McGill Reads: The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly

On Dec. 8, 1995, Elle magazine editor-in-chief Jean Bauby suffered a stroke and lapsed into a coma. He awoke 20 days later, mentally aware of his surroundings but physically paralyzed except for some movement in his head and left eye. Eye movements and blinking a code representing letters of the alphabet became his sole means of communication. It is also how he dictated this warm, sad and extraordinary memoir. Membership fee: $15 (paid each term)