Books
Society
Once an Olympian, always an Olympian
The Olympics always offer a unique blend of exceptional skill, thrilling competitions, and surprises, and the 2024 Paris Games are certain to do the same. What’s life like for the athletes who take part in the world’s biggest international sporting event? We asked some McGillians with firsthand experience.
Culture
An accomplishment worth kvelling about
While working on a master’s degree at McGill, Aaron Lansky, MA’80, launched a rescue mission, one that would play a significant role in the preservation of a culture facing serious peril. As the driving force behind the Yiddish Book Center, Lansky has helped save 1.5 million books and built a one-of-a-kind collection.
Culture
An unconventional path to literary stardom
As an undergraduate, Kai Thomas, BA’16, examined old newspaper ads in the McGill Library about runaway slaves. That research helped inform In the Upper Country, his first novel, which won one of Canada’s top literary prizes last year.
Discovery
Exploring the roots of the war in Ukraine
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Maria Popova became one of the media’s most popular go-to experts for providing context for the conflict. The McGill associate professor of political science has a new book out that examines the factors that led to the war.
Culture
How one bad day led to a triumphant year
Anuja Varghese, BA’05, won two major Canadian literary awards in 2023, but she struggled in her first attempts to put her book Chrysalis together. “I was trying to write what I thought belonged in a literary short story collection.” Things got easier once she focused on the “the weird stuff, the ghost stories.”
Culture
Books to consider for your holiday reading
McGill graduates who have published books in recent months include Claudia Dey, Julian Sher, Mariko Tamaki, and Rosemary Sullivan.
Culture
A lullaby for the world
Jacques J.M.Shore, LLB’80, is a celebrated lawyer (he helped Amazon enter the Canadian marketplace), but his true passion is writing books for children. His latest work has found a new audience – in Ukraine.
Culture
How historical fiction became a literary juggernaut
Historical fiction, once dismissed as a second-rate genre, is now the dominant force in American literature and a magnet for top literary prizes. In a new book, McGill’s Alexander Manshel examines how that happened.
Society
Reflecting on a year without the internet
For a full 12 months, McGill faculty lecturer Aron Lee Rosenberg, MA’19, PhD’23, avoided smartphones, social media and email. His new book raises questions about how we interact with the internet
Culture
Adam Gopnik on mastery, Steve Martin, and his mother
Adam Gopnik, BA’80, DLitt’13, discusses three recent projects – a book about mastering new skills, an audiobook about his friend Steve Martin’s career, and his own star turn in the film Tár.
Culture
Some summer reading options
Summer is here and the beach (or your balcony or your backyard) beckons. If you are on the lookout for book suggestions, a number of McGill alumni have recently published new works that you might be interested in digging into.
Discovery
Managing in a multi-generational workplace
Karl Moore, an associate professor at the Desautels Faculty of Management, works with young people all the time – and he sees no reason why his fellow boomers can’t forge productive workplace relationships with millennials and Gen Z. His new book Generation Why offers tips on how to go about it.