Sponsored by Rowman & Littlefield.
For decades, the United States military has been contaminating the Pacific region with toxic substances. Service members, their families, and residents have been exposed—but the U.S. has long hidden the damage and ignored victims. This explosive book reveals the extent of contamination in the Pacific and the lengths the Pentagon will go to conceal it. Learn more today.
September releaseeees! What a time. So many books coming out; better get crackin’ with that reading. Start hoarding books up for winter like some very literary squirrels.
Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine. If you’ve read Rankine’s Citizen, you’re familiar with the poet’s juxtaposition of essays, images, and poetry to create a powerful message. In her newest book (out now!), she asks you to look at “what it takes to stay in the room together, even and especially in breaching the silence, guilt, and violence that follow direct addresses of whiteness.” An extremely timely new release from an extremely acclaimed author.
Good Blood: A Doctor, a Donor, and the Incredible Breakthrough that Saved Millions of Babies by Julian Guthrie. This is “a tale of discovery and invention, the progress and pitfalls of medicine, and the everyday heroics that fundamentally changed the health of women and babies.” It centers around Rh disease, a type of anemia that impacts pregnant women and fetuses. The doctor, John Gorman, made “one of the most important medical discoveries of our generation” with the help of a single donor.
Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All by Martha S. Jones. It’s finally here!! I have recommended this book I don’t know how many times on For Real, in suffragist book lists, and here. Jones is “Professor of History at The Johns Hopkins University” and here offers the story of Black women’s fight for the vote, going from the beginning of the nation to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The fight didn’t end in 1920! And you can read about it here.
What Can I Do?: My Path from Climate Despair to Action by Jane Fonda. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by climate change news. So what does this have to do with Jane Fonda? She got overwhelmed by climate change news and decided to find out what she could do. And she passes it on! She offers protest tools “so that everyone can work to combat the climate crisis,” and talks about her history as an activist. I’m early into reading this one, but she credits a LOT of other people and I’m very impressed with how she handles not making it all about her.
You can find me on social media @itsalicetime and co-hosting the nonfiction For Real podcast with Kim here at Book Riot. Until next time, enjoy those facts, fellow nerds.