Today’s the day! Congratulations to Rumaan Alam ’99 (@rumaanalam), who publishes his new book, “Entitlement,” today. The novel reflects Alam’s long-held interest in the role money and class play in society; it explores issues of race while also sharply analyzing money and economic stratification. Set in 2014, “Entitlement” follows the interpersonal relationship between Brooke, a 33-year-old Black woman, and the 83-year-old white billionaire whose foundation she goes to work for; as it happens, he is giving away his vast fortune before he dies. Alam is also the author of “Leave the World Behind,” the novel turned into a hit Netflix movie starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke. In this profile from the Summer 2024 issue of the Oberlin Alumni Magazine, Alam draws a straight line between Oberlin and his enduring—if constantly evolving—sense of curiosity about experiences beyond his own. “The purpose of the education is to teach you how to educate yourself,” he says. “To ...