Boston College will host a talk by Sy Montgomery, a naturalist and author of more than 30 books for adults and children, on November 20 at Gasson Hall, room 100 at 7 p.m. She will speak about her book, Secrets of the Octopus, a companion to a National Geographic miniseries of the same name. The book and television series explore one of the most intelligent and complex animals on the planet. Montgomery is also author of the bestselling book The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness, which was a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction, and the internationally acclaimed memoir The Good Good Pig. Her children’s book Kakapo Rescue: Saving The World’s Strangest Parrot won a Sibert Medal. Named a Literary Light by the Associates of the Boston Public Library, Montgomery is the recipient of New England Independent Booksellers Association Nonfiction Award, the Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award, the Henry Bergh Award for Nonfiction, and the Thoreau Prize, among other honors. Montgomery’s talk is presented by the Lowell Humanities Series. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
One year ago today, Boston College’s Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology Richard Gaillardetz died. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the theologian started sharing his thoughts and reflections on CaringBridge. His essays have been collected in a volume titled While I Breathe, I Hope: A Mystagogy of Dying (Liturgical Press, 2024). According to the publisher, Gaillardetz writes about “fears and doubts, joys and sufferings, and the graces and blessings he encounters along his final journey. With shots of humor, a few sports analogies, and a sprinkling of quotes from Karl Rahner, Rick offers wisdom from his poignant exploration of what it means to be a person of faith, entering the paschal mystery, ever hopeful for the life to come.” While I Breathe, I Hope was edited by Grace M. Agolia, with a foreword from Michael Downey. Read more in these book reviews from National Catholic Reporter and America magazine. A highly respected theologian, Gaillardetz was the author/co-author of several publications, notably Teaching with Authority: A Theology of the Magisterium of the Church, An Unfinished Council: Vatican II, Pope Francis, and the Renewal of Catholicism, and Keys to the Council: Unlocking the Teaching of Vatican II.
In his new book, Boston College alumnus 
Boston College alumna 
As director of Career Services and Alumni Relations at the Boston College School of Social Work, Cindy Snell has connected students with potential employers, hosted resume-writing workshops, and managed a huge jobs database, among many other tasks. She has taken that expertise and co-authored a new book that provides useful tools and inspiration so social workers can grow personally and professionally. In 
Boston College graduate 
American society has experienced fundamental changes that have polarized the nation’s political climate and ignited a perpetual culture war, according to co-authors of a new book 
Boston College Law School Professor 
Licensed mental health clinician Karen Symanowicz, a 1999 Boston College graduate, is on a 
BC Bookmarks 