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Biddeford, Maine

911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν political scientist Brian Duff publishes book on what restaurants mean to us β€” and why

Brian Duff was recently quoted in the Boston Globe in an article about Senator Susan Collins vulnerability
Brian Duff, Ph.D., associate professor of political science

In his newest book, the 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν’s Brian Duff offers a thought-provoking meditation on what happens when we gather to eat β€” not just what’s on the plate, but what’s said across the table.

Published as part of , β€œRestaurant” examines the social and political meaning of dining out in today’s cultural climate. 

From the rise of chef-celebrity culture to the crisis of conversation in the age of smartphones, Duff draws on his background as a political theorist to unpack what restaurants represent beyond cuisine. 

β€œAs much as restaurants are about food, they’re also about conversation,” said Duff, Ph.D., an associate professor of political science at 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν. β€œThey’ve become one of the last places where we set aside our phones and might leave feeling nourished in both body and spirit.” 

His book examines the relationship between the meaning we give to nourishment as it happens during restaurant meals and the shared meaning we create, or fail to create, across the restaurant table. 

Spanning topics from family dynamics and gender roles to public discourse and writing about restaurant culture, β€œRestaurant” blends political reflection with social commentary. It invites readers to consider how the rituals of restaurant dining β€” subject to so much frothy discussion β€” carry surprising weight in shaping civic life and human connection.

Duff, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, is also the author of β€œThe Parent as Citizen,” which explores how ideas about parenthood shape modern conceptions of citizenship. At 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν, his research bridges public policy, identity politics, and democratic engagement. His current work continues to explore how care and conversation influence civic behavior, especially in the context of gender and family.

β€œRestaurant” was released by Bloomsbury Academic on May 29 and is targeted toward readers seeking a deeper look into how something as familiar as a dinner reservation can reflect broader questions about care, community, and culture.

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Cover of Duff's book "Restaurant" featuring a dinner plate with cutlery

Image courtesy of Bloomsbury

Media Contact

Alan Bennett
Office of Communications
abennett11@une.edu

About the 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν

The 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.