by Peter E. Randall '63
Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2006

Peter Randall '63, an award-winning panoramic photographer, traveled New Hampshire to take the "now" photographs for this book of "Historical and Contemporary Photographs of the Granite State from 1840-2005." Except for one or two, the vintage photographs are black and white shots made on view cameras by unknown photographers. There are many beautiful, sweeping landscapes here, although since New Hampshire is 90 percent woodland now, many of the scenes that Randall wanted to shoot were overgrown with trees. Thumbing through the pages of this moving collection inspires all kinds of cliches in the mind of the reader, like "the more things change, the more they stay the same." Mostly, though, you feel grateful to Randall for his artistic vision, which continually captures the essence of New Hampshire.

by Michael D'Antonio '77
Simon & Schuster, 2006

Few brands are more enmeshed in American culture than Hershey's chocolate. In the early 1900s, Milton Hershey pioneered a strategy of producing huge quantities of a few varieties of chocolate (the almond bar and the kiss were the most successful), none costing more than a nickel. Those were Hershey bars that American soldiers handed out to European children during World War II. And in 2005, 100 years after it was first produced along Spring Creek in Pennsylvania, Hershey's chocolate was still voted America's favorite.

This new engrossing book by Michael D'Antonio '77 is the first major biography of Hershey, the entrepreneur, philanthropist and social engineer who founded a company, a town and a school, managing to "do good while doing well." It's also a fascinating cultural history of progressivism, capitalism and chocolate. D'Antonio argues that of all the very wealthy capitalists--Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan were others--only Hershey was able to "raise the spirits, and the standard of living, of all involved in his company." Hershey, Penn., became as close to an industrial utopia as this country has ever seen, and when it was time to establish a legacy, Hershey created a trust that made the orphanage school for boys that he began in 1910 the sole beneficiary. (As of 2005, the trust was worth $8 billion.)

Hershey had vision, ambition and an extraordinary amount of luck. His father was a charming, charismatic dreamer; his mother had strict Mennonite morals about responsibility and service to community. Milton was a blend of both.

He learned the candy business as a 15-year-old apprentice at an ice cream parlor. When he went out on his own, he came up with a recipe for soft caramels that was a hit. Then at an 1893 exposition, Hershey saw Dresden confectioner J.M. Lehmann's milk chocolate production line, and had an "aha!" moment. Europe was experiencing a chocolate craze, and Hershey sensed that it would catch on in America. When he added Pennsylvania milk to the mix, it became even better, and thus an empire was born.

Hershey was a complex, mercurial man whose motto was "Business is a matter of Human Service." His creations--the company, the town and the school--"were more a reflection of his values than his ego," D'Antonio concludes. "At a time when many Americans feel isolated in their communities, insecure in their jobs, and confused about the nature and purpose of wealth, the Hershey story offers answers, cautions and inspiration."~

Overviews: Books
Meredith's Secret, by Michael Champoux '85, iUniverse, 2005. See at amazon.com This first novel is a skillfully plotted murder mystery.
The Wisdom of Small Farms and Local Food, by John Carroll, UNH professor of environmental conservation, UNH, 2005. Carroll draws on environmental philosophy and land-grant university sustainable agriculture programs to consider the future of the American farm.
Flying High, by S. Melvin Rines '47, Xlibris Corporation, 2005. See at amazon.com Rines, a Navy fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War, where he completed 55 combat missions, began this book as a memoir for his grandchildren, but turned it into a graceful, detailed account of the forces that shaped his life.
The Blushing MBA: Secrets from Graduate School, by Feddy Pouideh '94, iUniverse, 2005. See at amazon.com This first novel is a funny and informative tale about the triumphs and travails of the narrator as she negotiates an Ivy League MBA program.
Poland Spring: A Tale of the Gilded Age, 1860-1900, by David L. Richards '97G, University Press of New England, 2005. See at amazon.com This learned, lively history describes how the Rickers turned their country farm into a therapeutic resort.
On the Road Histories: Alaska, by Ryan Madden '93G, Interlink Books, 2005. See at amazon.com A great introduction to Alaska's complexities.
Someday We'll Laugh About This, by Jeanne Munn Bracken '68, Molisa Press, 2005. See at amazon.com Bracken's newspaper columns offer a humorous twist on daily life.
Film The Gay Marriage Thing, by Stephanie Higgins '98, Sassy Media, 2005. See at thegaymarriagething.com Higgins's film is a moving depiction of the debate leading up to the 2004 gay marriage vote in Massachusetts.
Also of Note... At Home in the City: Urban Domesticity in American Literature and Culture, 1850-1930, by Betsy Klimasmith '95G. See at amazon.com
The Velveteen Principles: A Guide to Becoming Real, by Toni Raiten-D'Antonio '77. See at amazon.com
Breakfast in the Bathtub: A Book of Smiles--Poems, Short Tales, Mini-Essays, by Fred Samuels and Joann Snow Duncanson '52 See at amazon.com
Stella's Secret: A True Story of Holocaust Survival, by Jerry L. Jennings '83G, '84G, as told by Stella S. Yollin. See at amazon.com
Teaching Empathy: A Blueprint for Caring, Compassion, and Community, by David A. Levine '81. See at amazon.com