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Charlotte Gray: On Medicare, and the Paradox of Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas, the longtime premier of Saskatchewan, was the father of medicare. Born almost exactly 110 years ago (Oct 20, 1904), he was an unlikely …
Efficiency Expert: Lillian Gilbreth, Larger-Than-Life
Mother of 11 children, Lillian Gilbreth was also a psychologist, a leading efficiency expert, industrial engineer, an author, a professor, and an inventor. …
Books About Amazing Pets
For some reason there are more books about dogs than cats. Conspiracy?
Canadian Spacewalkers: Messing Up Your Mind
In this excerpt from Canadian Spacewalkers, Bob McDonald shares his own experience with simulated spacewalking, and speaks with Steven MacLean about …
Bold Scientists: Science, and Wonder and Awe
Nature enslaved no longer elicits wonder. Yet Bacon calls wonder 'the seed of knowledge.' Without seed, what can we expect to grow?
The Interruption: Sean Cranbury Chats With Carrie Snyder
Sean Cranbury chats with Carrie Snyder, whose novel, Girl Runner, has just been shortlisted for the 2014 Rogers Trust Fiction Prize.
Great Companions
We've made some great pairings of recent Canadian books of note, creating ideal cross-genre literary companions.
Quick Hits: Timeless Books With Amazing Raves
In Quick Hits, a new 49th Shelf series, we look through our stacks to bring you books that, when they were published, elicited a lot of reaction and praise. …
Go Deeper with the Big Books of 2014
Want to know more about the books and authors making waves this season? Just dive in to this great selection from 49th Shelf's archives.
Daniel Francis: History or Myth?
The struggle for control of the narrative keeps history a contemporary subject.