In the modern world of social media and short-form content, reading seems to have become a relic of the past. We forget that words have the capacity to shift our view of the world around us. And with fascism on the rise, knowledge is power.
However, books can be inaccessible due to their increasing cost. No one should have to miss out on the chance to learn, so throughout this article, I’ve listed alternative sources for you to buy the books secondhand or access the PDF online. (The prices of these books will likely fluctuate based on availability).
So, here are my ten recommendations for books you won’t want to put down:
1) When I Dare To Be Powerful by Audre Lorde
Published in 1981 and republished amongst 20 other books in the Penguin Great Ideas series, this book has cemented itself in our modern zeitgeist. It contains essays ranging in content from poetry to female eroticism, rejecting a system that has oppressed Lorde as a Black, lesbian poet. Reading this piece, you cannot ignore the dangers of systemic power and privilege that we all play a part in. Whilst it’s a celebration of womanhood, Lorde’s work asks us to show solidarity to our marginalized sisters, mothers and friends by speaking out against those who wish to silence them and their suffering. In the terrifying reality of ICE deportations in the US and protests being censored in the UK, our freedom of speech is in clinical danger. This book is an empowering read that will remind you that self-assurance is a radical act in a world that wishes you to remain silent.
Where to buy
AbeBooks.co.uk (£6.58) AbeBooks.com ($11.77) World of Books (£6.00)
2) The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde
In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde delves into the depths of human behavior. But when the book was published in 1890, it was met with controversy for its disturbing themes. We follow Dorian, who, after seeing his portrait painted by a painter, wishes to never age. Then, as if by magic, he bears no scar of aging through his years of sin and sorrow. It’s his portrait instead that slowly deteriorates. Is corruption of the mind and soul merely collateral damage of a fast, fun, and hedonistic life? This novel, although set in 19th-century London, is increasingly relevant in our modern digital world of “looksmaxxing,” normalized narcissism, and cheap dopamine addiction. Our relationship with perfectionism has reached heights that I’m sure even Wilde couldn’t have imagined. He asks readers the question: How far would you be willing to go for the power of eternal beauty?
Where to buy
AbeBooks.co.uk (UK, £1.21) AbeBooks.com (US, $1.70) World of Books (£3.80) The Picture of Dorian Grey PDF
3) Natives by Akala
Bafta and MOBO award-winning hip hop artist Akala published his semi-autobiographical social analysis Natives in 2019. Part memoir, part historical and political commentary, this book peeks into the destructive and ever-present power of the British Empire. It addresses education, policing, class prejudice and inequality, objectification and identity, highlighting how Britain’s colonial past seeps into the present. Akala seamlessly educates you about all of the stuff your school left out. He shows us how the intersections of race, class and gender affect our life experiences. Each one of us carries privilege from a system that oppresses another. Read this book if you’re secure enough to check that privilege. With the recent rise of far-right ideology in the UK and the US, testimony such as Akala’s is imperative if we wish to dismantle patriarchal systems. Remember, knowledge is power.
Where to buy
AbeBooks.co.uk (£3.14) AbeBooks.com ($4.38) World of Books (£3.50)
4) The Poetry Pharmacy by William Sieghart
I know that poetry can feel like this hard-to-grasp art form meant for Shakespeare and Chaucer lovers. But believe me when I tell you that poetry can be anything and everything. It’s not always old-timey and abstract. William Sieghart beautifully captures that in his anthology The Poetry Pharmacy. Taking inspiration from Deborah Alma and the Emergency Poet Project (which has since developed into bookstores in York and London), Sieghart has edited together poems by a variety of familiar and unfamiliar poets to form a ‘prescription’ book. It combines descriptions of emotional and mental ailments, such as anxiety, unrequited love and grief, pairing each with its own poem to offer some much-needed perspective. This is a great book to dip in and out of depending on your specific needs. Words have a magic way of connecting you to yourself and reminding you that you’re never alone, no matter how alien you might be feeling.
(The Poetry Pharmacy series by Sieghart is in no way affiliated with The Poetry Pharmacy Bookstores.)
Where to buy
AbeBooks.com ($13.78) World of Books (£11.30)
5) What a Time to be Alone By Chidera Eggerue
Probably one of my most read suggestions, What A Time To Be Alone is an empowering read that celebrates your authenticity, personal growth, and solitude. Chidera, AKA The Slumflower, is a British-Nigerian best-selling author and social media influencer who started the #SAGGYBOOBSMATTER movement in 2017, encouraging every woman to embrace their natural beauty. This book weaves Eggerue’s personal experiences with Igbo proverbs (Igbo is a southeastern Nigerian language), and I promise, you’ll walk away feeling like anything is possible. It’s practical, readable and incredibly insightful, so if self-progression is important to you, this is the book for you. Eggerue writes like a cool older sister offering you advice and guidance about toxic friendships, personal demons, and tumultuous love lives. Above all, it’s a book about self-love. And like me, you’ll come back to it again and again.
Where to buy
AbeBooks.co.uk (£3.40) AbeBooks.com ($1.62) World of Books (£3.70)
6) Down And Out In Paris And London by George Orwell
Written years before its arguably more famous successor, 1984, Down And Out In Paris And London is Orwell’s literary memoir retelling his experiences of severe poverty in the two richest European cities (of the time). It portrays the brutal reality of survival in the poorest communities, describing the dehumanization and resilience of those people as Orwell struggles to find stable work, shelter, and food. It challenges social stigmas, showing the human and universal side to economic misfortune. It’ll demand your compassion and make you incredibly grateful for the comfort of shelter and stability, things we so often take for granted in our fast-paced world, where we’re constantly told to consume more. Orwell reminds us that we’re all a few hardships away from being in similar circumstances. To view those in need in our society as moral failures is to abandon our humanity.
Where to buy
AbeBooks.co.uk (£1.60) AbeBooks.com ($4.66) World of Books (£3.90) Down and Out in Paris and London PDF
7) The Dhammapada
Said to have been written by the Buddha himself, this book is a collection of sayings composed for different situations in life, best described as Buddhist scripture. It’s divided into 26 mini chapters, each with a different header, such as “The Mind’,” “Infinite Freedom,” and “Joy.” This a beautiful, pocket-sized book that you could read in an afternoon or flip through on your travels. It’s uplifting and will ground you in the present moment, taking you away from everyday stressors. Whilst life is ever-changing, the one thing we can control is our own perspective, which can be the difference between our minds’ stagnant repression or their fluid acceptance. As the book states, “a pure mind is like a clear mirror which reflects things but takes nothing.”
Where to buy
AbeBooks.co.uk (£4.69) AbeBooks.com ($3.73) World of Books (£3.80) The Dhammapada PDF
8) Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Written as an expose, Perez shows the data gap in our system that routinely shuts out the experiences, needs, and input of women to instead prioritize men. She argues, with the help of extensive statistics, that this gap creates a culture that harms women in all areas, whether it be medically, technologically, socially, sexually or infrastructurally. It’s an insightful read for everyone, especially for women who are sick of arguing with or educating their male counterparts about how insidious patriarchy is. Put this book on their lap and watch them struggle to play devil’s advocate in the face of overwhelming amounts of research and evidence. If you want statistical quips to bring to a debate, read this book.
Where to buy
AbeBooks.co.uk (£5.95) AbeBooks.com ($11.97) World of Books (£9.00) Invisible Women PDF
9) Joothan by Omprakash Valmiki
First published in 1997 in Hindi, this autobiography tells the experiences of Valmiki as he grows up in post-independence India, still facing segregated as a Dalit in the deeply-rooted Indian caste system. Written as testimony against a system that deems him and his community “untouchable,” this memoir shows a perspective from history that is often ignored. Whilst autobiographical texts face scrutiny as non-literary works, Valmiki’s words form a courageous resistance, highlighting the struggle of extreme poverty, social alienation, and systemic exploitation. It’s only through education that Valmiki is able to rise through social hierarchies to gain autonomy, reminding us that knowledge is a transformative force of change against oppression. It’s the perfect read for expanding your real-world understanding.
Where to buy
AbeBooks.co.uk (6.89) AbeBooks.com ($6.62)
10. The Word For World is Forest by Ursula LeGuin
My last recommendation is The Word for World is Forest by the brilliant Ursula LeGuin. Poetically written sci-fi, this novella contrasts the harmony of the indigenous community of Athsheans of the planet Athshe with the violent and parasitic nature of the human colonists who are deforesting their planet for economic growth. It’s a thought-provoking piece of eco-criticism and a fantastic introduction to LeGuin’s vast body of work. Though the book was first published in 1972, it is still relevant today, as environmental welfare remains a huge concern in our modern world. Literature that criticizes the pervasive and unsustainable beast of capitalism should always be at the forefront of our attention.
Where to buy
AbeBooks.co.uk (£8.25) AbeBooks.com ($6.98)
I hope you enjoy reading my recommendations as much as I did. And remember, knowledge is power!
