Our Chats in the Stacks book talk series returns this fall with a new lineup of Cornell authors exploring the trees that have shaped American culture, the changing needs of veterinary practice, and the hidden mathematics powering our modern world.
All book talks begin at 4:30pm in Mann Library Room 160 and are free and open to the public. Additional information, including virtual attendance details when available, can be found through the individual event listings below.
Recordings of past talks are also available through the Chats in the Stacks collection on the Mann Library YouTube channel.
Thursday, September 10
Evergreen: The Trees That Shaped America
From towering redwoods and the lumber industries of the East to Christmas trees and evergreen decorations in American homes, evergreens have played an enduring role in the nation’s culture, economy, and relationship with the natural world. Join Trent Preszler, professor of practice in Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, for a discussion of his book Evergreen: The Trees That Shaped America (Little, Brown & Co., 2025). Preszler takes readers on a journey through the history of evergreens in America, exploring their economic and cultural significance while reflecting on the tension between our appreciation of nature and our desire to control and consume it. Evergreen was longlisted for the 2026 PEN America E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.
Thursday, October 1
Practical Guide to Adding Livestock to Your Veterinary Practice
As small-scale farming grows in suburban, rural, and even urban communities, veterinarians are increasingly being called upon to care for livestock alongside more familiar companion and equine patients. Michelle Buckley, assistant professor of practice in Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, will discuss Practical Guide to Adding Livestock to Your Veterinary Practice (Wiley, 2026), co-authored with Allison Vander Plaats of Iowa State University. Designed for veterinarians who may be less familiar with livestock medicine, the book offers practical guidance on the physiology, management, handling, and regulatory considerations involved in caring for cattle, pigs, small ruminants, and camelids.
Tuesday, November 17
Big Math: The Hidden Codes That Run Our World
Math is working behind the scenes every time we search the web, stream a movie, upload a photo, use artificial intelligence, or rely on countless other technologies that shape everyday life. But what happens when the mathematical systems we create become so large and complex that we struggle to understand them ourselves? Cornell mathematicians Steven Strogatz and Alex Townsend will discuss their new book, Big Math: The Hidden Codes That Run Our World (Little, Brown, 2026). Written for a general audience, the book explores how concepts such as linear algebra, matrices, vectors, networks, and optimization became essential building blocks of our digital world—and considers the opportunities and challenges that arise as increasingly powerful mathematical tools transform technology and society.