Reading for Social Justice
Books of 2022, by The Athena Advisors team
Last year, we ran our first round up of team recommendations for our top reads for 2021. It had great traction, so we find ourselves here again, and this time, with more recommendations to boot. So, why not consider this list and buy yourself, or someone else, a great social justice read for 2023. As always, we encourage you to shop local and head to your nearest independent book shop.
First up, we have a recommendation from our firm’s President,
Robin Heller.
First up, we have a recommendation from our firm’s President, Robin Heller.
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.
Robin writes: “This was one of the books that stands out for me in 2022. I’d heard about it, and I put it on my checklist of “Books to Read.” This year, given my passion for figuring out what work means now—given a vicious set of post-pandemic lockdowns in the UK in 2020 and 2021—I read it. Burkeman provides us with clear-eyed reality: The average person lives 4,000 weeks. That’s it. We must confront what we want to do, have to do, or can forgo doing altogether. Facing the finite bravely, we can set the right priorities, without pretending that we will do it all. For those of us working in social justice, with jobs that are often deeply compelling but exhausting, his book is an invitation to stop and consider what we want to do. The time is now”.
Next, over to our Executive Vice President, Laetitia Pancrazi, with
Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak.
Laetitia writes: “This book explores race relations, gender, sexuality, and democracy through the lenses of the Haitian and French Revolutions. As democratic fervour conquers Europe and the Americas, a mixed-race heiress, Sylvie, escapes plantation slave revolts in Haiti to arrive in Paris, where the passion of the French Revolution is quickly turning into the Terror. Zoe beautifully crafts a narrative that shines a light on power struggles, the role of women in society and the pervasive nature, that remains, of racism”.
Now let’s interject with a review from me, Lucy Hart, Director of Client Services.
Elif Shafak’s 10 minutes 38 seconds
is an incredibly poignant reflection and exploration of sexual violence against women, trans-women and, particularly, against sex-workers. The first part of the book is written from the perspective of the protagonist, Leila, during the last moments of her consciousness before death (10 minutes 38 seconds, to be precise). The second? You will have to find out.
Next up, two recommendations by Consultant, Michelle Bergsma with
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Michelle writes: “El Deafo, is a graphic novel for children about a hard of hearing rabbit named Cece. The author, the real-life human Cece, shares her experiences as a child with hearing loss and navigating making new friends at a regular school, where she’s the only deaf person. What I love about this book is how it visualizes the frustrations of being deaf, how it visualizes what it means to read lips, and how at the end of the day we’re all just like that little deaf bunny looking for our place and our people. I love this book because it’s the best way I have found to share the deaf experience. When I lost my hearing and then found this book, I made everyone close to me read it, and it made a big difference”.
And..
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story by Simu Liu.
“Simu Liu is a famous actor best known for playing Shang Chi as Marvel’s first Asian superhero. He’s Canadian and emigrated with his parents as a child. His biography tells the story of his parents, and later his, journey to Canada. It explores the struggles of both being Chinese Canadians and of the diverging cultural norms lived out between he and his parents. There are some fun stories around him breaking free from the pressures of expectations from immigrant parents to pursue acting, but overall, this book is deeper than that storyline and really places you in the shoes of both Simu and his parents. A surprisingly introspective biography”.
Now we move to Brahmi Chakravorty, a new, Goa-based Consultant at The Athena Advisors.
Jessamine Chan, The School for Good Mothers.
Brahmi writes: “Frida Liu is struggling. She doesn’t have a career worthy of her Chinese immigrant parents’ sacrifices. What’s worse is she can’t persuade her husband, to give up his mistress. Harriet, her baby is her only respite and all that she has until Frida has a horrible day. A lapse in judgement has the state sentence her to a year at a state-run facility “teaching” deviant mother like Liu to hone their maternal instincts. If she fails, her parental rights will be terminated. The book captures, in heart-breaking tones, the exact price women pay in a patriarchal society that despises them, that reduces their worth to their viability for procreation and capacity for mothering. Frida’s anguish makes you want to scream “HANDS OFF MY BODY” over and over again.”
And to Diana Angeret, Senior Consultant and 2022 Racing Upwards Fellow.
Of Women in the twenty-first century by Shami Chakrabarti.
Diana bought this book at a book sale when attending the International Women’s Organisations Diwali celebrations in Kampala.
Diana Writes: “All I can say is do not read this book if you are easily offended, if you are not open to other people’s opinions, or if you do not believe in gender equality. Shami writes her book in a conversational tone; it is witty and will have you thinking about how much women’s lives are impacted on many levels by gender injustice. It focuses on the twenty first century definition of what it means to be a woman and how norms and cultures have solidified what it means for women to be, behave, and believe. So much so that, even as women, we believe these stories to our detriment. She covers all aspects of what it means to be a woman, from being at home to working and wealth, health (yes, it includes abortion) and social media. I keep thinking that Marsha Blackburn should have started with this book when she asked Ketanji Jackson (as she was) to define a woman. I have read it about four times this year. It is a brilliant book.”
Last but not least, Senior Consultant at The Athena Advisors: Jarlene Choy with
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman.
Jarlene writes: “In this deeply human account, Fadiman compassionately shows what is at stake when two cultures—in this case, the Western medical establishment and a Hmong child’s refugee family—are unable to overcome their cross-cultural impasse. Fadiman tells the story from the eyes of Lia Lee’s family, the local Hmong community, and the various Western healthcare workers who held varying degrees of respect for and understanding of Hmong spiritual and cultural traditions. Despite pure motives on both sides, ultimately the breakdown in trust could not be overcome. This is a powerful story of parental love and an urgent call for cultural humility in Western medicine”.
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman.
Jarlene writes: “In this deeply human account, Fadiman compassionately shows what is at stake when two cultures—in this case, the Western medical establishment and a Hmong child’s refugee family—are unable to overcome their cross-cultural impasse. Fadiman tells the story from the eyes of Lia Lee’s family, the local Hmong community, and the various Western healthcare workers who held varying degrees of respect for and understanding of Hmong spiritual and cultural traditions. Despite pure motives on both sides, ultimately the breakdown in trust could not be overcome. This is a powerful story of parental love and an urgent call for cultural humility in Western medicine”.
We hope you find something among our recommendations to begin, or continue, your social justice education. Happy reading!