As summer comes to an end, we asked our staff to share their reading recommendations. In this list you’ll find a range of titles that challenged, moved, and inspired us and we hope they do the same for you.
As summer comes to an end, we asked our staff to share their reading recommendations. In this list you’ll find a range of titles that challenged, moved, and inspired us and we hope they do the same for you.
There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib
“There’s something about essays written by poets — or at least those written by Hanif Abdurraqib. A book about grief, heartbreak, love of your hometown, and sports structured like a basketball game with four quarters, timeouts, and interludes that celebrate (Abdurraqib’s native) Ohioans that have ‘taken flight’…I found the words in this book to take my breath away. ‘A heart, sometimes, breaks slowly and without ceremony’. I mean, come on!?”
– Ayla Francis Foster, Senior Advisor, Public Engagement
Blood In My Eye by George Jackson
“A rich political grounding on the state of the prison industrial complex, fascism, and conditions for revolutionary strategy. Essential reading for Black August!”
– August Clayton, Manager, Racial Justice & Equity
Necropolitics by Achille Mbembe
“Few books have shaped my perspective on human rights, race, and decolonization like Mbembe’s Necropolitics. Whereas his theoretical predecessors like Foucault described ‘biopolitics’—the interest the state maintains in life and life-giving activities—Mbembe conceives of the state’s role in ‘living death.’ Through this lens, he provides the philosophical underpinning for state-based and sanctioned violence against marginalized communities, who, while living, are presumed (and governed) as if they are always already dead. Necropolitics is a foundational text for those drawn toward the theory of social justice.”
– Ryan Heman, Director, Forced Labor & Human Trafficking
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
“This is a nonfiction book where each chapter is based on interviews with North Korean refugees. It’s such a fascinating and informative read”
– Lara Powers, Senior Manager of Program, Learning & Impact
Ain’t I A Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks
“This book by bell hooks, titled after Sojourner Truth’s speech at the 1851 Women’s Convention, explores the politics of racism and sexism to provide readers with a better understanding of the black female experience within our society. I would consider it essential reading for those looking to better understand the way that the oppressive forces of sexism and racism often go hand in hand.”
– Ayan Ahmed, Manager, Public Engagement
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
“A beautiful reminder that we’re all artists, creatively curating our lives every day!”
– Katrina Gordon, Senior Manager, Forced Labor & Human Trafficking
The Riders Come Out at Night: Brutality, Corruption, and Cover-Up by Ali Winston and Darwin BondGraham
“This book is non-fiction, almost like an expose of abuse, racism, and collusion within the Oakland Police Department in California. Although the book was emotionally challenging to read, it served as a great reminder that institutions must be held accountable for their actions and that no one is above the law. More than anything, I feel like this book provides a small sense of vindication for the victims of systemic corruption and misconduct, and I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about racism in the criminal justice system.”
– Alanoud Hamad, Manager, Public Engagement
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
“This book captivated me with its vivid portrayal of a near-future America devastated by climate change and societal collapse. I appreciated how Butler’s exploration of change and resilience resonated with contemporary issues, making the story both thought-provoking and incredibly relevant to our times.”
– Naomi McQuaid, Senior Director, People
Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else) by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
“A deep dive into how cooptation of revolutionary language fuels regressive movements on the left and bolsters fascist movement power.”
– August Clayton, Manager, Racial Justice & Equity