January’s New Reads: A Thoughtful Start to the Year

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Welcome back, Trinity College! As the new year and winter term begin, our January Spotlight Picks invite readers to engage with timely questions shaping our world today, from politics and governance to belief, identity, and storytelling. These selections reflect the breadth of our collection and offer opportunities for both critical thought and immersive reading as the semester gets underway.

You can find these titles on display at the New Books cart near the library entrance before they move to the Stacks or the Popular Reading Room downstairs. All Spotlight Picks are also available to browse and request through our library catalogue.

Our January Spotlight Picks:

The Strained Alliance: George H.W. Bush, Yitzhak Shamir, and the US-Israel Special Relationship, by David Tal

(Stacks: E183.8 .I7 2025)

This detailed political history examines a pivotal moment in U.S.–Israel relations, focusing on the complex partnership between President George H.W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir. Drawing on archival research, Tal offers insight into diplomacy, power, and the challenges of maintaining alliances during times of global transition.

Humanistic Buddhism: Holding True to the Original Intents of Buddha, by Venerable Master Hsing Yun; translated by Venerable Mio Guang

(Stacks: BQ9800 .F634 X5613 2016)

This work presents a modern interpretation of Buddhist teachings that emphasizes compassion, ethical living, and engagement with the world. Humanistic Buddhism encourages readers to reflect on how spiritual practice can inform daily life, social responsibility, and personal growth.

Julie Chan Is Dead: A Novel, by Liann Zhang

(Popular Reading: PS8649 .H364 J85 2025)

A sharp and darkly funny debut, this novel follows a young woman navigating identity, ambition, and visibility in the digital age. Blending satire and suspense, Julie Chan Is Dead offers a compelling look at contemporary culture and the pressures of performance and belonging.

In Praise of the Earth: A Journey into the Garden, by Byung-Chul Han

(Stacks: SB454.3 .P45 H3613 2025)

In this reflective meditation on gardening and nature, philosopher Byung-Chul Han explores slowness, care, and our connection to the earth. Through personal observation and philosophical insight, the book invites readers to reconsider how attention to the natural world can offer balance in an increasingly accelerated society.

Theology Collection

Recent titles exploring faith, belief, and religious history, with particular attention to ecology, early Christianity, and ethics.

General Collection

Popular Reading:

Engaging fiction and essays offering compelling storytelling, memorable characters, and thoughtful reflections on contemporary life.

Technology:

Explorations of emerging technologies, digital culture, and complex systems, considering how innovation shapes governance, risk, and everyday life.

Sustainability:

New works examining climate change through scientific, political, and social lenses, with a focus on justice, governance, and pathways toward meaningful action.

International Relations:

Titles that investigate power, conflict, diplomacy, and global governance, offering historical context and contemporary analysis of international relations.

History:

Studies of political, cultural, and diplomatic history that illuminate key moments, figures, and regions shaping the modern world.

Ethics, Society, and Law:

Works that reflect on creativity, community, care, and our relationship to the environment, blending literature, social thought, and ecological awareness.

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