Five & Why: What Lobos love to read

It’s hard not to be inspired when reading about the lives of heroes and their epic journeys, or even about the inner journey to enlightenment an ordinary person embarks on. Every story has something worth hearing. UNM President Bob Frank’s five favorite books are full of inspiring stories that all share one theme: overcoming obstacles.

1. “Angle of Repose” by Wallace Stegner

“(This is) a story of four generations of a family carving the western frontier and self-learning by the author. (Stegner is) one of the best wordsmiths — (he) really has a way with words.”

2. “Straight Man” by Richard Russo

“The chair of an underfunded department tries to navigate between the many forces he faces, including a malicious duck. (Russo is) an exquisite writer. He’s very funny and has a great use of humor. (He is) a favorite contemporary writer (of mine).”

3. “Blood and Thunder” by Hampton Sides

“(This is) the story of New Mexico as seen through the life of Kit Carson. (Sides) lives in Santa Fe, one of my and Janet’s favorites. If you want to know more about the forces that have shaped New Mexico, (this has) all the complex factors of our history. This is how we came to be who we are.”

4. “Character Above All: Ten Presidents from FDR to George Bush” edited by Robert A. Wilson

“(This book comprises) essays describing how the character of each president formed their presidency by leading presidential historians. These are great writers writing about great leaders. As a psychologist I find it fascinating (because) most people think that a presidency is determined by challenges or circumstances, but this (book) looks at how it is shaped by personality.”

5. “The Way of All Flesh” by Samuel Butler

“My eighth-grade teacher told me I would not understand this book. She was probably right, but I read it anyway. Butler was a contemporary man born in 1835, and George Bernard Shaw hailed his scathing description of self-righteous 19th century as ‘one of the summits of human achievement.’”

Skylar Griego is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.