McGill News

Books

A woman holding a book in front of a bookshelf. Discovery

A journey into the past – through menus

Food historian Nathalie Cooke sees menus as more than simply guides for ordering burgers or burritos. They offer invaluable clues about the dining cultures of past eras. She explores a wide range of menus from different time periods in her new book Tastes and Traditions: A Journey through Menu History.

A man and a woman dancing in front of a yellow truck. Culture

From the printed page to the big screen

McGill professor Alain Farah is one of Quebec’s most prominent authors. His award-winning novel Mille secrets mille dangers prompted an unexpected offer from celebrated filmmaker Philippe Falardeau (Monsieur Lazhar) – to work together to transform the novel into a movie.

A man leaning on a stack of books. Culture

A little bookstore that’s had a big impact

For generations of McGill students, The Word Bookstore on Milton Street has been almost as familiar a landmark as the Roddick Gates or the Redpath Museum. As The Word marks its 50th anniversary, Adrian King-Edwards, BA’71, the bookshop’s co-founder and owner, shares some memories.

An illustration of the man in a suit and tie Discovery

A Nobel laureate on the possibility of life on other planets

In his recent book Is Earth Exceptional?, Jack Szostak, BSc’72, DSc’11, the director of the University of Chicago’s Center for the Origins of Life, examines the latest research on how life started – and whether it could exist anywhere else in the universe.

A person with a beard and glasses. Discovery

Sharing the stories of those left behind

In his new book Gone Gone, McGill professor Todd Meyers goes beyond the headlines about the opioid crisis to movingly convey the grief felt by those who have lost loved ones to overdose deaths.

A collage of four people. Culture

Looking for a holiday read?

The holidays are almost upon us and (hopefully) that means you’ll soon be able to spend some quality time with a good book or two. Here are some possibilities for you to consider – all written by McGill alums.

A women standing in front of a bookstore. Culture

One of the Big Apple’s best booksellers

Sarah McNally, BA’98, is the driving force behind McNally Jackson Books in New York. Her chain of independent bookstores has managed to thrive in challenging times. Both Vogue and The New Yorker recently included McNally Jackson’s shops on their lists of New York’s finest bookstores.

Louise Lantagne Culture

Championing Quebec culture 

As the president and director general of the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), Louise Lantagne, BA’77, plays a crucial role in supporting Quebec culture – both inside the province and around the world. (Cet article est disponible en français.)

A person with long gray hair Society

Telling the whole story 

Yale historian Ned Blackhawk, BA’92, believes that too many accounts of U.S. history pay little attention to the pivotal role that the country’s Native Americans played in that history. His recent book, The Rediscovery of America, winner of the U.S. National Book Award for Nonfiction, serves as a corrective.

Back to top