Welcome to Selected Reads, a haven for book enthusiasts everywhere. I am Med Kharbach, your guide on this bibliophilic journey.
About my blogging journey
With a Ph.D. in Educational Studies from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, and more than 15 years of K-12 teaching experience, I have always been driven by an intense passion for both education and books.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a home where books were cherished. My mother, an ardent reader, surrounded us with her favourite titles. I would lose myself for hours exploring the pages of those books. This early immersion kindled in me a lifelong love for reading.
In 2013, I launched Selected Reads to share my passion for books with fellow readers. However, the demands of my Ph.D. program led me to put this venture on hold temporarily. But a flame had been lit, and it was just a matter of time before I would return to this project.
Fast-forward to June 2022, with a successful defense of my doctoral thesis behind me, I felt an irresistible urge to resurrect Selected Reads. My love for books had deepened over the years, thanks to the countless titles I’d read and the new-found world of audiobooks that transformed my “dead time” into exciting reading hours.
Yet, this desire was not just born of personal passion. A more personal, heart-rending event nudged me towards this direction. At the end of 2019, my mother suffered a brain injury, rendering her quadriplegic and comatose. Amidst this tumultuous period, books and running became my solace. Reading to her, holding her hand, I found comfort. Thus, Selected Reads is more than just a blog; it’s a healing journey, a tribute to my mother’s love for reading.
My mission with Selected Reads is simple yet profound: to share books that stimulate your intellect, inspire you to take action, and are worthy of your time and resources. I envision an inclusive community of readers where we learn from and inspire each other’s journeys. I invite you to join me on this adventure, exploring the transformative power of books in our lives, and consequently, in the world.
Selected Reads extends beyond merely sharing book reviews and recommendations. It is a platform where we engage in thought-provoking conversations and ponder about the ideas that our reading ventures inspire. I am excited to learn from your insights and look forward to your participation in discussions.
As a part of my commitment to providing authentic, high-quality content on Selected Reads, I believe in being fully transparent about how I create and share my book reviews and recommendations. To give you a clearer understanding of the tools and practices I use, including affiliate links and AI-assisted writing, I invite you to check out my Disclosure Policy. For information on how I collect, use, and protect your data while you’re visiting Selected Reads, please take a moment to review my Privacy Policy.
About my Academic Profile
As a scholar, my academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. I’ve been privileged to present my work at numerous national and international conferences and have seen my research published in various esteemed academic journals such as
- Discourse & Communication
- Discourse & Society
- Journal of the Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies
- Antistasis (University of New Brunswick, Canada)
- Journal of the International Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies.
My professional affiliations include:
- The International Society for Research on Identity
- Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE)
- Canadian Committee of Graduate Students in Education (CCGSE)
- Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies (CACS)
- Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security, and Society .
You can find an overview of my academic publications on these platforms:
Stay Connected
I invite you to stay connected and join the Selected Reads community on various social media platforms. By following along, you can stay up-to-date with the latest book reviews, recommendations, and conversations, and even get behind-the-scenes insights into my reading journey.
You can find Selected Reads on:
Feel free to follow along, join the conversation, and share your own book experiences!