More than Just Book Suggestions
A Bookworm’s Paradise
The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology, and the Scientific Revolution
Carolyn Marchant
Merchant traces the origins of this worldview to the scientific work of Francis Bacon, René Descartes, and Isaac Newton, who believed that the natural world was devoid of any intrinsic value or purpose and could be understood and manipulated through mathematical laws. She argues that this worldview, which separated humanity from nature and emphasized human domination over it, was reinforced by the rise of capitalism and the growth of modern technology.
Going Underground: Race, Space, and the Subterranean in the Nineteenth-Century United States
Lara Langer Cohen
Cohen focuses on the experiences of African Americans and other marginalized groups, and the ways in which they used underground spaces to assert their agency and challenge dominant power structures. She also considers the ways in which subterranean spaces were used to reinforce racial hierarchies and maintain social control.
Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia
Sabrina Strings
Explores the historical and cultural roots of fat phobia in Western societies. The central argument of the book is that the fear of fatness has its roots in the intersection of racism and sexism, and that the stigmatization of fatness has been used as a means of controlling and oppressing marginalized groups, particularly black women.
Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements
Charlene A. Carruthers
Carruthers critiques traditional models of activism that center on assimilation and respectability politics, arguing that these approaches ultimately reinforce oppressive systems and fail to address the root causes of inequality and injustice. Instead, she advocates for a radical, unapologetic approach to activism that centers the experiences and voices of marginalized communities.
Queer Public History: Essays on Scholarly Activism
Mark Stein
Stein has written many essays over the years exploring the issues faced by the queer community, the development of the queer movement, and how these issues and developments have impacted queer history.
Female Husbands: A Trans History
Jen Manion
explores the lives and experiences of people who lived outside of traditional gender categories in the 18th and 19th centuries. Specifically, the book focuses on the lives of "female husbands," who were assigned female at birth but lived as men and often married women.
What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat
Aubrey Gordon
Gordon draws on her own experiences as a fat woman, as well as research in psychology, sociology, and health sciences, to examine the ways in which fatness is stigmatized and marginalized in contemporary society. She critiques common narratives around obesity, dieting, and weight loss, and argues that these approaches do not address the root causes of weight stigma and discrimination.
"You Just Need To Lose Weight" And 19 Other Myths About Fat People
Aubrey Gordon
a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the myths and misconceptions surrounding fatness and obesity. The book provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in promoting body positivity and challenging weight-based discrimination
Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology
Jess Zimmerman
Zimmerman draws on a range of mythological stories, from ancient Greek and Roman myths to contemporary popular culture, to examine the ways in which women have been depicted as monsters and villains. She argues that these representations reflect and reinforce patriarchal attitudes and values, and perpetuate harmful stereotypes about women and gender.
They Got Daddy: One Family's Reckoning With Racism and Faith
Sharon Tubbs
The book follows the author's family as they navigate the aftermath of a racist attack on her father, who is a respected pastor in their community. Tubbs reflects on the impact of this event on her family, and the ways in which it forces them to confront the racism that exists within their own faith community.
