In conjunction with Independence Rock Group: Center for Faith, Ethics, and Social Justice, I am looking to start up a social justice book club. We hope to have both online and in-person groups. More details to come.
First, I need your help! Do you have a book that you think would be a good selection for a social justice book club?
It can be fiction or non-fiction.
It can be a classic or a new book.
We are interested in helping new and independent authors, so feel free to recommend your own book or the book of a friend.
Share any and all ideas below in the comments. We are looking to do this monthly, so we are looking to build a long list.
Thanks!
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“The Secret History of the American Empire: The Truth About Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and How to Change the World” by John Perkins (2008)
Thanks, Cristina. I will check that one out.
I am on my second reading of “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. For those who haven’t read it yet, it well worthwhile. It should be a must read in schools and universities. It is a good story wrapped around a profound philosophy. An oldie but a goodie.
Atlas Shrugged would be interesting. I’ve read it 4 times.
Well, Lela….I would let you be in charge of that month’s book club. 🙂
I would recommend Richard Rorty “Achieving Our Country” or “Philosophy and Social Hope”.
I have both of those! “Achieving” would be the better book club book of the two…though I have used “Philosophy and Social Hope” more.
Thomas Merton, “Raids on the Unspeakable” or James W. Douglass “Gandhi and the Unspeakable: His Final Experiment with Truth”
Thanks, Carla. I will definitely look into those.
Half the Sky by Kristoff and WuDunn.
sisterarnell, thanks. That one had actually come to my mind and I was hoping somebody else would mention it as well.
This is a totally random recommendation, but I just re-read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (first time since the 6th grade in 1975). I think it would be interesting to read it through the lenses of various social justice frameworks.
Margy, that is a intriguing idea. I did play Ponyboy in my 8th grade drama class….:)
“Pedagogy of the Oppressed” by Paulo Friere.
Oh, yes. I have been wanting to re-visit Friere. Thanks.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee; “The Kite Runner” by Khalid Hosseini; “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank; “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett; “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou; “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot; “Night” by Elie Wiesel; “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicholas D. Kristof… and there’s so many out there. Those are the ones off the top of my head 😉
I enjoyed Sandel’s book, Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?
I very much enjoyed Sandel’s “Justice.” My favorite book of his by far. I am thinking of doing a blog seminar on that book in the Fall. Thanks for the comment.
john rawls’ justice as fairness or ronald dworkin’s sovereign virtue both provide compelling accounts of the demands of justice and provide arguments too
Wielding the Force: The Science of Social Justice. http://www.swallowsongs.com/wielding-the-force-the-science-of-social-justice/