Happy weekend, nonfiction lovers! As you are reading this, I am officially off the clock for a week of vacation from my day job. It’s largely a staycation, so I am hoping I can spend most of it with my face in a good book. It’s been way, way too long since I went off the clock for an extended period of time, and I have been feeling it hard. I hope you are also finding ways to step back and care for yourself right now!
Bookish Goods
Whimsical Pickle Reading a Book by SprocketandLloyd
I am consistently delighted by all the cute, printable art you can find on Etsy. This image of a pickle reading a book in front of a lovely shelf full of books made me smile this week – I hope it does the same for you. $11+
New Releases
The Future is Degrowth: A Guide to a World Beyond Capitalism by Matthias Schmelzer, Andrea Vetter, and Aaron Vansintjan
There’s a lot in the description of this book that I’m not sure I will explain correctly, but I am going to try! This book offers a counter-history to general ideas about economic growth, arguing that “the ideology of growth conceals the rising inequalities and ecological descriptions associated with capitalism.” The authors go on to argue that there needs to be a vision for the economy that goes beyond growth, which is unsustainable. Instead, they suggest ideas to try and democratize the economy or think of economics in new ways. I think I would learn a lot from this one!
Shifting Currents: A World History of Swimming by Karen Eva Carr
Like the subtitle indicates, this book is a history of swimming. It begins with the tension that came about when “non-swimming northerners” met swimmers from Africa and Southeast Asia. Initially, swimming seemed like an activity connected to the uncanny, an example of sin or witchcraft. Swimming was used as an excuse to enslave people, and a way to try and claim power themselves. Karen Eva Carr uses this initial power dynamic to show how contemporary swimming still sexualizes women and marginalizes people of color, among other complicated dynamics. I’m so intrigued by this one!
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
I grew up going “up North” every weekend to my family’s lakeside cabin, so spending time on the water is one of my favorite activities. Inspired by summer and one of this week’s new releases, here are a couple great books about swimming:
Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui
I am not alone in being drawn to the water. Humans swim all over the world, from Arctic waters all the way to tropical locales. In this book, swimmer Bonnie Tsui travels the globe to tell stories of how swimming has changed and connected people. She visits a swim club in Baghdad, samurai swimmers in Japan, and several other locations to try and understand what about the water is so important to people. This book is a very soothing read, if you need something calm and quiet in the middle of your summer craziness.
Swim: Why We Love the Water by Lynn Sherr
This book is another ode to swimming, this time looking more deeply at the history and biology of why we love the water. She explores how swimming has shifted from a solitary to social activity, as well as things like the history of buoyancy and the science behind how we evolved to swim. While less contemporary, this book also has many of the same chill, low-key vibes as other swimming books in this edition.
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 or send an email to kim@riotnewmedia.com. Happy weekend!