MU Commencement speaker announced

[Sir Lawrence]

Father James Martin

http://www.jsonline.com/news/religion/jesuit-author-featured-on-the-colbert-report-to-speak-to-mu-grads-b99223006z1-249830451.html

[🏀]

Pope's busy?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Father James Martin

http://www.jsonline.com/news/religion/jesuit-author-featured-on-the-colbert-report-to-speak-to-mu-grads-b99223006z1-249830451.html

The last three have been great.

My year got stuck with David McCollough....his advice to us? Read more books

[keefe]

The last three have been great.

My year got stuck with David McCollough....his advice to us? Read more books

David McCullough is one of the finest historians and writers of the past 100 years. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom McCullough is the best chronicler of the story of the American people. His two Pulitzers validate the depth and quality of his work. Frankly, Marquette did well in selecting McCullough to give the Commencement Address. I am fairly certain he offered far greater insight than simply, "Read more books..." Perhaps you were not listening?

[brandx]

David McCullough is one of the finest historians and writers of the past 100 years. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom McCullough is the best chronicler of the story of the American people. His two Pulitzers validate the depth and quality of his work. Frankly, Marquette did well in selecting McCullough to give the Commencement Address. I am fairly certain he offered far greater insight than simply, "Read more books..." Perhaps you were not listening?

Beat me to it.

[LAZER]

The last three have been great.

My year got stuck with David McCollough....his advice to us? Read more books

I'm sure it was still better than Andrew Natsios

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Loved reading John Adams & 1776.  My wife read his book on Americans in Paris and liked it.  Because of his Paris book I convinced her to watch the HBO John Adams mini-series based on the novel which eventually lead to an enjoyable family visit to Adams National Park in Quincy, MA.  All because of the John Adams book.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

David McCullough is one of the finest historians and writers of the past 100 years. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom McCullough is the best chronicler of the story of the American people. His two Pulitzers validate the depth and quality of his work. Frankly, Marquette did well in selecting McCullough to give the Commencement Address. I am fairly certain he offered far greater insight than simply, "Read more books..." Perhaps you were not listening?

I'm well aware of his credentials. As a political science major/history minor, his books were commonly on my reading lists for class. I was excited when he was announced as the commencement speaker. The man is a fantastic writer. Not a speaker. And I'm not kidding when I say the theme of the keynote was "Read more books." He spent most of the speech lamenting the death of the written word and cursing the rise of the internet as a medium (must read MUScoop).

In terms of comparison, McCullough's accomplishments are equal to that of Hank Aaron, Bill Cosby, and Father James Martin. His speaking ability? Much lower than the aforementioned individuals.

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

I love this pick.  "My Life With the Saints" is a great read and James Martin is incredibly inspirational.  Should be a great speech. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Glad im not graduating this year.

[Tums Festival]

C. Everett Koop was speaker my graduation year. I'd say he received a warm reception. That same year Marquette awarded Helen Hays an honorary doctorate. She received a standing ovation.

[Coleman]

David McCullough is a great author, but he is a popular historian and biographer, not an academic historian. That's my nitpick of the day.  That said, I still would have liked to hear him speak.


I am pumped about this pick. Fr. Martin has some awesome books. If you have not read "The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything," I highly recommend it.

I am thinking about going to commencement just to hear him.

If you don't know much about Fr. Martin, he has a great sense of humor, and often appears on the Colbert Report.

[drewm88]

I've seen Fr. Jim Martin speak, and he was hilarious. Even better than he is in print or on Colbert. Great choice.

[keefe]

Loved reading John Adams & 1776.  My wife read his book on Americans in Paris and liked it.  Because of his Paris book I convinced her to watch the HBO John Adams mini-series based on the novel which eventually lead to an enjoyable family visit to Adams National Park in Quincy, MA.  All because of the John Adams book.

The Adams book dovetails nicely with his works on the founding of this Republic. John Adams, like the nation he helped give birth to, was imperfect and profoundly human. The man, like the political culture he helped shape, celebrated the nobility of every man. Adams personified all that was right and some of what was wrong about the new Republic.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I love Martin's books.

[keefe]

David McCullough is a great author, but he is a popular historian and biographer, not an academic historian. That's my nitpick of the day.  That said, I still would have liked to hear him speak.


I am pumped about this pick. Fr. Martin has some awesome books. If you have not read "The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything," I highly recommend it.

I am thinking about going to commencement just to hear him.

If you don't know much about Fr. Martin, he has a great sense of humor, and often appears on the Colbert Report.

Bluteaux

Give me a recommendation from Martin's works!

[muwarrior97]

97' had MKE Archbishop (Weakland).....twas' lame!!!  Cosby last year was probably pretty good

[MU82]

Can't even remember my graduation speaker.

[ATLmarquettefan]

Definitely beats mine....Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America. Snooze city.

[MUfan12]

I had Steve Rushin, who actually gave a really nice speech.

[swoopem]

Definitely beats mine....Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America. Snooze city.

She was so bad I never knew her actual name.

[Coleman]

Bluteaux

Give me a recommendation from Martin's works!

I just did! But if you have already read "The Jesuit Guide..." I'd also recommend "My Life with the Saints" and  "Between Heaven and Mirth"

By the way Keefe, one of his major influences is Merton, who he talks about quite a bit in his books, especially "My Life with the Saints."

Martin's stuff is very approachable. It is not intellectual by any stretch, but good intros to spirituality....

[keefe]

I just did! But if you have already read "The Jesuit Guide..." I'd also recommend "My Life with the Saints" and  "Between Heaven and Mirth"

By the way Keefe, one of his major influences is Merton, who he talks about quite a bit in his books, especially "My Life with the Saints."

Martin's stuff is very approachable. It is not intellectual by any stretch, but good intros to spirituality....

Excellent. I will read him this month. Cheers.

[dgies9156]

Can't even remember my graduation speaker.

Mine was some philosopher who bored us to tears in 1978. My father, MU 1955, described him as "giving some sort of classroom lecture. I was  looking for a notebook."

[warriorchick]

Mine was Hannah Gray, President of University of Chicago.  I don't remember a word of her speech, but I will assume the subtext was, "What a pity none of you were smart enough to get into U. of C.".