As final reviews and exams begin to wind down, attention is turning to all of the fun and relaxing things one might do during the holidays. At the top of most lists is reading a good book. We asked Associate Professor Brian Boigon, Director of the Undergraduate program at the Daniels Faculty, for his top suggestions of what to read over the break.

Brian breaks down his 3 suggestions for what to read over the holidays into three categories: the Social of the Digital, the Social of the Analogue and the Social of the Digital and Analogue.

Holiday #ReadingList
by Brian Boigon

Given that the holiday season is upon us, I thought it would be best to recommend books that deal with social architecture. In other words, what it means to be social today and the challenges associated with the online and offline world.

1. The Social of the Digital: Alone Together by Sherry Turkle

Sherry Turkle is one of the most insightful analysts of social media.

From her book Alone Together:

"We shape our buildings, Winston Churchill argued, then they shape us. The same is true of our digital technologies. Technology has become the architect of our intimacies. Online, we face a moment of temptation. Drawn by the illusion of companionship without the demands of intimacy, we conduct 'risk free' affairs on Second Life and confuse the scattershot postings on a Facebook wall with authentic communication. And now, we are promised 'sociable robots' that will marry companionship with convenience."

I also suggest watching Sherry's TED talk, "Connected, but alone?"

2. The Social of the Analogue: The Psychoanalysis of Fire by Gaston Bachelard

I was educated as an architect and one of our philosophers was Gaston Bachelard. His book The Poetics of Space was required reading in my 2nd year. But one of his lesser-known books The Psychoanalysis of Fire is one of my all time favourites. Bachelard delves deep into why fire is such a profound social event. One of our late great literary scholars, Northrop Frye, gives a beautiful introduction.

3. The Social of the Digital and Analogue: We Have Impact by Brian Boigon

Then if it's all a bit too long-winded, you can delve into any one of the shorter chapters from my recent book We have Impact. There are several dozen short ruminations on design today from the weekend to the mutiny…

For further reading, I recommend you check out two of my favourite book stores in Toronto:

Swipe (401 Richmond Street West)
An independent bookstore with a focus on graphic design, urbanism, and architecture

Art Metropole (1490 Dundas Street West)
An artist-run organization with a focus on artist-initiated publications.

Happy reading and happy holidays!

See you all next semester,

Brian