Welcome to Read This Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that should absolutely be put at the top of your TBR pile. Recommended books will vary across genre and age category and include shiny new books, older books you may have missed, and some classics I suggest finally getting around to.
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Today’s pick is a fantastic addition to the growing, robust library of books on activism.
Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World (without a Bullhorn) by Omkari L. Williams with a foreword by Layla F. Saad and illustrations by Octavia Mingerink
I have read an increasing amount of books about various forms of activism and systems of oppression in the last few years, and I know I’m not alone in this. It’s pretty overwhelming. I’m overwhelmed by the amount of oppression, the varieties of oppression, and the sheer number of things that need to be done or ways that people can show up to fight. I become immobilized from trying to make a decision because I am one person, and there is just so much.
This new release has helped me take steps toward action. The first main idea of this book is narrowing your focus because you can’t do everything. Once you decide where you’re going to focus your activism energy, the book encourages you to take consistent and sustainable actions. It is very easy to get burnout, and this book aims to avoid that.
The author has created four activist archetypes to help readers figure out what kinds of activism they would thrive participating in. Are you someone who likes to work in the background or run the show? Or maybe you’re the headliner who makes the speeches? Williams makes it clear that not everyone can be the Beyoncé of the rally, and we need all types of folks to go up against oppression. As the author says, a lot of activism isn’t glamorous, and it shouldn’t be.
There is a lot of pressure for each of us to create our own unique thing and be the loudest out there, while what needs to be done is the opposite. Activism needs to be done in community because that is how it moves the needle, and this book not only has a chapter on finding community but also weaves the thread of community throughout. This book also includes short interviews with activists around the world interspersed throughout the chapters. They talk about what their specific activist focus is, what keeps them going, and how they practice self-care. In addition, each chapter also has reflection questions and key takeaways. Finally, the fantastic illustrations help tie the messages together while also adding to the impact of the writing.
That’s it for now, book-lovers!
Patricia
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