Canadian author, Naomi Klein, is set to release her next book, "Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World" in September. Klein’s book will delve into the effects of artificial intelligence on the human identity by investigating far-right groups who “play-act” solidarity with the working class, AI-generated content which blurs the line between what is genuine and spurious, anti-vaxxers scrambling political allegiances, and much more. Klein uses analysis from Jordan Peele's movies, Freud, and other intellectuals to understand the world of AI colliding with the human’s identity. The books are releasing simultaneously in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.
The Financial Times has reported on the potential of the metaverse, which has been a popular topic throughout 2021. The publication noted that the metaverse, described as a “three-dimensional version of the internet”, may change how people meet in remote or hybrid working environments. Journalist Isabel Berwick attended Charter’s virtual “fireside chat” about virtual reality and work, and whilst it was a mixed experience Berwick noted that avatars are entirely present in the metaverse – making it harder to multitask – which can help people to focus on the business at hand. Berwick added that the metaverse could create extra work, and stressed that 3D meetings require attendees to listen rather than multitask, which could help improve focus on the task at hand.
The Codex Sassoon, the oldest and most complete Hebrew Bible, has been sold for $38.1m at auction by Sotheby’s. The document has been named after its previous owner, David Solomon Sassoon, who assembled one of the most significant private collections of Judaica and Hebraica manuscripts of the 20th century. The winning bid was made by Alfred H. Moses, who will present the Codex Sassoon to the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, Israel. Although the sale surpassed the $30.8m paid for Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester manuscript in 1994, it was below the estimated $50m that could have been achieved.
Alberta, which has suffered an "unprecedented" early fire season with almost two dozen wildfires out of control, offering a clear sign of the dangers of the world's continued dependence upon fossil fuels for energy, according to Vancouver writer John Vaillant. The exodus to greener energy, therefore, was happening too slowly to make a meaningful difference in staving off further destruction of the environment. Vaillant's book "Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast,” provides an excellent summary of the dangers of persistent dependence on fossil fuels.
PEN America, authors and parents have sued Florida's Escambia County School District over book bans, alleging the removal of titles dealing with race and LGBTQ issues violates the First Amendment rights of free speech. Book bans have surged in the US, with 874 titles targeted for removal in the first half of 2022-23, most notably in Florida, Utah, Missouri, Texas and South Carolina. The lawsuit seeks to restore titles to school libraries and cover court costs, and singles out Northview High School teacher Vickie Baggett for her "activism" in removing a number of titles, though she is not named as a defendant.
George Black's book "The Long Reckoning: A Story of War, Peace, and Redemption in Vietnam" highlights the continuing legacies of the Vietnam War for people in the US, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia through the lens of two American veterans who return to Vietnam in the 1990s to help people recover from injuries caused by leftover explosives and Agent Orange, a dangerous chemical used by the Americans in the war that causes debilitating health problems for generations. The book also highlights the persistent efforts of a small group of American and Vietnamese heroes that broke down opposition to re-establish unofficial and official outreach between the two nations and aid those in need.
American actress and political activist Jane Fonda has accused French director René Clément of asking to sleep with her during filming of his 1964 film Joy House. Appearing on US TV show Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Fonda said Clément claimed he needed to know what an orgasm was like as part of the film. Clément, who died in 1996, was a respected filmmaker who won five prizes at the Cannes Film Festival. Fonda also spoke on the show about skinny dipping with Michael Jackson.
Australian author Tabitha Carvan has changed her opinion on Taylor Swift's album Reputation, prompted by her eight-year-old daughter's fandom. Watching the video for the album's lead single, Look What You Made Me Do, again, Carvan saw the humour in the song for the first time, enjoying its camp, catchy quality and taking note of Swift's self-awareness. Reputation, which was released in 2017, was criticised for being petty and self-obsessed, but as Carvan found, the album contained some "perfect" songs, with opening track Delicate revealing fears about the fragility of romantic relationships.
A biography of South Africa's Nelson and Winnie Mandela, written by Jonny Steinberg, outlines the tortured relationship between the anti-apartheid power couple, including extramarital affairs and personal sacrifices. Steinberg's work also examines the humanity of the revered leader, including the revelations that he was a flawed father and husband, and humanises Winnie too. Steinberg's book reveals the dilemma over how to respond to apartheid, with the struggle between talk or fight, reflected in the couple's public relationship. Despite the considerable flaws of the pair, the book reveals that Nelson was the one who wanted Winnie at his side at the end of his life.
German forester Peter Wohlleben has published a new book entitled The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us If We Let Them. The work contains chapters on climate change and its effect on forests as well as discussions on how trees change their behaviour over time as a hedge against harsh, future conditions. The book has been criticised, however, for Wohlleben's “sentimental” language and his lack of clarity when discussing policy solutions to climate change. The book has been published worldwide in multiple languages.
Rachel de Thame, a presenter for the BBC's long-running programme Gardeners' World, has advised people to "let your weeds grow freely", claiming that "killing weeds is old-fashioned." Her statement has been criticised on social media, with people arguing that Gardener's World exists to give expert advice on gardening. Last month, horticultural experts from the Royal Horticultural Society urged gardeners to "down tools" in May and June during peak breeding season for birds, providing space for creatures and plants to thrive.
In Unearthing, Kyo Maclear turns an explosive discovery into an exploration of kinship
The Globe and Mail
23-05-18 13:00
Kyo Maclear, the Toronto-based author of multiple children’s books, two novels and a memoir, has explored the meaning of family, identity and heritage in her new book, Unearthing. Three months after the death of her father, celebrated foreign correspondent Michael Maclear, Maclear discovered her DNA did not match his, prompting her to examine her own and mother's histories in a meditation on secrets and stories, race and lineage, grief and grace. She used the notion of gardens and the backdrop of the natural world to muse on the subtleties of the passages of time. The non-linear structure of the book reflects the minuscule changes in seasonal landscapes, the beauty of all things, passive and active, and celebrates “permeability”.
Business management book, "The Goal," has returned to prominence during the pandemic, following its popularisation of bottleneck thinking during the 1980s. The novel introduces Eli Goldratt’s "theory of constraints," which focuses on identifying physical, policy-based or personnel bottlenecks that can delay decision-making or slow supply chains. As global shortages of semiconductors and congestion at ports have affected production, supply chains and shipping during the pandemic, managers have been revisiting the book to seek insights. The story follows protagonist Alex Rogo, a plant manager, who is given just three months to save his factory from closure by identifying and reducing bottlenecks.
Historian Tom Holland has written a children's book that takes youngsters on a white-knuckle ride through Greek mythology and the Persian Wars. “The Wolf-Girl”, aimed at readers aged nine and above, weaves together myth and history to bring the story to life. The book contains no footnotes or bibliography and Gorgo, the story’s lead character, stresses her reliability as a witness. Holland’s skill lies in the way he interweaves the strands of myth and history, blurring the lines to create a memorable story that will stay in the memory, according to the Telegraph's review.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has signed a two-book deal with Penguin Random House Canada. The first book, titled "Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other," will be released next spring and is a "self-discovery and wellness book for adults." The book features interviews with psychologists and scientists, along with stories of Gregoire Trudeau's personal journey. The second book, a children's picture book, is due to be published in 2025 and will promote the value of connecting with the outdoors.
Book banning has returned to America, according to Reuters, which said battles over what children should read have reached the Legislative floor in Texas. In the current school year, nearly 40 bills have been put forward to control what get placed on library shelves, leading to some 438 books being banned in the state – more than anywhere else in America. Texas librarians have been vilified, accused of paedophilia and even threatened with violence, according to reports. PEN America, a nonprofit centred around freedom of expression, said in Texas there is a “larger, coordinated movement to ban books, ideas, and knowledge for students in schools.” The problem is spreading to the UK where a third of librarians have been asked to censor or remove books by members of the public, Cilip research showed.
Parents in the US have sued the state in some cases, while many of Texas’ lawmakers have made book bans a part of their campaign strategies, Reuters wrote. It quoted Tiffany Justice, co-founder of campaign group Moms For Liberty, which is organising petition drives and meetings with school officials across districts to censor reading lists, as saying: “Many books have been found to contain pornography and have nothing to do with education curriculum.”
Ryan Manucha has won the Donner Prize for his book on interprovincial trade in Canada. Manucha's "Booze, Cigarettes and Constitutional Dust-Ups: Canada's Quest for Interprovincial Free Trade," has been dubbed the country's best public policy book. The prize, which is typically worth CAD$30,000, was awarded $60,000 this year to celebrate the prize's 25th anniversary.
British novelist Salman Rushdie has made his first in-person public appearance since he was severely injured in August 2020 after being stabbed repeatedly by a young man who had been carrying a knife. Rushdie made the visit for the annual PEN America gala, a literary and free expression organisation that he formerly served as president. Iranian dissident Narges Mohammadi and the founder of Saturday Night Live, Lorne Michaels, were among others scheduled to be honoured at the event. Rushdie was said to be emotional upon taking the podium to make remarks during the gala.
An Australian boy has set up his own free library at his home in Melbourne's north-west. Seth Chirau has loaned out part of his collection of 570 books to his neighbours and friends since February, under the venture "A library in Aintree". Orders can be placed online and members can access the service within walking distance from their homes. Membership and borrowing are free, but new members pay a one-time AUD20 ($14) bond that is returned when they leave the group. Wendy Rapee, chair of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, praised Seth's initiative as a "gold-star model".
Salman Rushdie has made his first in-person public appearance since being hospitalised for nine months after being stabbed repeatedly last year. Rushdie, who sustained multiple wounds, leaving him blind in one eye and struggling to write, said he felt great and was happy to be among writers and book people at the annual gala of literary and free expression organisation PEN America, where he was once president. Founder of Saturday Night Live Lorne Michaels and Iranian dissident Narges Mohammadi were among those scheduled to be honoured.
