The University of Scranton Book Club
brought to you by The Jesuit Center
The University of Scranton Book Club is a completely digital experience that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Read along with fellow Royals and then tune-in for scheduled online group discussions and video conference reflections with Executive Director of the Jesuit Center, Rev. Patrick Rogers, S.J. and Assistant Director of the Jesuit Center, Ryan Sheehan.
Currently Reading
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.
The Pulitzer Prize–winning, bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.
In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.
Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people’s lives and behavior and the nation’s fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people—including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball’s Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others—she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their out-cast of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity.
The book is available in print, Kindle, and audio versions on Amazon. Consider using Amazon Smile and choosing The University of Scranton as your charitable organization so that a portion of your purchase will be donated back to Scranton students.
- Who's Reading?
- Past Discussion: Tattoos on the Heart
- Past Discussion: The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything
- Past Discussion: Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship
- Past Dicussion: The Power and the Glory
Royal Readers
over 450 Royals from all over the world are reading with the Scranton Book Club
Rev. James D. Redington, S.J., Jesuit Center
Ryan Sheehan, Jesuit Center
Erin Akel '97
Luli Akinfiresoye '09
Kristin Albaugh '18
Mohammad Alsahli '06
Laurie Alvich '83
Anne Amon P'23
Lynn Andres '89
Delight Balducci '00
Christopher Banks '86
Jacquelyn Barna '94
Megan Barr '19
Liz Bartoszek '17
Jessica Baschoff '16
Kathleen Basovsky P'21
Charles Battenberg '80
Jane Beh Clark '89
Angela Zamora Bell '93
Michael Belus '76
Kay Bender
Kristen Bene '99
William Benedict '96
Kim Benedicto '04
Shernai Bentley '13
Leonard Berkoski '62
Lynn Berry '78
Kayla Betacchini '09
Rich Bevilacqua '83
Erika Beyrent '18
Jennifer Bezek '93
Kate Biles '84
Diane Binck P'23
Kathy Bobash '87
Rosemary Bogan '84
Susan Bonacci '94
Lisa Borrelli Dorn '81
Luis Bourget '15
Douglas Boyle '88
Linda Brake '82
Kate Branca P'21
Kathryn Brokus '10
Janelle Brown '07
Mary Bruce '17
Drew Bubser '76
Meghan Buckley '16
Colin Burdick P'17, P'20
Susan Burdick P'17, P'20
Barbara Burke P'17
Natalie Burke '11
Joseph Butash '07
Melissa Calascibetta '16
Carolyn Callahan '98
Maureen Cantwell P'23
Laura Capasso '12
Robert Carr '81
Mary Casola P'23
Maureen Castaldi '85, G'14
Mara Castellano '07
Roxanne Castellanos P'20
Donald Castellucci '14
Melissa Cavallo '12
Matt Christy '98
Sarah Cil '12
Stephanie Clark '03
Tara Cleary '04
Charles Cleveland '84
Valerie Clifton '86
Anne Marie Collins '88
Susie Collins '91
MC Colmenares
Bill Colona '08
Carolyn Colonna '89
Margaret Compton P'21
Joe Conley '07
Stephanie Conserette '08, G'18
Monica Corbett '84
David Coughlin '83
Jennifer Courtney P'23
Cara Coyne Sawyer '00
Eileen Crowley Melloy '94
Lucia Csaszer P'22
Sandra Czibik '82
Nick D'Andrea '14
Jon Dame '84
Lynette Danzig P'15, P'18, P'22
Kaitlyn Davis '17
Elizabeth DeFilippo '98
Mark Degenhart '85
Thomas Dellecave '65
Jeff Demian '87
Chris Desmarais P'16
Allison Dennison '17
Brian Devers '83
Patricia DiBartolomeo P'15
Lisa Dida '81
Tom Diffley '80
Emily Dineen '17
Neil Donahue '71
Frank Donahoe '70
Regina Dolan Donohue '89
Michaela Dolde '19
John Donaghy '70
Anne Marie Donnelly P'21, P'23
Tom Donnelly P'21, P'23
Joan Donovan '77
Mary Doyle Troy '95, G'00
Mary Beth Driscoll D'Andrea '82, P'14
Michael Ducey '84
Brian Duke '79
Kathleen Dunlea '89
Joy Dupont '02
Kristin Durkin
Martin Dwyer '83
Joanna Earley '92
Megan Early Brady '99
Sean Egan '03, G'09
Kimberly Elko '93
Jennifer El Mekkaoui '01
Cheryl Evans
Lisa Evans-Whittington '83
Philip Fabiano '82
Mary (Resser) Fazio '84
Christine Falcone '08, G'10
Noradeen Farlekas '83
Sinead Farrelly '11
Laura Fay '15
Kimberly Febus (nee Friend) '06
David Fedor '99
Erin Feeley '95
Anne Ferketic '19
Christine Fischer '11
Donna Fitzgerald '86
Michele Fitzgerald '76
Jonathan Forte '07, G'09
Ed Flannery P'22
Jayne Florentino '14
Beth Ann Flynn '90
Mimi Flynn '88
Sylvia Fontes '84
Stephanie Fowler P'20
Julia Frakes '17
William Fries '74
Gina Furey '90
Teresa Garvey P'21
Maria-Gabriela Geraci '09
Luis Galito '96
Kathleen Gallagher '86
Crystal Garland '18
Donna Geslak P'21
Anna Giannantonio '19, G'20
Jeffrey Gill '76
Christine Gimbar '05
Caitlin Gluck '06
Donna Gomez
Emily Grandinetti P'11
Frances Gray '93
Eileen Greenlay '92
Kevin Gremse '87
Lori Grochowski
Cheryl Grosso P'22
Chrissy Grunza '12
Patricia Gudmundsen P'13
Sreedhar Gudugunti '16
Cathy Haber P'20, P'22
Toni Hadgis '88
Christine Hall Brothers '01
Kathleen Hamilton '85
Andrea Hampton '17
Melissa Hanley '02
Karalee Harhaji '13
Thomas Harding P'21
Lori Haring '93
Gary Harrity '72
Rita Harvey '07
Julie Harte P'22
Theresa Hartey P'23
Jennifer Hatki '17, '20
John Hattman '64
Theresa Haughey '87
Mary Haumacher '88
Mariah Hawley '19
Maura Hayden '08
Joan Hearst
Beth Held '11
Carol Henson (Newcomb) '96
John Hernandez '04
Kate Hildreth '05
Thomas Hill '71
Margaret Hines '19
Nancy Hlavaty '86
Karen Hoerst '05
Joan Hoffmeier Gorrell '82
Mary Grace Holmes '93
Sarah Holst '95
Bill "Corky" Howell '84
Jason Hughes '95
Gerry Hyde P'21
Allison Iavarone '82
Marc Incitti '15
Jen Irwin '88
Victoria Jagger '83
Florence Jaffa '10
Michael Janny
Jo Ann Jarvis P'20
Maria Javier '95
Erin Jensen '94
Laurice Johnson '18
Bob Jones '70
Gregory Jones '97
Jenn Jordan '88
Jennifer Joswick '13
Michelle Jouacin P'22
Belinda Juran '81
Catherine Kallberg P'22
Anne Kasper '82
A Kay '90
Joan Keil '84
John Kelly '10
Phyllis Kelly P'22
Pamela Kennebrew
Jennifer Kenney Plumb '94
Tom Kenyon '05
Mary Beth Kerbaugh '84
Mary (Campbell) Kerrigan '89
Craig Kievit '88
Carol Ann Killian '81
Brian Kilner '20
Maura Kilner P'20
Regis Kirchner '67
Holly Kisailus '91, P'21
Lisa Kita '83
Annabeth Knight '10
Cathy Kollar P'17, P'19
Kara Kopach '01
Cara Kopicki '20
Scott Kramer '05
Lauren Krasucki '15
Jack Kruper '70
Alison Kucharski '16
Tom Kucinski '85
Mary Kuna '09
Valerie Kuramoto '83
Patty Lafean '84
Rosemarie Lally '76
Kelly Lamb Ennis '86
Dan Lamken '90
Lori Langan
Ann Marie Laskiewicz-Ross '79, G'09
Tiffany Latzanich P'23
Debra Lawrence '79
Ericka Lavelle '07
Cheryl Leatherbarrow '91
Joanne Leighton '87
Michael Lenio '94
Ernest Leva '79
Diane Lewis P'22
Karla Lewis '07
Lauren Lia '13
Deanna Lindberg '14
Dominique Luizzo '16
Joe Lofstedt '13
Greg Lombardi P'24
Stephanie Longo '03, G'06
Valarie Lucas '15
William Lucker '11
Christine Ludka '96
Michael Lynch P'24
Ken MacBain P'21
Katie MacLaughlin '06
Marie MacTigue '18
Laura Magliocchetti '02
Kathryn Mahon Peach '91
Paulina Maida '12
Heather Maigur '02
Jose Maldonado '19
Tara Malia '93
Alexandra Malisheski '22
Joseph Malocheski '93
Patrick Malone '91
Mary Ann Malyszek P'22
Jennifer Mamrol '15
Steve Mancini '14
Joan Manigrasso '81
Enrique Manlapid '13
Elizabeth Manzoni '97
Bonnie Markowski
Martina Martin '80
Armond Mascelli '70
Jason Mascitti '80
Alyssa Maslen '14
Trisha Masters '11, P'24
Kathleen Matthews P'20
Alan Mazzei '68
Pat McAndrew
Perin McCormick '05
Amanda McCulloch '08
Annamarie McDermotta '97
Karen McDonald '94
Samantha McDonald '07
Mary Joyce McDonough '20
Melissa McElwain '99
Erin McFadden '02
Magdalene Mcglynn '16
Timothy McGovern '57
Linda McGowan '80
Robyn McGrath P'22
Theresa McIntosh '86
Robert McKeage
Helena McKenna P'20
Colleen McKenzie '08
Theresa McKeon '85, P'22
Michele McMahon '86
Christine McMullan P'23
Shannon McNulty '96
Kristen McShane '18
Joseph McTiernan P'20
Haley Meade '19
Kim Mecca '92
Elizabeth Mejia '97
Joseph Mele '05
Luis Melgar '18
Maryann Meyers '76
Angela Miller '94
John Miller '85
Lourdes Mitchel
Maureen Mitru '87
Jennifer Moakler '10
Arianna Moliere '14
Matt Monaco '06
Mary Monteiro
MaryEllen Monteiro P'22
Amie Montemurro '05
Marie Mortimer '87
Tom Moughan '70
Sean Muchler '02
Eileen Mulcahy '88
Mary Mulholland '89
Kelly Mulroy '88
Lucy Murfitt '94
Ann Marie Murphy '80
Karen Murphy '94
Mark Murphy
Mary Beth Murray '08
Maureen Murtha '86
Bob Musinski P'21
Julie Nastasi '00
Gina Naticchi '09
Colleen Neary '88
Susan Neggia '19
Gerilyn Niebler P'16
Christine Newton '82
Kelly Noto '91
Jennifer Novack '06
Angel Nowak P'23
Jim O'Boyle '57
Marie O'Connor '96, P'22
Michael O'Connor '88
Gerard O'Malley '49
Mary O'Neill '85
Don O'Reilly '18
Cathy O'Sullivan P'21
Loretta O'Toole '87
Sharon Olechna
Judy Oliver '97
Lauren ONeill '08
Stacy Oppenheim '10
Tom Orme '84
Emily Ortiz '13
Kathleen Owen '91
Carolyn Packard '10, G'14
Mary Packard P'20
Lisa Paddock
Gustavo Pallamares '01
Margaret Palmieri P'21
Luann Parker P'20
Terry Parker P'24
Liz Pasquarette '84
Stephen Pasterchik '79
Yatish Patel P'22
Marianne Patterson '12
Lori Paulowskey Tasci '04
Mike Penkethman '93
Charlotte Perez '10
Jennifer Petito P'22
Dominick Petitto '15
Ronald Pettinato
Theresa Phillips '76
Nina Picarelli '10
David Piccolo '08
Mary-Louise Piner '92
Giacomina Pirolo '17
Kay Platt P'20
Amy Pollock '87
Kathleen Post '99
Bailey Potter '19
Maeve Potter '18
Cindy Purcell '86
Regina Purcell P'21
Joe Pusateri P'21
Mary Ann Putnam '11
Melissa Rafalko '10
Mary Raffaele '13
Patricia Rafferty '83
Mary Beth Rauser '88
Matt Redetzky '19
Kim Rendon '89
Lauren Reed '18
Mary Jane Reilly '86
Mary Bernadette Reinbold '80
Phyllis Reinhardt '78
Lorrie Resuta '92
Mary Rezeski '79
Jennifer Riccardi '18
Darren Rivera '14
John Rizzo '08
Marie Robson
Gina Roche '89
Kara Romanowski '19
Anna Ross '93
Gary Ross '76
Jeffrey Rossi '88
Cathleen Rudawski '91
Ann Marie Ryan P'23
Danielle Ryan '89
Jan Rybnicky P'20
Anahita Saadat '12
Diana Sanns P'22
Jonathan Schall '13
Brian Scheld '78
Ann Marie Schilling '92
Frank Schneck '53
Mary Ellen Schreibstein P'21, P'23
Wilbert Senoble '15
Anthony Sevilla '82
Jeffrey Seymour '02, P'22
Parth Shah '19
Jane Shershenovich '89
Paula Signora P'24
Jessica Signore '17
Fransiska Simbolon
Eric Skorupa '11
Betsy Slattery
Joan Slavin
Carolyn Smart Farrington '05
Diane Smith '86
Jack Smith '73
Mara Smith '13
Rick Snooek '07, G'13
Sarita Soares '04
Nicolette Spaccavento '18
Gina Squillante '88
John Stanczak P'24
Pinky Stanseski '20
Patty Stanton '82
Eileen Steele '88
Renee Steinbrecher '93
Angela Stewart '14
Terri Strelish '00
Stanley Strelish, Jr. '99
Erin Sullivan '08
Robert Strony '98, G'18
Elizabeth Sunkel '11
Kasie Sweeney '12
Tim Sweeney '64, G'68
Margaret Swingle '18
Lori Talbot P'23
Mara Tarabocchia '08
Ian Taylor '16
Katie Taylor
Karolyn Teufel '98
Mr. & Mrs. John P. Thelman P'90
John S. Thelman '90, P'23
Kimberly Thelman P'23
Susy Thomad '90
Lisa Thomas '87, P'20, P'22
Linda Thorpe P'16
Rick Thorpe P'16
Colleen Tofani '81
Cathy Toner '89
Janet Tooley '85
Kim Townsend '13
Michael Tricolla
Elisa Tuffy '99, '11, G'13, G'20
Leanne Turnak P'23
Shawn Tweedt '96
Christine Tweedy '92
Theresa Tysiak '88
Tom Umile '06
Brian Umpierre '95
Lisa Valenzuela '88
David Velez '17
Michael Venn '03
Amy Verdonik '16
Dillon Vita '17
Julia Vitiello '18
Lori Vellardito P’20
Carol Voit
Barbara Wagner '96
Elissa Waliszewski '01
Lori Walton
Mary Watts '79
Shawn Washart '12
Linda Waycaster '13
Erin Webber '88
Caroline Webel '16
Aimee Wechsler '11
Janet Weeks '75
William Wenner '79
Ryan Wesley '91
Megeen White '89
Phyllida Whittaker '19
Jennifer Whritenour '11
Rebecca Wick '80
Rev. Jim Williams '64, P'94
Leanne Williams '91
Susan Williams P'22
Bob Wilson '90
Bob Wilson '94
Jennifer Wohlgemuth P'24
Lynn Wormuth P'23
Carl Wrazien '71
Bob Wright '59
Brian Wynne '80
Jane Yeow '87
Phil Yevics '72
Kathy Yoo P'24
Mary Beth Zazzera '83
Michael Zazzeri '87
Debbie Zenzal '05
Amanda Zitzelman '18
William Zogby '69
Anne-Marie Zuchowski '81
Jennifer Zur '01
Diane Zyats '86
Janice Zych '95, P'23
Our first selected book was Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries.
Watch the video discussions by clicking the links below:
Our second selected book was The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin, S.J. H'17.
Watch the video discussions by clicking the links below:
Watch Discussion #1 (Chapters 1-4)
Our third selected book was Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kindship by Gregory Boyle, S.J.
Watch the video discussions by clicking the links below:
Watch Discussion #1 (Chapters 1-3)
Watch Discussion #2 (Chapters 4-7)
Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, our third and final discussion of this book was not recorded.
Our fourth selected book was The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene.
Watch the video discussions by clicking the links below:
Due to technical issues, our first discussion did not record.
