Idea Library
Alumni share their latest book, program, and podcast discoveries
Teresa Pulliam (’10)
Circuit Judge, Criminal Division
10th Judicial Circuit of Alabama
The Wire, HBO series: “Not that I need additional crime drama in my life, but I missed watching it 10 years ago and have been addicted to the series about crime in Baltimore in the 1980s.”
“Hope of Alabama,” World Games 2022 theme song: “The song features vocal artists from Alabama and is directed by Dr. Henry Panion III. The music and video are so very uplifting. When I’m off the bench, I play it often in chambers, and it always makes me feel hopeful for the future, for our Magic City, our state, and for the beautiful country where we are so privileged to live.”
Barry McNealy (’19)
Historical Content Expert
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance—a New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power, by Danielle L. McGuire: “This book focuses on the role women played in the Civil Rights Movement. It is inspiring to learn of the courage women had to have to tackle women’s rights and civil rights simultaneously.”
Stephen Armstrong (’18)
Executive Vice President
O’Neal Industries
Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders, by David Marquet: “This is a great story about changing the culture of any organization, or in this case, a nuclear-powered submarine. David’s book teaches you the power of one simple phrase: ‘I intend to . . . .’ At O’Neal Industries, having engaged employees who can quickly react to changing circumstances is one of our keys to success, and this book helped reinforce and teach new methods to ensure our employees are positioned for success.”
Wind of Change, podcast by Pineapple Street Studios, Crooked Media, and Spotify:“For those of us who remember the Scorpions’ hit power ballad ‘Wind of Change,’ this is a fascinating and entertaining tale that seeks to answer the question: Did the CIA write ‘Wind of Change’? One episode, and you will be hooked.”
Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber, Showtime series: “This show tells the story of the origins of Uber, including the good—a driven, visionary company that solved the problem of easy access to transportation; the bad—corrupt business practices that allowed them to get ahead; and the ugly—a toxic work environment, especially for women. This is a well-acted series that shows the drive it takes to build a company from scratch, but also the dangers of unchecked ambition.”
Eli Capilouto (’94)
President
University of Kentucky
The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee: “When I was growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, the city closed all parks rather than desegregate as ordered by the federal courts. Heather McGhee’s book compellingly shows the fallacy and perniciousness of a racism so virulent that it sets up a zero-sum game where whites can believe that if things get better for Blacks, it must be at the expense of white people. She presents a way out, yielding a ‘solidarity dividend’ when people come together across race to do what we can’t do alone.”
The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, by Jonathan Rauch: “This book reveals how our country has evolved to deep divisions and inability to share facts and truth. Grave dangers await society and democracy if we fail to find commonality on these matters. Rauch shows us a better way forward. It is hard but essential work.”
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, by Isabel Wilkerson: “This narrative history, focusing on three individuals who were part of the great exodus of nearly six million Blacks from the South beginning in 1915, vividly illustrates the personal and family consequences that collectively changed the face of our country.”
Start an online book club or podcast discussion group for your class by contacting your Members Council representative or emailing libba@leadershipbirmingham.org.