I don’t get that political on here that often and I intend to keep it that way. However, I felt that it was relevant to today’s post. I was looking at the books I’ve been reading lately and I’ve noticed that a number of books on current issues kept sneaking into my reading (intentional and not intentional). With everything going on in the world right now, I want to make sure that I’m educating myself not only on current issues, but the history behind current issues.
Regardless of where you stand or what your feelings are, it’s always good to be informed. Also, these books are just flat out good.
Non-Fiction
Rise of the Rocket Girls & Hidden Figures
You’ve probably heard about Hidden Figures by now, with the popularity of the movie, so I won’t go too much into that one. Rise of the Rocket Girls takes the slightly wider view of the women on the other side of the country behind NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and how they were the “computers” who really helped the system to grow.
The Good Girls Revolt
Now we switch from women in science to women in journalism (and let’s be real, the workforce in general). Good Girls Revolt centers around the women who sued Newsweek in the 1970s and then the issues that they were still dealing with in 2010. This book also inspired the Amazon original series of the same name, which stirred up it’s own controversy. These books show how while we’ve come a long way, there’s still a ways to go.
Fiction
Yes, these books are all fiction, BUT they all deal with historical events or current issues. Just reading them can help you to open your eyes just a little bit more.
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad is a historical fiction novel that plays with the idea of the underground railroad being an actual railroad. While this is fiction, it can be fairly difficult to read knowing that the events in the book were things that actually happened today and there are still people who have similar beliefs today. It is however an amazing novel that should not be skipped.
Lucky Boy
I actually went into this book without reading the full description of it. I’m kind of glad about that though because I thought I was going to be able to guess what happened and let’s just say I was wrong. However, this book deals with immigration and fertility. While again, it’s fiction, it talk about the emotional side of a really important topic that America is facing right now.
So that’s what I’ve been reading to learn more and I’m looking for any other suggestions you may have! Leave them in the comments below!
I just bought Hidden Figures, so I’m excited to hopefully start reading it today- I can’t wait! Have you seen the movie? I’m really excited about that as well. I put The Underground Railroad on my ‘to read’ list on Goodreads, and it’s actually one of the best historical fiction novels of 2016! If you’d like some recommendations, check out the Goodreads list (my plan is to check the list for some new books once I finish my huge stack waiting to be read): https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2016
If you like book challenges, I have one on Goodreads that I’d love for you to check out: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/208545-oshiro-designs-book-challenge
I saw the movie on Monday! I think this is one of the rare cases where seeing the movie seems to actually be enhancing reading the book. I think it’s because Hidden Figures, Rocket Girls, and Good Girls all throw a lot of names at you and keeping everyone straight can be difficult. By seeing the movie first, I had a face to put to those names and it made it much easier.
Perfect!! I saw it Tuesday, so I’m glad I’ll have a reference for who everyone is! I loved the movie.
Have you read Rosemary about the “hidden” Kennedy sister? Just finished that last night. Fascinating! And another nonfiction that I’m a little late to the game with, is Unbroken by L. Hillenbrand
I haven’t, but I want to now! Who wrote Rosemary?
Kate Clifford Larson 🙂
I’ve been reading on the issues a bit lately too – I’m participating in a discussion group on Hillbilly Elegy and Between the World and Me, which are both very worthwhile (especially the latter), which is saying a lot for a girl who rarely is willing to read non-fiction. I totally think fiction is one of the best ways to get into other people’s shoes and open your eyes to situations or feelings or circumstances.
All that said, I am curious about Hidden Figures!
I’ve read Between the World and Me, but I haven’t picked up Hillbilly Elegy yet!
I put this in my comment to oshirodesigns below, but I actually think that seeing Hidden Figures first is actually making reading it even more enjoyable.