Miniature snowman near on Feeney Way
Need a gift for family or friends ahead of the holidays? Browse some of the books published this year by alumni and faculty from within the SC Johnson College of Business.
Every December, millions decorate homes and public spaces with Christmas trees, yet few ask where this tradition began — or if it will endure amid climate change and artificial replicas. In “Evergreen,” Trent Preszler, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management explores humanity’s deep bond with evergreens, showing how they shaped economies, culture and America’s rise.
“Evergreen trees shape nearly every aspect of American life, whether we notice their presence or not,” Preszler says. “From the wood-framed houses we live in and the coffee cups we drink from to the wars we fought and the holiday traditions we hold dear, evergreens are everywhere. My book reveals how deeply our everyday lives are intertwined with forests, and why their future is inseparable from our own.”
“The Purposeful Leader” by Neil C. Tarallo offers a practical, research-informed guide to navigating the complexities of modern leadership through multi-dimensional thinking. Tarallo shows how effective leaders combine causal and effectual reasoning to make confident decisions under uncertainty. The book bridges theory and real-world application with tools designed to help leaders translate across diverse perspectives and pivot with integrity.
“As the world grows faster and more unpredictable, many people feel pressure to have answers they don’t yet have,” Tarallo says. “The Purposeful Leader provides a steady framework for thinking and deciding under uncertainty, whether you’re leading others or simply trying to lead yourself well.”
Through vivid stories and photographs, Calvin Stovall, MPS ’93 covers the entire chronology of Black hospitality, from the Royal Navy Hotel, an eighteenth-century establishment managed by a free woman of color, to significant fixtures during the Green Book era, such as the Majestic Hotel — a city unto itself — as well as the Hotel Theresa, where historical figures were known to unpack their bags. All along, Stovall captures how Black hoteliers not only built businesses but also created dynamic spaces that were more than places to stay — they were lively centers of Black art, music, and social life, influencing the broader society around them.
“African American contributions to the world of hospitality are too little known because they have been too little documented,” Stovall says.
“Fine Young People” is a cold-case mystery with a Hitchcockian twist and a portrait of a young woman searching for meaning in a world that values achievement above all else. Written by Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management alum Anna Bruno, MBA ’10, the novel explores a world of high finance, wealth and corruption, which influence an elite private school. It is perfect for readers who love campus mysteries, page-turning plots and wry social commentary.
“I hope “Fine Young People” makes readers laugh — at themselves, their institutions, the sacred and the ordinary — cry once or twice, then feel joy,” Bruno said in an Instagram post announcing the book.