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The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America - Carol Anderson

The Second Amendment was borne from white supremacy and it has only ever been interested in furthering that cause, as Carol Anderson thoroughly lays out. The through lines are all right there! I learned a ton. Disheartening and infuriating and yet not all that surprising given the US’s history.  (Content notes.)

The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight - Andrew Leland

Leland has retinitis pigmentosa but was slow to accept or adapt to the loss of his eyesight, which creates an interesting backdrop for a big picture examination of blindness and ableism within society. He details the trajectory of not being diagnosed until college to his experience writing this book in his 40s and his use of various assistive devices, as well as how his family has responded. There’s a range of blindness so it’s no surprise that even the leading organizations have very different ideas about their position and relationship to disability, as well as work to do when it comes to intersectionality. Leland’s relationship to his own blindness starts out quite ableist and I loved watching the journey toward more acceptance. (Content notes.)

Hijab Butch Blues - Lamya H.

An insightful memoir-in-essays by a queer nonbinary (she/they) Muslim author, which pairs stories from the Quran with stories about their life. Lamya touches on immigration, Islamaphobia, racism, homophobia, and more as she finds hope in a religious text while needing to remain closeted to much of their community, including their family. Their devoutness happens *because* of their identity, not in spite of it. It’s a nuanced, powerful view of religion. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys memoirs that grapple with faith/religion. (Content notes.)

Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture - Virginia Sole-Smith

A much-needed exploration of the ways diet culture shows up in how we talk about our bodies and what we do or don’t eat. The author touches on everything from thin privilege to the impact dads have. As a child-free woman, I never expected to read a parenting book but this is just as much for non-parents. We all need this information, whether we’re working to do better for the children of today or processing how diet culture harmed our childhoods up to now. (Content notes.)

Bleed: Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care - Tracey Lindeman

One of the most impactful books I read last year. I recommend this even if you don’t have a connection to endometriosis because of the way it addresses misogyny in healthcare and the education on hormonal birth control. It covers the limitations of what’s been researched and where most reproductive care guidelines come from and how they’re not as evidenced-based as they should be. I was floored by how little research had been done on hormonal birth control before FDA approval, including options that are available today. Misogyny in healthcare is not a new idea to me but it’s a whole other thing to see it laid out in print and see how pernicious it is in every aspect of our healthcare system. I have silent endometriosis and feel much more equipped as a result of reading this. (Content notes.)

A Living Remedy - Nicole Chung

A luminous exploration of grief, class, and the failure of the US medical system. Nicole Chung is an ever stunning writer. (Content notes.)

The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide - Steven W. Thrasher

If you overlay a map of those most affected by COVID-19 and those most affected by HIV/AIDS, you’ll find a striking connection. Thrasher explores why marginalized communities are at a greater risk of being diagnosed and then surviving various viruses. The answer comes down to systemic issues like racism, capitalism, ableism, and the carceral state. With stories from past investigations and from his own life, Thrasher offers an empathetic holistic account of those hit the hardest. (Content notes.)

The Enneagram for Black Liberation: Return to Who You Are Beneath the Armor You Carry - Chichi Agorom

One of the best Enneagram books I've ever read—and if you know how many I've read (and declined to read), that's saying something. Using a Black liberation lens, Agorom's approach makes this a more intersectional system. She emphasizes that we are more than our armor and the things we do to survive. Community practice is key, taking us beyond what we’ve learned about ourselves and going into the world to live out our strengths and healing. (No content notes.)

Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More - Janet Mock

Janet Mock shares her experience growing up as a Black Hawaiian trans woman. A really thoughtful coming-of-age memoir. (Content notes.)