Off the Shelf

Off the Shelf is a Columbia News series in which professors discuss their recently published books, as well as what they have read recently and recommend, and who they would invite to the perfect dinner party.

Professor Muhsin al-Musawi examines the enduring global appeal of the Arabian Nights.

Blending research and imagination, “The Magician” traces the life of the writer Thomas Mann.

A new book, “Undiversified,” spells out the reasons—and they’re probably not what you think—and offers solutions.

Mae Ngai looks at 19th-century Chinese migration and how those early experiences might explain the racism we see today.

In his new book, "Why Trust Matters," Professor Benjamin Ho reveals the importance of trust in our daily lives.

A new book explores the intersection of professional sports with the civil rights and second-wave feminist movements.

After translating works by Swiss-German author Robert Walser for decades, Susan Bernofsky has written an English-language biography of him.

Professor Claudio Lomnitz recounts his family’s history across continents and the 20th century.

“Media Capture,” the new book edited by Anya Schiffrin, provides some answers.

Read her book to find out what to do if your mother is accused of being a sorceress.

Kate Zambreno’s new book, To Write As If Already Dead, examines the age of AIDS and its aftermath.

Historian and journalist Gershom Gorenberg uncovers how secret intelligence helped win the war for the Allies in the Middle East.