Books

From Insult to Identity: The Evolution of the Word “Nerd”

SMGN Publishing August 21, 2025

The uncertain origins The term “nerd” has been part of everyday language for more than seventy years, though its exact origins remain unclear. A widely accepted theory suggests it first appeared in the 1950 children’s book If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss, where it was listed among imaginary

Boston Public Library launches AI-assisted project to digitize historic public records

SMGN Publishing August 11, 2025

Partnership to expand access to government archives The Boston Public Library, one of the nation’s oldest and largest public library systems, has begun a project with Harvard University researchers and artificial intelligence specialists to expand access to its extensive collection of historic government documents.The archive includes congressional reports, oral histories,

New Book Recounts Life Inside a WWII Japanese American Concentration Camp

SMGN Publishing July 22, 2025

A Family’s Journey Through a Difficult Historical Chapter Together in Manzanar: The True Story of a Japanese Jewish Family in an American Concentration Camp, by author Tracy Slater, presents a true account of life inside the Manzanar camp, one of several facilities where the U.S. government confined individuals of Japanese

Hungarian Monastery Battles Insect Infestation to Protect Centuries-Old Books

SMGN Publishing July 14, 2025

Hungary’s Oldest Library Takes Emergency Action to Preserve Cultural Heritage At the Archabbey of Pannonhalma, a thousand-year-old Benedictine monastery in northwestern Hungary, conservation teams are racing against time to save nearly 100,000 books from a beetle infestation. The monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds around 400,000 volumes, including codices

New Book Releases Explore Sports Icons, Ancient History, and the U.S. Legal and Political Systems

SMGN Publishing July 9, 2025

This week’s literary highlights offer insight, inspiration, and suspense As summer heat intensifies across many regions of the U.S., this week’s book releases provide a welcome escape into compelling stories and historical explorations. From groundbreaking sports achievements to immersive archaeology and political retrospectives, the latest titles span a wide range

“Endling”: A Debut Novel That Blends Social Critique and Humor Amid War

SMGN Publishing June 24, 2025

Author Maria Reva weaves ecology, conflict, and cultural identity into a story that questions survival and representation. Endling, the debut novel by Canadian author Maria Reva, offers a dynamic narrative that blends sharp social commentary with dark humor. Set initially in Ukraine, the story centers on Yeva, an unconventional ecologist

10 Years After Mother Emanuel: Memory and Legacy

SMGN Publishing June 16, 2025

June 17 marks ten years since the tragic mass shooting at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. During a Wednesday evening Bible study, a white man with racist motivations opened fire, killing nine Black worshippers in an act that left a lasting scar on the community

DOJ Releases New Epstein Files Referencing Trump

SMGN Publishing December 23, 2025

The U.S. Department of Justice released an additional batch of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, adding new material that includes hundreds of references to President Donald Trump. The disclosure forms part of a broader, congressionally mandated effort to make public all federal records connected to Epstein’s activities,

The Choral Uses Music to Unite a British Town During World War I

Sarah Olivella December 23, 2025

The historical drama The Choral is set in 1916, at a moment when World War I was reshaping communities across Europe. Against the backdrop of global conflict, the film focuses on Ramsden, a fictional town in northern England whose peaceful appearance contrasts sharply with the reality of conscription, loss, and

Student Loan Wage Garnishment Set to Resume for Millions of Borrowers in 2026

Sarah Olivella December 23, 2025

The U.S. federal government is preparing to reinstate wage garnishment for student loan borrowers who remain in default, marking a major shift in federal student debt enforcement after several years of suspended collections. The policy change is expected to take effect in early 2026 and will gradually expand throughout the