CBS News' Tony Dokoupil Discusses Book with SU Public Health Class

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University students recently took a book review assignment one step further, to the author himself. 

CBS News correspondent Tony Dokoupil virtually joined Dr. Sherry Maykrantz’s Health 312: Drugs and Public Health class to discuss his book The Last Pirate: A Father, His Son, and the Golden Age of Marijuana. 

Maykrantz, assistant professor of public health, chose the book due to its accurate, yet interesting, portrayal of the history of drugs in the U.S. and its synchronicity with the course textbook. 

“I look for books that will challenge students thinking and offer an opportunity to see different perspectives and of course, relatable content while keeping them engaged,” she said.

The course examines drug policies and laws, as well as contemporary advocacy efforts impacting drug use, misuse and prevention from a public health perspective.

Students took turns asking Dokoupil questions regarding his writing process, background and policies cited in the book. 

In the book, Dokoupil tells the story of his father’s rise from dealer to multi-ton smuggler and the impact on his family, the larger history of marijuana and the controversies still stirring debate today. 

“When I bring in the authors each semester, it’s a great incentive for students,” said Maykrantz. “It brings the book to life. They connect better and it makes a big difference in their learning.”

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