What’s on your reading list? We’ve got plenty of options for you!

Don’t miss the ninth annual Books in the Humanities event featuring humanities-related books authored or edited by Syracuse University faculty, staff and students from across a range of fields.

The volumes submitted in 2023 cross many genres, from novels and poetry to biographies, history, pedagogy and issues-oriented research. Topics include Indigenous value systems, Black life, Spanish poetry, experimental music, Dutch painting, racialized imagery in popular culture, Spanish poetry, Mona Awad’s latest novel, Rouge, and much more. Represented within this year’s showcase are:

• 38 humanities-related books
• 40 faculty, staff and students
• 16 departments
• 5 schools, colleges and institutes

A celebratory reception will be held on May 2, 2024, from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Strasser Legacy Room located in 220 Eggers Hall. Organized by the Syracuse University Humanities Center in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), the event is free and open to the public. Additional support has been provided by A&S, the Office of Research, Syracuse University Libraries and the Campus Store, where many of the books can be purchased, locally.

The Syracuse University Libraries have developed a companion catalog of titles, descriptions, and author sites for the ©2023 collection. You can also browse digital archives from each of the nine years of Books in the Humanities celebrations.

“We are delighted to support the Humanities Center in this celebration of scholarly writing and fiction by Syracuse University faculty, staff and students,” said David Seaman, Dean of Libraries and University Librarian. “As home to the Syracuse University Press, we recognize the profound significance of these publications and it is with great pride that we embrace them into our collections, ensuring equitable access for all within the SU Library community.”

“Each year, it is exciting to see submissions come in from across campus and witness the diversity of scholarship and creativity,” says Vivian May, professor of women’s and gender studies and director of the Syracuse University Humanities Center and of the Central New York Humanities Corridor, who developed the University-wide annual event to help deepen a culture of recognition and to showcase humanities research. “It has become such a wonderful way to 'turn the page' on the academic year by coming together to toast our colleagues’ success and celebrate such a flourishing humanities research environment.”

A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi says, "The Books in the Humanities showcase not only celebrates the scholarly achievements of our faculty, staff and students, but also underscores the vital role of the humanities in shaping the discourse of our society. I encourage everyone to stop by the event to browse the diverse selection of works and meet the authors."

The Center encourages anyone releasing a book in the 2024 copyright year to complete its author survey for consideration in next spring’s celebration. Send your questions to humcenter@syr.edu.

The Humanities Center, located in the Tolley Humanities Building, cultivates diverse forms of humanities scholarship, sponsors a range of dynamic programming and partnerships, highlights the humanities as a public good and underscores the relevance of the humanities for addressing pressing questions and social issues of our time.