All the Memories that Remain

Eric Liddick once walked through the Penn State Altoona campus as a student. On Tuesday, Sept. 10, he returned as a Penn State alumni, a veteran, an advocate, and author of the 2024-25 Common Read selection, All the Memories that Remain.

Liddick visited campus to kick off the semester’s Common Read events. He spoke with students, faculty, staff, and the community about his life and the book, which is a reflection on his time in the military, PTSD, a disintegrating marriage, and his father’s early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Laura Rotunno, Common Read coordinator and associate professor of English, says the book was chosen for its rawness and vulnerability. “We were inspired by the power of this memoir, not only in terms of its content but its writing style that pulls a reader into Liddick's story in an almost visceral way.” She adds that the committee was certain that the memoir's topics of grief, PTSD, anxiety, veteran's issues and awareness, and Alzheimer’s would resonate with the campus community and inspire important discussions.

Liddick succinctly sums up being selected. “In a word: honored. Honored to be included among a list of past Common Read giants, such as Yaa Gyasi, Neil Gaiman, and Sebastien Junger. Humbled, too.”

A Bellwood, Pennsylvania, native, Liddick attended Penn State Altoona, then graduated from University Park in 2004 with a degree in criminal justice. He went on to earn a Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School and a Master of Laws in Military Law from The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. He served in the Marine Corps Reserves and the U.S. Army's elite 75th Ranger Regiment, with three deployments overseas.

Sharing his work with the Penn State Altoona community has given him something in return.

“Something like rejuvenation brought about by the remarkably insightful students. They inspire me, offer hope, and remind me of how little I know despite my ‘age and wisdom.’ I am grateful to them and to the faculty and staff, because of their ability to expand my thoughts and remind me to never stop learning. There's no better place for that than on the campus where my critical thinking skills first burgeoned.”

Penn State Altoona students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered in the Edith Davis Eve Chapel to hear Liddick speak.

Credit: Alexander Cesani

The Common Read program provides a shared experience for first-year students to ease the transition into the academic community. It is designed to build an intellectual community among first-year learners, returning students, faculty, and staff, help students make connections between classroom and out-of-classroom experiences, and engage students in discussions surrounding current societal issues.

“Is it too much to wish the program had existed my freshman year? Because while I'm a voracious reader now, it wasn't always so.” Liddick knows that one goal of the program is to encourage students to read but appreciates that there is more to it.

“The program selects thought-provoking books, pushing students to read outside their chosen genre, encouraging them to consider new or alternative perspectives, and, in doing so, nudging them not toward any preconceived conclusion, but outside their comfort zone so that they may become more analytical thinkers.”

Eric Liddick, author of this year’s Common Read book, on stage with Common Read program coordinator Laura Rotunno.

Credit: Alexander Cesani

Of the event, Rotunno says, “Liddick was open, honest, raw, just like in his memoir. It was an amazing evening made particularly powerful because of probing questions from many students. In short, it was a thought-provoking, inspiring event, and I was thrilled to enjoy it with so many from the campus community.

Learn more about the Common Read initiative and upcoming events.