Sponsored by Lerner Books.
What does it mean to resist? Throughout our nation’s history, discrimination and unjust treatment of all kinds have prompted people to make their objections and outrage known. Some protests involve large groups of people, marching or holding signs with powerful slogans. Others start with quotes or hashtags on social media that go viral and spur changes in behavior. People can make their voices heard in hundreds of different ways. Join author Marke Bieschke on this visual voyage of resistance through American history. Discover the artwork, music, fashion, and creativity of the activists.
Are you continuing to drink water, nonfiction reader? I know it’s weirdly hard to do, but it’s important! Read a page, drink some water, read another page, drink some water. I say this while all my dehydrated cells are most likely glaring at me for the sheer hypocrisy on display here, but do as I say, not as I do, etc etc. Now, let’s look at some new books!
The Great Indoors: The Surprising Science of How Buildings Shape Our Behavior, Health, and Happiness by Emily Anthes. Did you know we spend 90% of our time indoors? Well. Probably more now. Science journalist Anthes looks at how our indoor spaces affect our mental and physical well-being and how “the pain-killing power of a well-placed window and examines how the right office layout can expand our social networks.” Super neat and REAL relevant right now.
I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To: True Life Lessons by Loni Love. I was reading parts from this out loud to my fiancée because Loni Love has that special gift of being able to talk about really vulnerable and sometimes painful things, and then zing! Suddenly there’s a hilarious joke. I am always impressed by that skill. Here she talks about growing up in housing projects to Detroit, being a French horn-playing nerd, getting an engineering degree, and going to Hollywood.
Thank You for Voting: The Maddening, Enlightening, Inspiring Truth About Voting in America by Erin Geiger Smith. Why do so few people vote? Geiger Smith looks at the past (history!), present (news!), and future (wild speculation!) of voting. What I’m most interested in — although voting history is pretty good to learn about — is how get-out-the-vote movements + activists “innovatively use technology and grassroots techniques to energize first-time voters.” What technology! What techniques! How are they energizing! So interesting.
Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture by Emma Dabiri. Yissss this book. Dabiri is Irish-Nigerian and an excellent writer. Here she looks at the history of Black hair culture, while sharing stories from her own life. She takes the reader “from pre-colonial Africa, through the Harlem Renaissance, and into today’s Natural Hair Movement, exploring everything from women’s solidarity and friendship, to the criminalization of dreadlocks, to the dubious provenance of Kim Kardashian’s braids.” This book is great, get it.
That’s it for new books this week! As always, you can find me on social media @itsalicetime and co-hosting the For Real podcast with Kim here at Book Riot. Until next time, enjoy those facts, fellow nerds.