After classes are done for the day, Hillsdale students can continue learning from their professors by reading the books they have published.
The works of five professors were on display in the Grewcock Student Union formal lounge on Oct. 21 for this year’s first faculty book signing organized by the college bookstore. Authors were present to discuss their books with interested students and faculty members. The 18 books covered a range of topics.
Arlan Gilbert was present to sign his four published works, including “Historic Hillsdale College: Pioneer in Higher Education 1844-1900” and “The Permanent Things: Hillsdale College 1900-1994,” his two-volume series which details the history of the college.
“What I found, to my delight of course, was that our records turned up all over the place,” Gilbert said. “There was ample material to show the preeminence of this school almost from the day it was founded.”
Gilbert had two other works present at the signing: “Hillsdale Honor: The Civil War Experience,” which explains the prominent role the college played in the war, and “Ransom Dunne: Hillsdale’s Grand Old Man,” a character study about Hillsdale’s founder. Gilbert said that he would recommend all four to his students.
Professor of Politics Robert Eden was present with his English-language translation of Charles de Gaulle’s “The Enemy’s House Divided,” an analysis of the errors that led to Germany’s demise in World War I. Eden had struggled to use the French version in his own studies, so he translated and published an English version for the use of future studies.
“I had some grudges, and I also had a cause. I didn’t want any future student to be without that or not to have an accessible translation,” Eden said.
Professor of Philosophy and Culture Peter Blum and Professor of History Darryl Hart were also present with works that correspond with the subjects they teach at Hillsdale.
Blum said that the content in his book. “For a Church to Come: Experiments in Postmodern Theory and Anabaptist Thought,” is “a little bit specialized,” but could be interesting to students majoring in philosophy.
Of Hart’s six works present at the signing, he recommended “From Billy Graham to Sarah Palin” for his students due to its relevance. The book discusses the relationship between evangelical Protestantism and modern political conservatism.
“There’s been a lot of discussion about religion and politics, religion in the Republican Party, and social conservatism, and that’s a book that is relevant to that conversation,” Hart said.
Professor of Christian Studies Michael Baumann also had four books on display.
