Do It Wrong: How to be a Poet in the Twenty-first Century by Derek Beaulieu
Beaulieu asks, why are we writing?
Philosophy
Walking, Trailing Shadows — Walking the Bypass: Notes on Place from the Side of the Road by Ken Wilson
Ken Wilson’s Walking the Bypass is a redemptive journey through some of the least redeeming landscapes an urban walker might visit. Part of what makes the book compelling is how well its style matches its subject.
A Love Affair With the Unknown by Gillian Deacon
Gillian brings forth the notion that we, as humans, try to seek control and predictability because it makes us feel comfortable. She explains that while we all feel uneasy with life’s uncertainties, we often fail to recognize that most others feel the same way.
Five Manifestos for the Beautiful World by Phoebe Bosewell, Saidiya Hartman, Janaína Oliveira, Joseph M. Pierce, and Cristina Rivera Garza, with an introduction by Christina Sharpe
Hosted at York University, the free, public events gather writers, artists, and thinkers from various disciplines and geographies to discuss the most pressing issues of our time. The insights shared at the live and streamed events are later transcribed and expanded in artful books published by Alchemy, a Knopf Canada publishing program, in collaboration with York University.
Irrational Publics and the Fate of Democracy by Stephen J.A. Ward
Perhaps you’re looking for a meaty academic text to sink your teeth into, and certainly Irrational Publics and the Fate of Democracy is meaty, and also a remarkably readable example of a philosophy and politics text.
Einstein on Israel and Zionism
Einstein on Israel and Zionism proves to be an important counteragent to the politically-motivated, overly-simplistic and, often, racially-motivated messaging we hear from prominent figures in Western media.
The Power of Rituals — Michael Norton’s The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions
Rituals can enhance our days, providing a sense of comfort.
Invisible Lines by Maxim Samson: The Lines That Divide
“Humans assign meaning to specific locations, converting abstract, loosely defined ‘space’ into distinguishable, consequential ‘place.'”
In the Slender Margin: The Intimate Strangeness of Death and Dying by Eve Joseph
Originally published in 2014, In the Slender Margin was enthusiastically received and applauded for its respectful sensitivity in dealing with a subject that is still, to many, an avoidable topic of conversation: death and dying. Using her 20+ years’ experience working as a palliative care counsellor in a hospice as a springboard for exploration, Joseph probes our collective knowledge of that final life experience that we all must face.
