NEWS

Note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have the chance to learn a little more about our Louisiana Tech University Family: students, staff, alumni, faculty, and friends. We’ll call it Tech Top 5. Go to LATechSports.com for more Top 5s. #TogetherApart

Dr. Pat Garrett

Dr. Pat Garrett had a long-term impact on Louisiana Tech through his involvement as a student athlete and his leadership both in athletics and as the holder of the Hyman J. Sachs Endowed Professorship. He retired in 2017 with the Professor Emeritus distinction for this strong leadership, teaching, and publications (Short Flights, Harps Upon the Willows, Penumbra) after more than 55 years in the college classroom, 35 of those at Tech. Here are his Top 5 novels.

1. The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger: Holden Caulfield is our key to understanding post war disillusionment.
2. In Cold Blood, Truman Capote: Capote took American Literature into a new stylistic era with this book.
3. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain: All great American novels derive from Huck’s telling his own story in his own words.
4. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Kurt Vonnegut: Vonnegut’s character is hilarious and gives us his sublime perspective on morality.
5. All the King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren: Willie Stark is Warren’s insight into what’s wrong today: we make up our values according to what serves us.