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Hello fellow nonfiction nerds! If you’re lucky enough to have the day off today, I hope you’re able to spend it in a way you find relaxing and fulfilling. If you’re working or out in public, I hope people are kind and you’re able to find some peace as the holiday season kicks off.
Today, the day after Thanksgiving, has a lot of different meanings too. For some, it’s a big day of shopping. For others, it’s a chance to reflect on the history of Indigenous people in the United States. Luckily, I have a couple of book recommendations for both!
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If You’re Thinking About Black Friday
Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism by Aja Barber
In this book, Aja Barber digs into the fast fashion industry to explore how a culture of consumption is creating an environmental crisis. She also looks at how social media algorithms push shopping and purchasing, the racist and dangerous history of the textile industry, and how we can unlearn our habits about consumption for a better future. This one seems absolutely great – but if you’re interested in a sneak peek first, I suggest this interview with Barber on the Forever35 podcast.
The Day the World Stops Shopping: How Ending Consumerism Saves the Environment and Ourselves by J.B. MacKinnon
The premise of this book is a bit of a thought experiment – what would happen if we just stopped shopping? To answer, journalist J.B. MacKinnon set out to find answers from big box stores to tribal communities that consume at a perfectly sustainable rate. But then, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic happened… creating an opportunity to see the impacts of less consumption in real time.
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If You’re Thinking About Native American Heritage Day
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
There are more than 500 federally recognized Indigenous nations in the United States, descendants of the more than 15 million Native Americans who once lived here. In this book, historian and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz presents a history of the United States from the perspective of Indigenous people. She also connects this history of resistance to current events and struggles being led by Indigenous peoples.
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present by David Treuer
A common idea about Native American history is that it basically ended in 1890 with the massacre at Wounded Knee. In this book, Ojibwe historian David Treuer explores a different narrative – that the story of contemporary Native Americans is “one of unprecedented resourcefulness and reinvention.” The book blends history, reporting, and memoir to look at actions taken against Indigenous people and how they have pushed back.
One Thing I Like
Turns out I can finish reading books! Last week I sped through The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker. Parker is a facilitator and conflict resolution expert who has facilitated gatherings for a variety of complex groups and gatherings. In this book, Parker argues that when we rely on routines and conventions we end up with gatherings that are boring or don’t meet their intended purpose.
She then walks through the steps she takes to help forge meaningful and memorable experiences at each gathering. Her steps are actionable and hopeful, and she uses her vast experience to show successes and failures in various gatherings. It’s really fascinating! If you’re not ready for a full book, Parker also has an email newsletter that I’ve really enjoyed too.
For more nonfiction reads, head over to the podcast service of your choice and download For Real, which I co-host with my dear friend Alice. If you have any questions/comments/book suggestions, you can find me on social media @kimthedork. Happy weekend!