Here are 5 books to read on the way to your next vacation
I’ll warn you now, I never read fiction…
The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet
By Leah Thomas
The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet is a fascinating book that draws the critical link between environmentalism and social justice. It highlights that global issues like environmental decline, climate change, racism, and gender inequality are interconnected and that the only way to make to protect the planet is to also protect the people.
Thomas takes you through a trove of her personal stories and a diverse range of stories from other environmental justice leaders in an academic, yet relatable way to provide practical steps for positive change.
Born A Crime
By Trevor Noah
“Born a Crime” is Trevor Noah’s memoir about growing up in apartheid South Africa as a mixed-race child, which was illegal at the time. The collection of personal stories in this book provide incredible historical insight into the inner workings of the apartheid and how racism can be upheld by both the oppressor and the oppressed. Despite the serious nature of much of the book, Noah brings it down to earth with plenty of laughter – he is a comedian, after all.
Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization
By Neil deGrasse Tyson
In Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization, our favorite Black Science Man provides a rude awakening to the our global society by clearly and directly discussing the topics of war, politics, religion, truth, beauty, gender, and race honing in on how the manufactured mistrust from our politicians fuels a divide that combats our rational thinking.
Tyson makes complicated scientific theories approachable while relating those strategies to our everyday lives from the nuance of culture to the complexities of geopolitics. This book leaves you with many questions, many answers, and, dare I saym, hope for the future.
Naked at Lunch: A Reluctant Nudist’s Adventures in the Clothing-Optional World
By Mark Haskell Smith
Naked at Lunch: A Reluctant Nudist’s Adventures in the Clothing-Optional World walks you through a man’s journey into nudism through personal and historic storytelling, with useful cultural context. Like many of us, Smith starts as a skeptic and but fights through the discomfort to align with the philosophies of nudism as a social practice.
He faces the questions we all have about body image, self love, freedom, and happiness that diminish overall wellbeing and challenge our relationship with nature with a ton of comedy sprinkled in. By the end, you’ll be jealous of the naked adventures he took, I definitely was.
Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements
By Charlene A. Carruthers
Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements is all about activism and understanding the specific challenges that Black queer and feminist activists confront in the fight for justice. The central theme is intersectionality, which understands how many types of prejudice may effect your multiple distinct identities.
Carruthers goes into the history of Black queer feminists and their contributions to social justice movements, stressing the importance and power of grassroots and community-led initiatives.The challenge that we face is to look beyond our present state and envision an oppression-free system, which is much easier said than done.
