New Books Network

Women, Gender, and Socialist Ideology in Soviet Russia (Routledge, 2026) examines the place of women in Soviet Russia from the 1917 Revolution through the post-World War II period, discussing how the Soviet construction of gender perpetuated inequality even as it dramatically expanded women’s roles in society. Chapters of this book explore Bolshevik activists’ ideals of women’s liberation and their failure to realize these ideals; the significance of women’s labor to the Soviet economy, alongside continued workplace discrimination; state reproductive policies and essentialist understandings of femininity; women’s World War II military service and representations of gender in postwar commemorations; and the role of socialist ideology in the formation of the Soviet system and Stalinist culture. Throughout, Hoffmann places Soviet history in its international context, including comparisons of Soviet women’s social positions with those of their counterparts in other countries. The book makes clear the centrality of the Soviet gender order to the country’s social, cultural, and political history, as well as providing an important historical case for understanding the broader struggle for women’s equality. Intended for students and scholars alike, this book is a valuable resource for all those interested in gender history, Soviet history, labor history, and World War II. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

It’s a long journey from a writer’s mind to a finished book, and a lot needs to go right along the way. But isn’t it more interesting when things go wrong? In Rogues, Widows and Orphans: Mischief and Misadventures in the World of Books (Brandeis University Press and Profile Books, 2026), Rebecca Lee, a senior editorial manager at Penguin Random House, guides readers through the secrets of the book industry, a world fizzing with scandals, rivalries, catastrophes, and con jobs. Lee demonstrates how the tiniest of typos can have oversized consequences, unearths horrifying examples of bad taste and worse style, and peeks into tales of forgeries and feuds as dramatic as any thriller. She unredacts the most egregious cases of censorship, exposes hoarders and thieves, and asks whether AI is really an existential threat to the literary universe—or if we are our own worst enemies. An irresistible tour of mistakes and misbehavior, Rogues, Widows and Orphans will make you cringe, crack you up, and renew your appreciation for the hard work of making books—and all the ways it can go sidewise. Jen Hoyer is Technical Services and Electronic Resources Librarian at CUNY New York City College of Technology. She is co-author of What Primary Sources Teach: Lessons for Every Classroom (2022) and The Social Movement Archive (2021). Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this episode of New Books Network, Željko Stanojević speaks with Dr. Hanna David about Erika Landau’s Contribution to the History of Gifted Education: Family Characteristics of Gifted Children (Springer, 2025), a study of gifted education, family background, gender differences, educational opportunity, and the legacy of one of Israel’s most influential pioneers in gifted education. Drawing on quantitative research on gifted children aged 5–15 who attended the Erika Landau Institute for Gifted and Creative Children and Youths in Tel Aviv between 1968 and 2003, David examines how giftedness is identified, how family characteristics shape educational trajectories, and how institutional practices affect boys and girls differently. The book focuses on parents’ education, family size, birth order, siblings, admission examinations, and long-term patterns across several decades. A central part of the conversation concerns gender inequality in gifted education. David discusses the persistent imbalance between boys and girls identified as gifted and asks whether conventional testing procedures fully capture the abilities needed to thrive in gifted programs. The book addresses affirmative-action standards in admissions, noting that girls who may score lower on entrance examinations can demonstrate strengths in social skills, persistence, fine motor development, and successful integration within highly able peer groups. The interview also explores Erika Landau’s broader legacy. David evaluates both the importance and limitations of Landau’s work, combining historical reconstruction, empirical data, and critical assessment. The book examines Landau’s academic writings across several languages and asks what educators, psychologists, counselors, and researchers can still learn from her educational philosophy and institutional practice. The discussion places gifted education within wider questions of equality, childhood development, educational psychology, family sociology, gender, and public policy. It raises a fundamental issue: who is recognized as gifted, by what criteria, and with what consequences? The book also offers a valuable historical record of gifted education in Israel and its changing social context. Dr. Hanna David is affiliated with the Hebrew Literature Research Institute at Tel Aviv University. She is also an author in the European Hebrew Journal. Her peer-reviewed article “Haim Nachman Bialik in Vienna”, published in EHJ Volume 1, Issue 1 (2026), examines Bialik’s activities in Vienna in 1913, Hebrew cultural revival, Zionist cultural thought, the Hebrew book, and the intellectual background of the future Hebrew University of Jerusalem. David will also speak at the European Hebrew Journal International Online Conference, New Discoveries and New Directions in Biblical, Hebrew, and Theological Studies. On 10 November 2026 at 14:00 CET, she will present “The Literary Work of A.B. Yehoshua, Amos Oz, David Grossman, Yoram Kaniuk, Benjamin Tammuz and Zeruya Shalev in Israeli Cinema.” Her biography, abstract, academic profile, and session details are available on Hanna David’s conference landing page. The interview is hosted by Željko Stanojević, President of the Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature, Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor of the European Hebrew Journal, and a New Books Network host in Biblical Studies. Keywords and themes: gifted education, gifted children, Erika Landau, Hanna David, giftedness in Israel, educational psychology, gender and giftedness, family characteristics, parents’ education, siblings, birth order, giftedness testing, affirmative action, child development, Israeli education, gifted girls, gifted boys, Jewish studies. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

We all love the desserts we grew up with-the ones tied to family, tradition, and the moments we remember most. But as much as we love those recipes, they don't always turn out the way we'd want. That's where this book comes in. From cakes and cookies to pies, breads, and more, each recipe in Better than Grandma's (Rolling Pin Press, 2026) takes a nostalgic classic and reworks it to be more flavorful, more reliable, and easier to make at home. With better (proven) techniques, small changes that make big improvements, and a deep understanding of what actually makes a difference, celebrity baker Justin Ellen offers up recipes that turn out desserts the way you always hoped they would be. And while the title may be Better than Grandma's, the book is also a love letter to the grandmothers who taught Justin to find joy in every moment, to fill every room with confidence and laughter, and how to bake in the first place. It's about honoring the women, along with the recipes, then building on them to make them even better. Because it is never just about the dessert. It's about who you make it with, who you make it for, and the kitchens and women who shaped you. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In Afroindigenization: A Theory of Grassroots Cultural Practice (Duke University Press, 2026), Catherine A. John addresses the underbelly of spiritual resilience shaping a range of African diasporic institutions, traditions, and practices. John argues that repressed forms of indigenous African knowledge systems manifest in a myriad of culturally embodied ways in African diaspora spaces and places. From mermaid lore in rural Jamaica to hip-hop trance-induced dance in Los Angeles to the stories of two debaters-turned-social-media-influencers, John shows how the descendants of enslaved Africans express the signs and substance of their afroindigenous power through collective creativity. Drawing from scholars such as Vèvè Clark, Hortense Spillers, Dianne M. Stewart, and Sylvia Wynter, Afroindigenization exposes the cultural and spiritual ancestries that lie at the heart of modern Black identities and practices. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network