Dr. John Books passed away on December 2, 2023, in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 80, with his daughter and son by his side.

John William Books was born October 24, 1943, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Laverne "Vern" and Imelda (Schaefer) Books. He was the second of six children in a working-class Catholic family, his siblings being Barbara, Steve, Jerry, Jean, and Kathy. As a boy he was an outstanding student and ran track for Aquinas High School.

At Wisconsin State University–Eau Claire, he met Phyllis Beck, and on August 27, 1966, they married. He earned his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin. In 1967, the couple moved to Lansing, Michigan, where he received his Ph.D. in political science at Michigan State University and Phyllis had their first child, Greg. In 1971, they moved to Denton, Texas, where he took a faculty position at North Texas State University. The following year, they had a daughter, Kirstin. Following a divorce, he was married 1979-1985 to Susan McGuire.

Over the course of 40 years, Dr. Books taught thousands of students political science at the University of North Texas, specializing in Western European comparative politics and political corruption. He spent many summers teaching and researching in London , where he made lifelong friends. Only days before his passing, he received an 80th-birthday card from former Prime Minister Tony Blair, thanks to a mutual acquaintance. He also had a keen interest in the politics of Kenya. In 1991, he co-authored the book Political Behavior and the Local Context with Charles Prysby.

His outgoing personality and quick, often acerbic wit won over many colleagues and students.  On a website rating professors, his students wrote of him, "Not easy but very entertaining. Demonstrated patience beyond patience with more than a few ridiculous questions. Great sense of humor," and, "Prof. Books is probably one of the best instructors I have had at UNT. He makes the class interesting, especially if you like dry, sarcastic humor."

One student remembers him as "one of the many great minds that made me realize the [political science] department at UNT that I happened to stumble into was really special and made my brief time there particularly worthwhile." And another writes, "John Books was part of an amazing group of inspiring teachers who helped me see the power people can have to influence the world for the good in small ways every day. And the value of love and laughter." By the end of his life, many of his closest friends were former students.

He loved pubs and, with his brothers, was part-owner of The Wooden Nickel, a tavern on the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. He was partial to cheese, bratwurst, root beer floats, and above  all, Pepsi Cola. He was a passionate golfer most of his adult life and a Green Bay Packers fan to the end.

A devastating stroke shortly after his retirement caused him to move from Denton to be close to his children, first to Austin, then greater Denver, and precipitated an 11-year decline in health.

He is survived by three siblings: Steve Books of Black Earth, Wisconsin; Jerry Books of Jackson, Wisconsin; and Kathy Books of Milwaukee; his children, Greg Books of Denver, Colorado, and Kirstin Seale of Austin, Texas, son-in-law Avrel Seale, and three grandchildren: Andrew Seale, 21, Cameron Seale, 19, and Ian Seale, 16, all of Austin.

Memorial contributions may be made to one or more of the following: ACLU, PBS, NPR, Equal Justice Initiative Or by paying it forward on your own. Because Dr. Books liked being kind and sneaky, he enjoyed what is now commonly called "paying it forward." He would find someone who needed a little help, either organize a few like-minded people to go in with him or just go it on his own, and subtly, usually without saying whom the gift was from, make sure the beneficiary received the gift. He would thrill at the notion of other people showing kindness to their fellow humans in this way in his honor.