What I Read in 2018

What I Read in 2018

01.02.19
Books and Reading

Friends, your favorite post and mine is here! A few years ago I posted my reading recap at the end of the year rather on a whim, and ever since then I’ve been hearing from countless readers and followers about how much you love this post. I really enjoy connecting with all of you through a common love of books and reading, and truly appreciate when you send me messages to alert me to a book I might want to check out.

For me, this year was simply GREAT in regards to reading. I set my usual goal of 30 books a year and surprisingly smashed it, finishing a final total of 40 books. While the actual number of books I read is of no consequence, setting a goal helps to keep me reading consistently throughout the year. This year, I felt a voracious desire to consume so many intriguing books and before I knew it, I had reached 40 with relative ease.

My book selection continues to tilt more in favor of nonfiction, and this year I made a concerted effort to decolonize my bookshelf and read more books by people of color, women in particular. Every day I recognize more and more how my own white privilege has blinded me to the realities of life for people of color and black people in America in particular. Reading the perspectives and non-white washed histories of people who experience the world differently than me continues to expand my understanding, compassion, and ability to be a true ally to marginalized groups. Having set this intention is what I think is responsible for my increased appetite for books in general. I finish one book related to race or feminism and it sparks my interest in multiple other books like a chain reaction.

While I certainly understand the desire to use reading as an escape at times, and while I definitely chose a few books expressly for that purpose, I believe the ability to choose to filter our world in this way is a luxury that minorities often lack. Being intentional about my book selection over this past year has been a truly life changing experience and I am just so excited to keep reading and learning and growing in this new year.

(A quick note: a few of the reviews below are copied from my holiday gift guide, simply because writing 40 book reviews – even short ones – is quite an undertaking. Thanks for understanding!)

Second Suns by David Oliver Relin
Around the Way Girl by Taraji P. Henson
The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors
Hunger by Roxane Gay
Overdressed by Elizabeth L. Cline
So You Want to Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo
Make Trouble by Cecile Richards
Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin
Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Option B by Sheryl Sandberg
Calypso by David Sedaris
Black Ink: Literary Legends on the Peril, Power, and Pleasure of Reading and Writing edited by Stephanie Stokes Oliver
The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Educated by Tara Westover
Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Black Man in a White Coat by Damon Tweedy
The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clementine Wamariya
In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Fear by Bob Woodward
I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Not that Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture edited by Roxane Gay
I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
Tell Me What You Want by Justin Lehmiller
This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
Memoir of a Debulked Woman: Enduring Ovarian Cancer by Susan Gubar
Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
01/40
Second Suns by David Oliver Relin/Goodreads

Second Suns documents the unlikely partnership between an American and a Nepalese ophthalmologist on a mission to cure as much of the world’s curable blindness as possible. As a physician, I spend many moments pondering the extreme privilege we experience here despite our broken medical system, and the tale of these two inspiring surgeons really drove that point home. It is quite a fascinating story.

Worth Reading

Around the Way Girl by Taraji P. Henson/Goodreads

I don’t even remember what landed this book on my to-read list given that I have only watched a few things featuring Taraji Henson, but I’m glad for whatever it was. This was a highly enjoyable memoir with lots of funny and touching personal stories as well as timely insights on race, feminism, perception of poverty, and more. I listened to this as an audiobook and would highly recommend that option if it is available to you!

Worth Reading

The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs/Goodreads

This memoir by a young woman and monther diagnosed with breast cancer hit so close to home. Having lost my own mother to terminal cancer at the age of 10, this brought back many feelings and memories that had mostly been buried away. I often had to put this book down and take breaks while I processed through it, but ultimately it was an enjoyable read. Whether we like it or not, this could be startlingly relevant to any of us, any day, and Nina Riggs poignantly articulates her end of life experience.

Must Read

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander/Goodreads

This book is not an easy one, but it is one that I think is truly essential for everyone to read, absorb, and understand as they move about the world. It is extremely well researched and documented, but the truths within are painful. I started out reading this as a physical book but eventually switched to audio because I was having trouble willing myself to pick up and keep reading. For white people to help dismantle the structures set in place by white supremacy, we must truly understand what those structures are. This book is part of where you start.

Must Read

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson/Goodreads

This book was sort of funny and mindless when I initially read it, but it wasn’t particularly insightful for me and when I think back on it now, it seems like a lot of mansplaining. Thanks to plenty of past traumas and the fact that my online presence elicits invasive personal questions, insecure people trolling a message board to shit talk me, and even doxxing, I stopped giving a f*ck quite a while ago. I don’t really think you need this book to live happily. If these sort of things really are a struggle for you, associate with people who live their lives as they wish and you’ll figure it out.

Not Worth Your Time

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin/Goodreads

I picked this book up on a bit of a whim and also likely due to library availability. It was a fun and somewhat magical tale that kept me entertained from beginning to end. If you are looking for a nice escape in the form of a book, this is a good one.

Worth Reading

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors/Goodreads

When they call you a terrorist is a powerful memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, one of the founders of Black Lives Matter. Her personal family history is deeply intertwined with what led her to become an activist fighting against racial injustice. There are many moments in this book which are heartbreaking and completely unforgettable. I recommend audio since this is read by the author, lending even more meaning to this highly personal narrative.

Must Read

Hunger by Roxane Gay/Goodreads

I was fortunate enough to read many eye-opening books this past year and Hunger was definitely one of them. While I think nearly everyone deals with body image issues to some degree, this intimate portrait of Roxane Gay’s own struggles with her weight is unforgettable. It examines how her weight impacts her daily life in relation to food, exercise, going places, sex and intimacy, and simply just existing and taking up space in the world. I think of it often and it continues to help my practice compassion and remember that everyone is dealing with something I know nothing about.

Must Read

Overdressed by Elizabeth L. Cline/Goodreads

Overdressed is an incredibly thorough and well researched examination of the fast fashion crisis and the weight of its human and environmental impact. This is truly one of the most life changing books I have ever read, and has completely transformed my shopping and consuming habits even beyond the realm of fashion and clothing. Read my full review here, but more importantly, read this book!

Must Read

So You Want to Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo/Goodreads

This is one of those books where every single line is so good, you would end up highlighting the entire book if you tried to pick the best parts. It is one of those books that you want to press into the hands of everyone that crosses your path and say, “Go read this immediately!” It is also a book that I believe every single white person needed to read, period. Ms. Oluo masterfully and clearly explains important and often misunderstood topics including privilege, cultural appropriation, micro-aggressions, intersectionality, and much more.

Must Read

Make Trouble by Cecile Richards/Goodreads

Cecile Richards is a true hero and icon who I once had the pleasure of meeting in person. The former longtime president of Planned Parenthood shares an absolute wealth of inspiration in this memoir full of her history as an activist working for social causes and political campaigns. I especially loved reading about how she balanced her incredibly busy career with being a mom of three now grown children. Her unflagging drive and tenacious personality can’t help but inspire you to find more ways to get involved in the causes that matter to you.

Worth Reading

Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin/Goodreads

This is a fast read that might seem like fluff, but also happens to include plenty of themes relevant to present day event, particularly in regards to the #MeToo movement and how we view the perceived wrongdoings of women versus men. It was a fun little book with enjoyable characters and a story I won’t soon forget.

Worth Reading

Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin/Goodreads

I have already posted a few times about what an important book I think Rest in Power is. The story of Trayvon Martin’s murder and the “justice” system that favored his killer cannot be told often or loudly enough. Told in alternating chapters by his parents, this account of his life, death, and how it helped to spark a movement is simply essential reading.

Must Read

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown/Goodreads

I’ve been hearing of Brené Brown for years but this is the first book I have read by her. I was a bit skeptical initially because it seemed self help-ish and that’s not typically a genre I enjoy. However, it included a lot of interesting social science which has always fascinated me. There was a lot in this book that is relevant to my own life and I especially liked the portion related to vulnerability.

Worth Reading

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones/Goodreads

I don’t really want to give any description at all of this book so as not to spoil it. I will simply say that it is definitely the best novel I read this year. I devoured it in just a few days, and loved the plot, characters, and timely themes.

Worth Reading

Option B by Sheryl Sandberg/Goodreads

This book pleasantly surprised me. I thought the premise and the cover (I know, I’m not supposed to judge that way) were a bit twee, particularly coming from a person with such massive privilege. As it turns out, much of what this book addresses was highly relevant to me and my own personal experiences, particularly regarding how our culture responds to or, in many cases, ignores entirely bereavement both at home and in the workplace. My own experience of losing my dad suddenly during my residency training was made far more traumatizing by terrible treatment and lack of understanding from my boss and superiors at work. Option B examines many of the cultural tendencies relating to grief and the grieving, and I think these are important things for everyone to consider both for yourself personally and for how to respond when someone in your world is grieving.

Calypso by David Sedaris/Goodreads

Who doesn’t love a good David Sedaris book? I would venture to say only those who haven’t read him yet. His latest book Calypso was as quirky and hilarious as all the rest have been, and had me laughing out loud quite often. There was at least one story that caught me completely off guard and left me very emotional but generally, this is the stellar dryly humorous writing we have all come to know and love from David.

Worth Reading

Black Ink: Literary Legends on the Peril, Power, and Pleasure of Reading and Writing edited by Stephanie Stokes Oliver/Goodreads

Black Ink is a carefully curated collection of writings from 25 black writers, past and present, related to the power of the written word. While I was familiar with most of these writers before, the majority of these essays were new to me. This book is full of brilliance and I think often of many of the writings it contains. The insight and perspectives gave me much to ponder and I expect I’ll come back to it again over the years.

Worth Reading

The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South/Goodreads

As someone who spends a large amount of time thinking about race as well as food, The Cooking Gene is an incredibly fascinating book. While Southern food is well accepted and loved as a genre of cuisine, who actually owns it is a debated and controversial topic. Michael Twitty researches his own genealogy and traces what he finds to culinary traditions that made their way to the American South from continental Africa by way of the slave trade. His musings are highly thought provoking and even though I read this months ago, I find myself pondering his words frequently.

I do feel the need to give the disclaimer that this is a very very long book. I listened to the audio version because none of the libraries I have access to had copies of the book. If I had tried to read the physical book, I am almost certain I would not have finished it, so I am glad it worked out this way in the end.

Worth Reading

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur/Goodreads

(As taken from my full review) If you haven’t yet experienced the true pleasure of reading Rupi Kaur’s work, do yourself a favor and check out Milk and Honey. The book itself is like a small collection of treasures and each poem feels like a special secret treat. Something to turn over in your mind as often as you like, marveling at its evocative construction as well as its meaning to you and to others.

Must Read

We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy/Goodreads

I have been a fan of Ta-Nehisi Coates for a while now, so when I saw this aptly titled book that seemed to fit so thoroughly with my feelings about the current state of our nation, I knew I needed to read it. Despite what you might imagine, this isn’t a love-fest for Barack Obama but more of a cultural examination of what led to his election, how his race and the ensuing backlash affected his ability to effectively govern, and what it all means going forward. I bought my own copy as soon as I returned this to the library because I know I will be referring to it for years to come.

Worth Reading

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue/Goodreads

Given the amount of lunatic propaganda regarding immigrants pumped into the world by conservative “news” outlets, this lovely novel was a timely read. The book tells the story of a Cameroonian immigrant trying to make a better life for himself and his family in America, what seems like a land of promise and possibility. The twists and turns of the book aren’t entirely surprising as the gleaming American dream isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ultimately it feels like a heartbreaking meditation on what really matters and how we treat our fellow humans.

Worth Reading

Educated by Tara Westover/Goodreads

This book is an absolutely crazy ride, made all the more mind blowing because it is a true story. This memoir from Tara Westover, the daughter of fundamentalist Mormons is unforgettable. Her childhood and adolescence are more than troubling, leading to a harrowing personal journey to extract herself from that life. It is really hard to wrap my mind around the fact that she is my contemporary and this happened in modern times.

Must Read

Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel/Goodreads

I know I may sound like a broken record, but this is another book I deeply believe every single person should read (or listen to). Esther Perel is a brilliant therapist focusing on love, sex, and relationships, and her work always astounds me. Mating in Captivity is a vital examination of the frequent discord between domestic relationships and sexual desire. This book provides enormous food for thought that is relevant to all our personal lives, but also to how we view and discuss relationships, marriage, and sexual connection as a society, and also how we might change the conversation with our children so that generations to come might manage these issues more successfully.

Must Read

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch/Goodreads

This is another book I picked up largely due to its availability at my library. If someone had described it to me beforehand, I may have opted not to give it a try because anything in the realm of science fiction is generally not my cup of tea. However, this book hooked me from the first page and I was completely engaged through the very end, dying to see how it would turn out. It was very entertaining and I think would be a great escape read for vacation or whenever you want a break.

Worth Reading

Black Man in a White Coat by Damon Tweedy/Goodreads

Dr. Tweedy’s book describes with grace and nuance the ways in which his race affected his medical training and career. One of the earlier passages describes his excitement of entering a lecture hall in the first few days of medical school only to be mistaken by the professor for a janitor who was needed to fix the lights. In addition to more experiences such as this, he also examines how race is addressed within medical education in our country. I can attest to his impression that it is misunderstood, white washed, and that our current approach badly needs an overhaul. His is a valuable perspective that is vital both for those working in the medical field as well as for patients.

Worth Reading

The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clementine Wamariya/Goodreads

The Girl Who Smiled Beads tells the true story of Clementine Wamariya, a refugee who fled the Rwandan genocides as a child. While I have learned some of this horrific tragedy before through other books, this is the first account I have read documenting the experience of a child from that time. To see neighbors and friends murdered, live in unspeakable conditions in refugee camps, and try at all costs to find some measure of stability, is nearly impossible to imagine. This is not a feel good book, but it is essential that we bear witness to such accounts in order to do better both from a humanitarian perspective as well as with how we receive refugees who settle here.

Worth Reading

In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park /Goodreads

I think the best thing I can say about this book is that it completely blew my mind. I’m embarrassed to say that before reading it, I knew very little about North Korea beyond the fact that they are ruled by a dictator who possesses a nuclear arsenal. This book was an eye opening account of what life is like there and the harrowing experience of Yeonmi Park as she and her family did everything they could to escape. I learned so much and have the utmost respect for her and her family’s drive to do whatever they needed to survive.

Must Read

The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur/Goodreads

Sometimes I think the exactly right book comes into your life at exactly the right time, and that is what happened for me with this book. I read the entire thing during a long plane ride and it was the perfect thing to savor and enjoy slowly. Another incredible gem from Rupi Kaur, this book is a gorgeous follow up to Milk & Honey.

Worth Reading

Fear by Bob Woodward/Goodreads

It’s hard to articulate how I feel about Fear. Nothing in it particularly surprised me, which in and of itself alarms me. It is well researched and even handedly reported, and likely will become an historically important account of this disastrous time. If you are already overwhelmed by reading the daily news, I’m not sure this will add much value but at least confirms much of what has been gleaned from the press at large.

Worth Reading

I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown/Goodreads

I think the subtitle of this book says it all: “Black dignity in a world made for whiteness.” Austin Channing Brown writes beautifully about her experience as a black woman in a world where white is the default setting, and this is a perspective we all need to take into consideration far more frequently. This is an important account that helps unveil the structural racism in place in our world, and in doing so, provides all of us with better understanding to help go forward and dismantle these systems we have perpetuated.

Must Read

Not that Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture edited by Roxane Gay/Goodreads

Required reading for all of humanity is what this book is. As we have seen as the #MeToo movement came to light and continues to progress, far too many women and many men have experienced rape or sexual assault. It is a tragedy the way our society devalues women and dismisses their experiences as a matter of course, and that is all the more reason books like Not That Bad are precisely what we need. Visibility, understanding, and hopefully compassion and empathy, and ultimately a shifting of power dynamics so that perpetrators of these crimes will no longer feel so free and emboldened to commit them in the first place.

Must Read

I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara/Goodreads

I knew almost nothing of the Golden State Killer before reading this book, other than possibly hearing the name referenced once before. This true crime investigation is gruesome and chilling, but also incredibly impressive thanks to the home detective work of the author Michelle McNamara. Sadly, she passed away suddenly before completion of the book but her family and close colleagues in this endeavor helped fill in the gaps to complete the manuscript. This book describes in detail the many sexual assaults and murders of the victims, so I would not recommend this for anyone sensitive to such topics.

Worth Reading

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones/Goodreads

I purchased Silver Sparrow on a whim after finishing up all the other books I had brought with me on vacation. I knew after reading An American Marriage that Tayari Jones wouldn’t let me down, and I was right. Another excellent novel with an intricate plot, well developed characters, and thought provoking themes, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Worth Reading

Tell Me What You Want by Justin Lehmiller/Goodreads

It’s always a pretty cool feeling to read a book by someone you know, and it’s even cooler when the book is full of fascinating information that is also highly relevant to our daily lives. Dr. Lehmiller’s book Tell Me What You Want examines data from a large scale survey about people’s sexual fantasies and desires, what we can learn from these data, and how we can make use of this knowledge in our own lives. As someone who loves learning about sex and relationships in both social and scientific contexts, this was so interesting from beginning to end. Bravo, Justin!

Worth Reading

This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel/Goodreads

This is such a beautifully written book. This is another work of fiction that has so many timely lessons for today’s world. The main story line is about a transgender child, but it feels like a sorely inadequate description to say that. This novel is such an evocative portrayal of motherhood and family life, and I just can’t recommend it highly enough. I never wanted this book to end.

Must Read

Difficult Women by Roxane Gay/Goodreads

When I picked up this book, it was simply because it was Roxane Gay and I can never get enough of her writing. I didn’t realize this was a book of short stories. Every time I read short stories, I remember how much I enjoy them. This book is chock full of memorable stories surrounding women and the issues they face in their lives. While these stories are fiction and some have a magical component to them, the feelings they evoke in the reader are undoubtedly real. This book is haunting, searing, hard to read at times, and one I won’t soon forget.

Worth Reading

Memoir of a Debulked Woman: Enduring Ovarian Cancer by Susan Gubar/Goodreads

This book has an unbelievable number of reasons it interests me. It is written by a gender studies professor from my own hometown where I also attended college, and describes her experience of living and dying with terminal ovarian cancer, which I deal with heavily at my job on a weekly basis. The author is also a mother, and having lost my own mother to cancer (at a relatively younger age), it interested me from that perspective as well. She discusses a lot of important topics related to ovarian cancer including its relative obscurity as compared to more marketable cancers such as breast cancer, and the ways in which we fail at discussing and responding to the more unpleasant aspects of living with terminal illness.

Worth Reading

Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper/Goodreads

Eloquent Rage is the perfect title for this book, as it beautifully captures Dr. Cooper’s impressions of being a black feminist in America right now. She is brilliant and so well spoken as she covers topics such as respectability politics, pop culture’s portrayal of black men and women, and the role of black men in all of this, among many other things. She is down to earth and writes in a clear, straightforward manner that is simultaneously touching and cutting.

Must Read

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge/Goodreads

This book is SO IMPORTANT. I hadn’t planned on it being my final book of the year but it happened to work out that way and it seemed so fitting. After a year reading many books focused on race, white privilege, and white supremacy, what I have learned is that I can never stop learning about this topic. It will never be enough, there is no endpoint in this endeavor. We must keep doing all we can to learn, educate, and dismantle these systems of oppression built to keep the status quo. This particular book is written by a black woman born in the UK and explains the history of racism in Britain which is something I knew nothing about prior to reading this. Her bracing account gives clear context to widespread and insidious modern day racism, and is sure to change the way you view things going forward.

Must Read

View as a List
  • Second Suns by David Oliver Relin
    Second Suns by David Oliver Relin/Goodreads

    Second Suns documents the unlikely partnership between an American and a Nepalese ophthalmologist on a mission to cure as much of the world’s curable blindness as possible. As a physician, I spend many moments pondering the extreme privilege we experience here despite our broken medical system, and the tale of these two inspiring surgeons really drove that point home. It is quite a fascinating story.

    Worth Reading

  • Around the Way Girl by Taraji P. Henson
    Around the Way Girl by Taraji P. Henson/Goodreads

    I don’t even remember what landed this book on my to-read list given that I have only watched a few things featuring Taraji Henson, but I’m glad for whatever it was. This was a highly enjoyable memoir with lots of funny and touching personal stories as well as timely insights on race, feminism, perception of poverty, and more. I listened to this as an audiobook and would highly recommend that option if it is available to you!

    Worth Reading

  • The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
    The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs/Goodreads

    This memoir by a young woman and monther diagnosed with breast cancer hit so close to home. Having lost my own mother to terminal cancer at the age of 10, this brought back many feelings and memories that had mostly been buried away. I often had to put this book down and take breaks while I processed through it, but ultimately it was an enjoyable read. Whether we like it or not, this could be startlingly relevant to any of us, any day, and Nina Riggs poignantly articulates her end of life experience.

    Must Read

  • The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
    The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander/Goodreads

    This book is not an easy one, but it is one that I think is truly essential for everyone to read, absorb, and understand as they move about the world. It is extremely well researched and documented, but the truths within are painful. I started out reading this as a physical book but eventually switched to audio because I was having trouble willing myself to pick up and keep reading. For white people to help dismantle the structures set in place by white supremacy, we must truly understand what those structures are. This book is part of where you start.

    Must Read

  • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson
    The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson/Goodreads

    This book was sort of funny and mindless when I initially read it, but it wasn’t particularly insightful for me and when I think back on it now, it seems like a lot of mansplaining. Thanks to plenty of past traumas and the fact that my online presence elicits invasive personal questions, insecure people trolling a message board to shit talk me, and even doxxing, I stopped giving a f*ck quite a while ago. I don’t really think you need this book to live happily. If these sort of things really are a struggle for you, associate with people who live their lives as they wish and you’ll figure it out.

    Not Worth Your Time

  • The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
    The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin/Goodreads

    I picked this book up on a bit of a whim and also likely due to library availability. It was a fun and somewhat magical tale that kept me entertained from beginning to end. If you are looking for a nice escape in the form of a book, this is a good one.

    Worth Reading

  • When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors
    When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors/Goodreads

    When they call you a terrorist is a powerful memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, one of the founders of Black Lives Matter. Her personal family history is deeply intertwined with what led her to become an activist fighting against racial injustice. There are many moments in this book which are heartbreaking and completely unforgettable. I recommend audio since this is read by the author, lending even more meaning to this highly personal narrative.

    Must Read

  • Hunger by Roxane Gay
    Hunger by Roxane Gay/Goodreads

    I was fortunate enough to read many eye-opening books this past year and Hunger was definitely one of them. While I think nearly everyone deals with body image issues to some degree, this intimate portrait of Roxane Gay’s own struggles with her weight is unforgettable. It examines how her weight impacts her daily life in relation to food, exercise, going places, sex and intimacy, and simply just existing and taking up space in the world. I think of it often and it continues to help my practice compassion and remember that everyone is dealing with something I know nothing about.

    Must Read

  • Overdressed by Elizabeth L. Cline
    Overdressed by Elizabeth L. Cline/Goodreads

    Overdressed is an incredibly thorough and well researched examination of the fast fashion crisis and the weight of its human and environmental impact. This is truly one of the most life changing books I have ever read, and has completely transformed my shopping and consuming habits even beyond the realm of fashion and clothing. Read my full review here, but more importantly, read this book!

    Must Read

  • So You Want to Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo
    So You Want to Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo/Goodreads

    This is one of those books where every single line is so good, you would end up highlighting the entire book if you tried to pick the best parts. It is one of those books that you want to press into the hands of everyone that crosses your path and say, “Go read this immediately!” It is also a book that I believe every single white person needed to read, period. Ms. Oluo masterfully and clearly explains important and often misunderstood topics including privilege, cultural appropriation, micro-aggressions, intersectionality, and much more.

    Must Read

  • Make Trouble by Cecile Richards
    Make Trouble by Cecile Richards/Goodreads

    Cecile Richards is a true hero and icon who I once had the pleasure of meeting in person. The former longtime president of Planned Parenthood shares an absolute wealth of inspiration in this memoir full of her history as an activist working for social causes and political campaigns. I especially loved reading about how she balanced her incredibly busy career with being a mom of three now grown children. Her unflagging drive and tenacious personality can’t help but inspire you to find more ways to get involved in the causes that matter to you.

    Worth Reading

  • Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin
    Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin/Goodreads

    This is a fast read that might seem like fluff, but also happens to include plenty of themes relevant to present day event, particularly in regards to the #MeToo movement and how we view the perceived wrongdoings of women versus men. It was a fun little book with enjoyable characters and a story I won’t soon forget.

    Worth Reading

  • Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin
    Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin/Goodreads

    I have already posted a few times about what an important book I think Rest in Power is. The story of Trayvon Martin’s murder and the “justice” system that favored his killer cannot be told often or loudly enough. Told in alternating chapters by his parents, this account of his life, death, and how it helped to spark a movement is simply essential reading.

    Must Read

  • Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
    Daring Greatly by Brené Brown/Goodreads

    I’ve been hearing of Brené Brown for years but this is the first book I have read by her. I was a bit skeptical initially because it seemed self help-ish and that’s not typically a genre I enjoy. However, it included a lot of interesting social science which has always fascinated me. There was a lot in this book that is relevant to my own life and I especially liked the portion related to vulnerability.

    Worth Reading

  • An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
    An American Marriage by Tayari Jones/Goodreads

    I don’t really want to give any description at all of this book so as not to spoil it. I will simply say that it is definitely the best novel I read this year. I devoured it in just a few days, and loved the plot, characters, and timely themes.

    Worth Reading

  • Option B by Sheryl Sandberg
    Option B by Sheryl Sandberg/Goodreads

    This book pleasantly surprised me. I thought the premise and the cover (I know, I’m not supposed to judge that way) were a bit twee, particularly coming from a person with such massive privilege. As it turns out, much of what this book addresses was highly relevant to me and my own personal experiences, particularly regarding how our culture responds to or, in many cases, ignores entirely bereavement both at home and in the workplace. My own experience of losing my dad suddenly during my residency training was made far more traumatizing by terrible treatment and lack of understanding from my boss and superiors at work. Option B examines many of the cultural tendencies relating to grief and the grieving, and I think these are important things for everyone to consider both for yourself personally and for how to respond when someone in your world is grieving.

  • Calypso by David Sedaris
    Calypso by David Sedaris/Goodreads

    Who doesn’t love a good David Sedaris book? I would venture to say only those who haven’t read him yet. His latest book Calypso was as quirky and hilarious as all the rest have been, and had me laughing out loud quite often. There was at least one story that caught me completely off guard and left me very emotional but generally, this is the stellar dryly humorous writing we have all come to know and love from David.

    Worth Reading

  • Black Ink: Literary Legends on the Peril, Power, and Pleasure of Reading and Writing edited by Stephanie Stokes Oliver
    Black Ink: Literary Legends on the Peril, Power, and Pleasure of Reading and Writing edited by Stephanie Stokes Oliver/Goodreads

    Black Ink is a carefully curated collection of writings from 25 black writers, past and present, related to the power of the written word. While I was familiar with most of these writers before, the majority of these essays were new to me. This book is full of brilliance and I think often of many of the writings it contains. The insight and perspectives gave me much to ponder and I expect I’ll come back to it again over the years.

    Worth Reading

  • The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South
    The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South/Goodreads

    As someone who spends a large amount of time thinking about race as well as food, The Cooking Gene is an incredibly fascinating book. While Southern food is well accepted and loved as a genre of cuisine, who actually owns it is a debated and controversial topic. Michael Twitty researches his own genealogy and traces what he finds to culinary traditions that made their way to the American South from continental Africa by way of the slave trade. His musings are highly thought provoking and even though I read this months ago, I find myself pondering his words frequently.

    I do feel the need to give the disclaimer that this is a very very long book. I listened to the audio version because none of the libraries I have access to had copies of the book. If I had tried to read the physical book, I am almost certain I would not have finished it, so I am glad it worked out this way in the end.

    Worth Reading

  • Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
    Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur/Goodreads

    (As taken from my full review) If you haven’t yet experienced the true pleasure of reading Rupi Kaur’s work, do yourself a favor and check out Milk and Honey. The book itself is like a small collection of treasures and each poem feels like a special secret treat. Something to turn over in your mind as often as you like, marveling at its evocative construction as well as its meaning to you and to others.

    Must Read

  • We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy
    We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy/Goodreads

    I have been a fan of Ta-Nehisi Coates for a while now, so when I saw this aptly titled book that seemed to fit so thoroughly with my feelings about the current state of our nation, I knew I needed to read it. Despite what you might imagine, this isn’t a love-fest for Barack Obama but more of a cultural examination of what led to his election, how his race and the ensuing backlash affected his ability to effectively govern, and what it all means going forward. I bought my own copy as soon as I returned this to the library because I know I will be referring to it for years to come.

    Worth Reading

  • Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
    Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue/Goodreads

    Given the amount of lunatic propaganda regarding immigrants pumped into the world by conservative “news” outlets, this lovely novel was a timely read. The book tells the story of a Cameroonian immigrant trying to make a better life for himself and his family in America, what seems like a land of promise and possibility. The twists and turns of the book aren’t entirely surprising as the gleaming American dream isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ultimately it feels like a heartbreaking meditation on what really matters and how we treat our fellow humans.

    Worth Reading

  • Educated by Tara Westover
    Educated by Tara Westover/Goodreads

    This book is an absolutely crazy ride, made all the more mind blowing because it is a true story. This memoir from Tara Westover, the daughter of fundamentalist Mormons is unforgettable. Her childhood and adolescence are more than troubling, leading to a harrowing personal journey to extract herself from that life. It is really hard to wrap my mind around the fact that she is my contemporary and this happened in modern times.

    Must Read

  • Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel
    Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel/Goodreads

    I know I may sound like a broken record, but this is another book I deeply believe every single person should read (or listen to). Esther Perel is a brilliant therapist focusing on love, sex, and relationships, and her work always astounds me. Mating in Captivity is a vital examination of the frequent discord between domestic relationships and sexual desire. This book provides enormous food for thought that is relevant to all our personal lives, but also to how we view and discuss relationships, marriage, and sexual connection as a society, and also how we might change the conversation with our children so that generations to come might manage these issues more successfully.

    Must Read

  • Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
    Dark Matter by Blake Crouch/Goodreads

    This is another book I picked up largely due to its availability at my library. If someone had described it to me beforehand, I may have opted not to give it a try because anything in the realm of science fiction is generally not my cup of tea. However, this book hooked me from the first page and I was completely engaged through the very end, dying to see how it would turn out. It was very entertaining and I think would be a great escape read for vacation or whenever you want a break.

    Worth Reading

  • Black Man in a White Coat by Damon Tweedy
    Black Man in a White Coat by Damon Tweedy/Goodreads

    Dr. Tweedy’s book describes with grace and nuance the ways in which his race affected his medical training and career. One of the earlier passages describes his excitement of entering a lecture hall in the first few days of medical school only to be mistaken by the professor for a janitor who was needed to fix the lights. In addition to more experiences such as this, he also examines how race is addressed within medical education in our country. I can attest to his impression that it is misunderstood, white washed, and that our current approach badly needs an overhaul. His is a valuable perspective that is vital both for those working in the medical field as well as for patients.

    Worth Reading

  • The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clementine Wamariya
    The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clementine Wamariya/Goodreads

    The Girl Who Smiled Beads tells the true story of Clementine Wamariya, a refugee who fled the Rwandan genocides as a child. While I have learned some of this horrific tragedy before through other books, this is the first account I have read documenting the experience of a child from that time. To see neighbors and friends murdered, live in unspeakable conditions in refugee camps, and try at all costs to find some measure of stability, is nearly impossible to imagine. This is not a feel good book, but it is essential that we bear witness to such accounts in order to do better both from a humanitarian perspective as well as with how we receive refugees who settle here.

    Worth Reading

  • In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park
    In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park /Goodreads

    I think the best thing I can say about this book is that it completely blew my mind. I’m embarrassed to say that before reading it, I knew very little about North Korea beyond the fact that they are ruled by a dictator who possesses a nuclear arsenal. This book was an eye opening account of what life is like there and the harrowing experience of Yeonmi Park as she and her family did everything they could to escape. I learned so much and have the utmost respect for her and her family’s drive to do whatever they needed to survive.

    Must Read

  • The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
    The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur/Goodreads

    Sometimes I think the exactly right book comes into your life at exactly the right time, and that is what happened for me with this book. I read the entire thing during a long plane ride and it was the perfect thing to savor and enjoy slowly. Another incredible gem from Rupi Kaur, this book is a gorgeous follow up to Milk & Honey.

    Worth Reading

  • Fear by Bob Woodward
    Fear by Bob Woodward/Goodreads

    It’s hard to articulate how I feel about Fear. Nothing in it particularly surprised me, which in and of itself alarms me. It is well researched and even handedly reported, and likely will become an historically important account of this disastrous time. If you are already overwhelmed by reading the daily news, I’m not sure this will add much value but at least confirms much of what has been gleaned from the press at large.

    Worth Reading

  • I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
    I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown/Goodreads

    I think the subtitle of this book says it all: “Black dignity in a world made for whiteness.” Austin Channing Brown writes beautifully about her experience as a black woman in a world where white is the default setting, and this is a perspective we all need to take into consideration far more frequently. This is an important account that helps unveil the structural racism in place in our world, and in doing so, provides all of us with better understanding to help go forward and dismantle these systems we have perpetuated.

    Must Read

  • Not that Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture edited by Roxane Gay
    Not that Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture edited by Roxane Gay/Goodreads

    Required reading for all of humanity is what this book is. As we have seen as the #MeToo movement came to light and continues to progress, far too many women and many men have experienced rape or sexual assault. It is a tragedy the way our society devalues women and dismisses their experiences as a matter of course, and that is all the more reason books like Not That Bad are precisely what we need. Visibility, understanding, and hopefully compassion and empathy, and ultimately a shifting of power dynamics so that perpetrators of these crimes will no longer feel so free and emboldened to commit them in the first place.

    Must Read

  • I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
    I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara/Goodreads

    I knew almost nothing of the Golden State Killer before reading this book, other than possibly hearing the name referenced once before. This true crime investigation is gruesome and chilling, but also incredibly impressive thanks to the home detective work of the author Michelle McNamara. Sadly, she passed away suddenly before completion of the book but her family and close colleagues in this endeavor helped fill in the gaps to complete the manuscript. This book describes in detail the many sexual assaults and murders of the victims, so I would not recommend this for anyone sensitive to such topics.

    Worth Reading

  • Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
    Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones/Goodreads

    I purchased Silver Sparrow on a whim after finishing up all the other books I had brought with me on vacation. I knew after reading An American Marriage that Tayari Jones wouldn’t let me down, and I was right. Another excellent novel with an intricate plot, well developed characters, and thought provoking themes, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read.

    Worth Reading

  • Tell Me What You Want by Justin Lehmiller
    Tell Me What You Want by Justin Lehmiller/Goodreads

    It’s always a pretty cool feeling to read a book by someone you know, and it’s even cooler when the book is full of fascinating information that is also highly relevant to our daily lives. Dr. Lehmiller’s book Tell Me What You Want examines data from a large scale survey about people’s sexual fantasies and desires, what we can learn from these data, and how we can make use of this knowledge in our own lives. As someone who loves learning about sex and relationships in both social and scientific contexts, this was so interesting from beginning to end. Bravo, Justin!

    Worth Reading

  • This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
    This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel/Goodreads

    This is such a beautifully written book. This is another work of fiction that has so many timely lessons for today’s world. The main story line is about a transgender child, but it feels like a sorely inadequate description to say that. This novel is such an evocative portrayal of motherhood and family life, and I just can’t recommend it highly enough. I never wanted this book to end.

    Must Read

  • Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
    Difficult Women by Roxane Gay/Goodreads

    When I picked up this book, it was simply because it was Roxane Gay and I can never get enough of her writing. I didn’t realize this was a book of short stories. Every time I read short stories, I remember how much I enjoy them. This book is chock full of memorable stories surrounding women and the issues they face in their lives. While these stories are fiction and some have a magical component to them, the feelings they evoke in the reader are undoubtedly real. This book is haunting, searing, hard to read at times, and one I won’t soon forget.

    Worth Reading

  • Memoir of a Debulked Woman: Enduring Ovarian Cancer by Susan Gubar
    Memoir of a Debulked Woman: Enduring Ovarian Cancer by Susan Gubar/Goodreads

    This book has an unbelievable number of reasons it interests me. It is written by a gender studies professor from my own hometown where I also attended college, and describes her experience of living and dying with terminal ovarian cancer, which I deal with heavily at my job on a weekly basis. The author is also a mother, and having lost my own mother to cancer (at a relatively younger age), it interested me from that perspective as well. She discusses a lot of important topics related to ovarian cancer including its relative obscurity as compared to more marketable cancers such as breast cancer, and the ways in which we fail at discussing and responding to the more unpleasant aspects of living with terminal illness.

    Worth Reading

  • Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper
    Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper/Goodreads

    Eloquent Rage is the perfect title for this book, as it beautifully captures Dr. Cooper’s impressions of being a black feminist in America right now. She is brilliant and so well spoken as she covers topics such as respectability politics, pop culture’s portrayal of black men and women, and the role of black men in all of this, among many other things. She is down to earth and writes in a clear, straightforward manner that is simultaneously touching and cutting.

    Must Read

  • Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
    Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge/Goodreads

    This book is SO IMPORTANT. I hadn’t planned on it being my final book of the year but it happened to work out that way and it seemed so fitting. After a year reading many books focused on race, white privilege, and white supremacy, what I have learned is that I can never stop learning about this topic. It will never be enough, there is no endpoint in this endeavor. We must keep doing all we can to learn, educate, and dismantle these systems of oppression built to keep the status quo. This particular book is written by a black woman born in the UK and explains the history of racism in Britain which is something I knew nothing about prior to reading this. Her bracing account gives clear context to widespread and insidious modern day racism, and is sure to change the way you view things going forward.

    Must Read

View as a Slideshow

It’s always a little difficult narrowing down the top books from the year, but I love looking back through all that I read and figuring out what was truly the best of the best. This year I allowed myself a couple of extra choices on this list since I read 10 more books than usual.

I can’t wait to hear what books you loved this year. If you would like to connect with me on Goodreads, send me an email using the contact form and I will add you! (Be sure to include your name AND email address associated with your Goodreads account so I know I’m adding the right person!) Happy reading in 2019!

Past Reading Lists