As a celebration of our alumni, each month we will highlight a new book written by one of Oxford's North American-based alumni.
For July 2019, our author is Michael David Waters, Merton College (1973).
This is a collection of Michael's remembrances. The title of the principal Oxford story, “You Won’t Learn Nothing Over There,” is a quote from former Alabama Governor (1947-51, 1955-59) James “Big Jim” Folsom on learning that Mike had been selected as a Rhodes Scholar. Mike was childhood friends with Big Jim’s son and namesake (also subsequently a Governor of Alabama, with whom Mike played in a Rock & Roll band in High School.)In addition to being an accomplished corporate securities lawyer, guitarist, pilot, and race car driver, Mike served for many years as Secretary of the Alabama Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee and currently as one of the Leaders of the Class of 1973 Annual Fund Committee. Mike grew up in Cullman, Alabama (with the Folsoms) and the collection begins with a remembrance of his father, who was paralyzed while traveling on military service in 1951, and includes another story describing an encounter with President Lyndon Johnson that provides another memorable story title. Alabama Senator John Sparkman introduced the rising young high school star (President of Key Club International) to LBJ, who gave Mike a pocket knife, telling him “Don’t Leave it at Your Girlfriend’s House”, ‘cause it’s got my name printed on it and I might get in trouble.
You can purchase Departure Points, Essays from youth on Oxford, Stock Cars and Other Mysteries here.
Are you an alumni author?
If you have written a book which was published within the last three years, or is due to be released soon, please email us the following information.
Your full name
Alumni number (or college/year of matriculation)
Title of book
Date of publication
ISBN
Link to purchase the book online
We thank you for sharing your books with us, and will let you know if you are selected for a feature in the coming months.
To look back at previous Alumni Authors, please visit the pages below:
Alumni Author June 2019
Alumni Author May 2019
Alumni Author April 2019
Alumni Author March 2019
Alumni Author February 2019
Alumni Author January 2019
Alumni Author December 2018
Alumni Author November 2018
Alumni Author October 2018
Alumni Author September 2018
Alumni Author August 2018
Alumni Author July 2018
Alumni Author June 2018
Alumni Author May 2018
Alumni Author April 2018
Alumni Author March 2018
Alumni Author February 2018