of the time I was still raising a fifteen-year old brother so that definitely added a different element to the college experience."  He attended college in Dallas and at BYU,  returning to college life and graduating from USU.  At USU he was in a fraternity.

Common preconceptions:  All fraternity students like to do is drink; black people come to Utah to play sports; life ends at 25; age defines who you are; you can only do certain things at certain ages

Common questions:  Why did you go back to school?  You're black, so did you come to USU to play sports?  Are mature students accepted in fraternities? 

Unitarian Universalists: Don't They Believe Anything and Everything?

This book is a Unitarian Universalist and member of the Cache Community Connections Civic and Inter-faith Council.  Six of our U.S. Presidents and several signers of the Declaration of Independence were Unitarians.  Unitarians (a single God, not trinity) and Universalists (all people will eventually be saved) merged in 1961 and evolved significantly to a point where they now include the traditions of world religions. 

Common preconceptions:   Unitarian Universalism is a new age, cult-like religion; they can't make their mind up about what they believe

Common questions:  How do you accommodate so many different beliefs?  Can I really believe anything I want and come to your church?  What's this thing about coffee?  Why does Garrison Keillor make fun of you?

A Victim No More

Growing up this book was a victim of child abuse by both her overly protective parents.  She learned it could happen for any reason, her father's misplaced anger or even not cleaning the bathroom correctly.  She wants to talk to people about how it has affected her life, how it made her independent and how she stopped being a victim. 

Common preconceptions:  Abuse victims are weak.  Victims allow it to happen.  Victims hate their abusers.  They could leave but they choose not to.  You can't recover after being an abuse victim.

Common questions:  Why do you go back home when there is a possibility of abuse?  How do you emotionally cope with abuse?  Have your feelings about being abused changed over time?  Has the situation changed over time?  Has the abuse had any influence on your relationships with other people?

The View from (Not Quite) the Top

This book is an accomplished professional, chairs comittees, and teaches university classes.  She is active in her church. She is outgoing and articulate.  In every appearance this book is a leader. Yet she is a self-described "second-in-command" and likes it that way.   She rejects society's notion that if you aren't number one, you are just first among the losers.  What do you do, she asks, if you are better suited to being the "henchman" rather than the "evil overlord"?

Common preconceptions:  Everyone should be a leader or strive to be one.  You are a failure if you are not "Number 1".  You should decide on life goals during college and stick to them

Common questions:  Why don't you want to be a leader?  Isn't there anything you want to be "Number 1" at?  What does a henchman do?

"To Boldly Go..." Female Scientist/Veterinary Technician

This book is a 27-year-old from South Florida.  She attended Catholic and Southern-Baptist schools until entering a high school for the gifted. She was the first in her family to go to college. With full-ride scholarships, she earned 2 baccalaureate degrees in 5 years: BS in Biological Science and BA in Liberal Studies.  She has worked in research for 3 years and education for 10+ years; she taught biology labs and remedial English at Miami Dade College; she was also a Veterinary Technician. If you want some veterinary tips and stories, she'll share - but be warned that she worked in an emergency facility.  Ask her anything but equations. ("I never memorize the things.")

Common preconceptions: Women can't do science.  Science is really boring.  People from non-academic families can't excel in higher education.

Common questions: Why do we have so few women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics?  What is it like to be a biological researcher?  What jobs can you get with a science degree?

What's a Girl Like You Doing Here?

This book is from Armenia.  She is a Huntsman scholar in International Studies, but this is not her first time in the U.S.  Her journey began at the age of 16 when she lived in Boston as an exchange student with and African-American family from Uganda.  Moving from Armenia to Boston, and eventually to Logan, Utah has kept this book on her toes.  She knows what it's like to deal with culture shock and how to overcome it.

Common preconceptions:  All international students are super-smart and study all the time; all international students drink and smoke, and must be alcoholics

Common questions:  Where do you feel most at home?  How many languages do you speak?  What is the difference between studying here and in Armenia?  So, you're not from around here--where are you from?

What's in a Legend: Experiencing the World through a Folklorist's Lens

This book is a world-renowned folklorist and exceptional folk singer who would like to talk about local legends and explain the nature of folklore and and the role it plays in society.  He can share some of the interesting experiences his students have had while investigating local folklore.  He can speak on many aspects of Utah folklore unknown to most people – including gems contained in USU’s folklore collection.  He can also share amazing stories about his time spent living with (and getting adopted by!) the Navajo people.   

Common preconceptions:  Folklorists do the same things as anthropologists.  The stories of St. Anne’s Retreat and Old Ephraim are just stories and don’t serve any larger purpose for local culture.  The Navajo people are humorless and serious all the time.  All local legends are wildly exaggerated.

Common questions:  What is proper etiquette when meeting a member of the Navajo tribe?  What does a folklorist do?  What are some of the strangest local legends?  How can I find out about Mormon folklore?