This summer, we are skipping the beach reads in favour of some more thoughtful books from university presses across North America. Check out the list below for some inspiring titles that will make you think.
Currently reading…
Our own Living on the Land just arrived in the office and you can also read it for free on our website. Download it onto your iPad and read it on your next roadtrip! Living on the Land examines how patriarchy, gender, and colonialism have shaped the experiences of Indigenous women as both knowers and producers of knowledge.
Finished reading…
The University of Alberta Press publishes the annual Henry Kreisel Lecture series along with the Canadian Literature Centre. Last year’s lecture, Who needs books? by Lynn Coady offers a great look at the digital age and what it means for reading. Coady’s observations are thoughtful and inspire a positive outlook on the digital world.
Next on our list to read…
Awkward Politics: Technologies of Popfeminist Activism, a fun-looking book from McGill Queen’s University Press looks at how awkwardness can be used as a tool for engaging with contemporary feminist activism.
For Canadians to read…
Are you a French Immersion student who no longer has the opportunity to speak or write en français? UBC Press’s So They Want Us to Learn French, looks at the history behind the bilingual movement in Canada and why personal bilingualism is not increasing.
For our city to read…
Edmonton’s city council has been debating bike lanes for the past year and we think Bike Lanes are White Lanes published by University of Nebraska Press may add some context to the conversation. The author looks at the pros and cons of urban cycling and advocacy for this method of commuting.
For the world to read…
The recent civil rights struggles across the globe have made it very clear that the world needs change. Poetry of Resistance: Voices for Social Justice, published by the University of Arizona Press, is “a poetic call for tolerance, reflection, reconciliation, and healing.”
For fun!
Academic writing is allowed to be humorous and University of Minnesota Press has this summer’s serious scholarship/humorous combo. What Would Animals Say if We Asked the Right Questions? has adventurous anecdotes about animals and the people who work with them including researchers, farmers, zookeepers, handlers, and more!
Do you have a favourite university press book to add to this list? Comment below or tweet us at @au_press!
