The Seasons of Rick Roderick

by Thomas Zigal

368 pages, Paperback

Published April 14, 2026

About the author

THOMAS ZIGAL is the author of the critically acclaimed Kurt Muller mystery series set in Aspen, Colorado. He is a graduate of the Stanford Writing Program and has published short stories and book reviews in literary magazines and fiction anthologies for the past 30 years. He grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast and in Louisiana and now lives in Austin, Texas.

Reviews

[Debbi James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's a dual memoir of two rambunctous Texas boys coming of age in small working-class towns, one on the Gulf Coast and the other in West Texas, crossing paths at the University of Texas in laid back Austin in the mid-to-late sixties, and beginning a friendship lasting thirty-plus years. Zigal incorporated much of the unfinished autobiography of Rick Roderick into the narrative, so we "hear" firsthand what it was like for "Rick to be Rick," as so many of their mutual friends described him, warts and all.

They eventually found their callings as an author and a philosophy professor and relied on each other for encouragement and feedback. Rick's twang/drawl is mentioned several times, so I thought I'd look him up on YouTube to hear him and was blown away by his charisma and intelligence. He attained notoriety through The Teaching Company lectures and was beloved by many students. Who among us has not had a favorite teacher or professor that helped up see the world differently? That was Rick for so many.

The book encompasses the themes of love, loss, friendship, life philosophy, music and LOTS of laughter which will appeal to readers of all ages.