Book Review // February 2022
The shortest month of the year, but I still enjoyed 5 books. Check out my list below and share what books you’ve loved so far in 2022.
“aint i a woman: black women and feminism” by bell hooks
One of the most important feminist books I have read. It feel especially poignant now as bell hook just passed in December of 2021. This book was very challenging for me to read as it made me confront my own biases. I understand that feminism in large part was (and still is) a white woman’s endeavor and women of color were (are) left out. Understanding the historical intersection of race + gender is critical as we move forward to understand the movements in the 2020’s and beyond.
“The Storyteller” by Dave Grohl
I’ve had a crush on musician Dave Grohl since high school. I loved his hair, his energy and how damn cool he was in the 90's and through today. This book only deepened my love for Dave. His devotion to his music and family plus some great stories make for a great read. I listened to the audio book so hearing him narrate it was even better!
“The Raging 2020s” by Alec Ross
I thought I was going to need an Econ 101 class to read this book at first. With phrases and ideas that were totally new to me, it took me a while to get through it. This book examines the relationship and power dynamics between citizens, companies and governments. Ross explains that taxing the rich isn’t the thing to do, but rather, holding companies responsible for their impact on the environment, jobs, housing, tech etc. The difference between tax avoidance and tax aversion (subtle but important) was also something that made me go, “huh that’s interesting.” Citizens, companies and governments all depend on each other and when they work together can create harmony. If the last 2 years has taught us anything, it’s that the power struggle between these 3 entities needs to be reconstructed.
“The Overstory” by Richard Powers
If you love trees, nature and well-developed characters, this is a book for you. I started reading “The Overstory” while in Costa Rica, a place with incredible biodiversity and a deep reverence for nature. I woke up with the sun and was in bed early. I barely knew what the day or time was, but rather moved in with the flow of the day. “The Overstory” is a rich book with many overlapping and intersecting stories. At just over 500 pages it felt good to sink deeply into the stories about trees and how they impact and shape our lives. Tragic and yet hopeful, this is a reminder that we need to do so much more to care for life on this planet. That we are connected with plants in a deep and loving way and to sever that bond means a disconnection from a part of ourselves.
“You Were Born For This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance” by Chani Nicholas
I have been interested in astrology since I was a kid. Something about using the stars and planets to understand myself was so cool. I read my horoscopes in the paper (remember when that was a thing?!) and felt drawn to explore this system. No surprise, with my Gemini sun sign and Scorpio rising that I’m curious and introspective and want to talk about it all the time. There’s so much more to learn than just your sun sign which tends to be the focus in Western astrology. I was turned onto Chani Nicholas by my wonderful (Aires sun) friend and cool AF astrologer / yoga teacher Kathleen Barry. I listened to the audiobook (Chani has a beautiful voice!) and immediately knew I would want this book for my collection. I ordered it from female-owned, Indy bookstore Greedy Reads and I look forward to referring to the book again and again with friends
Monthly book total: 5
Yearly book total: 10