'Living on the Diagonal'

Living on the Diagonal and Other Selected Writings, the new book by William G. Durden '71, is now on sale, just in time for Alumni Weekend. With signed copies available, the 266-page collection features the original extended essay "Living on the Diagonal: Notes to a 21st-Century College Student From a Retiring College President" and includes selected op-eds, speeches and Dickinson Magazine columns written during Durden's 14-year tenure at Dickinson.

In the book, Durden offers an inside look into his career in the varying realms of education, business and government and passes down advice for today's students and future generations. Stressing the importance of engaging the world and seeking connections in unlikely places, Durden highlights formative (and fascinating) moments of a life lived "on the diagonal."

Signed copies of the book will be available during Alumni Weekend in the College Bookstore and at the Whistlestop Bookshop on High Street.

During Alumni Weekend, on Saturday, June 15, President Durden will be at the Biblio Café in the Waidner-Spahr Library at 9:30 a.m. for a book signing and informal Q&A session.

Living on the Diagonal is also sold on Amazon.com, both in print and for Kindle.

All profits from the sale of Living on the Diagonal go to the William Wesley and Ruth Small Durden Annual Scholarship.

Book Description

In Living on the Diagonal, William G. Durden recounts an adventurous career in education, business and government and offers advice for today's students as well as future generations. These pages capture the legacy of the iconic leader, representing his blueprint for constantly exploring new directions, learning from every experience and searching for answers "on the diagonal," where others seldom tread.
About the Author

William G. Durden, president of Dickinson College from 1999 to 2013, was previously a member of the German department at the Johns Hopkins University, executive director of the Center for Talented Youth and a senior education consultant to the U.S. Department of State. He has advised various U.S. ambassadors on educational issues and serves on several international educational boards.

Durden has published and spoken widely on such topics as literary criticism, gifted and talented education, foreign-language study, technology and instruction, U.S. and international education policy and theory, leadership and democracy in education.

He received his undergraduate degree from Dickinson in German and philosophy and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in German language and literature from Johns Hopkins.

Published May 3, 2013