If You Only Read 5 Books in 2019…
By: Kaitlyn S. C. Hatch
Tags: Representation, Book Recommendations, Books, Book Review

For more recommendations, check out my 2020 book blog.

Time again for another installation of Book Recommendations from the last year of books I read. I first wrote a blog like this in 2017 as a response to the many, many lists I’d see of 50 or 100 or 500 books Everyone Must Read, apparently. There are so many reasons why reading isn’t a priority for folks, and a lot of books that get on those lists just aren’t that great.

For me, reading is what I do for fun. It’s my downtime, my hobby, the one thing I do just for the pleasure of it. Each year I track what I’ve read and at the end, I can look back and name a few books that I think almost anyone would enjoy—books that are life-changing, profound, changing the game, or just downright fun.

This year I offer ten books total, five fiction, five non-fiction. If you only read five books in 2019, any one of these ten should be among them. In the case of the non-fiction books, if you don’t have the time to read one but you’re interested in the topic or the author’s work elsewhere, I have included links to podcasts, transcripts, and videos featuring the same content. I’ve also included links to each book on the publisher's website whenever possible, but remember your local library as a resource for checking these out. Libraries are great!

NON-FICTION

Emergent Strategy — adrienne maree brown

Normally I do not rank these. The order is arbitrary, but in the case of Emergent Strategy, this really was the very best book I read in 2018 and it’s in my top five Most Important, significant, transformative books ever. adrienne maree brown has created a genuine gift for any human being who wants to be a force for liberation and transformative change. She herself acknowledges that the concept is not new, but I would say her presentation of it most certainly is.

This book is an accessible, practical guide to living in an interconnected, interrelated, interdependent world. It is a dharma book, a practice guide, and a toolkit. It’s galvanising, uplifting, and empowering. If you are a helping professional, an employee or volunteer with a non-for-profit/charity, a manager, a director, a spiritual being, a member of a religious organisation, an activist, a speaker, a movement leader or participant, a connector, an artist and/or writer, this book is worth reading.

I have gifted seven copies of it in just five months. That’s how amazing this book is.

In addition to writing amazing books, and a bunch of other skills and talents, adrienne is also the co-host of How to Survive the End of the World with her sister, Autumn Brown. I also want to thank adrienne for making the time to collaborate with me on an episode of Everything is Workable in 2018!

The Lies That Bind: Rethinking Identity — Kwame Anthony Appiah

This is a delightful and easy to follow philosophical book unpacking identity across religion, location, class, race and gender. Professor Appiah uses wonderful examples throughout to illustrate the mutable nature of identity, whilst also pointing out how mutability does not render identity meaningless. In this regard, reading along is like joining someone in a contemplation on emptiness. He names an identity and proceeds to unpick it, sharing with us how we can let go of fixed ideas about who a person is, ourselves as much as anyone else. But then he also names how relational our identities are, to one another and within ourselves, and that this shouldn’t be disregarded simply because identity is lacking in any inherent quality.

It’s a beautiful example of how we can challenge our dualistic way of thinking to open up and be inclusive of a much bigger view beyond just what we have in common or not, to seeing the full complexity of what it is to be human. This book is a marriage of the absolute and relative view, and a guide for how to look at the world through an all-encompassing lens.

I was fortunate to get to see Professor Appiah give a talk on this book at the Seattle Public Library, which published a podcast of the evening. You can listen to that or read the transcript to get a taste.

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World — His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Compiled from conversations between Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama in April, 2015, The Book of Joy is heartwarming, encouraging, and profound. This is unsurprising considering the two spiritual leaders and what we know of their offerings to the world, but the added piece I loved about this book is their friendship. These two men are revered — held in the highest regard by millions of people — but they remain humble, and express that through their silly antics and lighthearted banter. The way their relationship is shared on the pages is as much a gift of wisdom as their conversation on the topic of joy. It’s a reminder to all of us about the importance of human connection and what a gift it is to be fully ourselves in relationship with others.

There are many wonderful gems throughout this book, but my favourite quote comes from Archbishop Tutu:

“It helps no one if you sacrifice your joy because others are suffering.”

Because this book was compiled from a series of talks there are many videos available of the many aspects of joy they discussed. I particularly appreciate their dialogue on forgiveness.

Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear & Courage Meet — Joan Halifax

“Compassion does not fatigue us — it is a source of strength, and supports our thriving and benefits others.”

The teachings of Roshi Joan Halifax are rich and practical, as she brings the fullness of her personal experience to what she has to teach. She grounds the practice of compassion with lived examples, both her own and those of her students. Her guidance on how to be present when meeting our edges so we can learn to stretch and grow them is applicable to anyone, regardless of our belief or practice. This is a book of how to connect with our potential for limitless compassion.

There is a wonderful episode of the Upaya Podcast with Roshi Halifax where she outlines the key points of this book. The Upaya podcast is free, but if you are able, please make a contribution. Donations help keep these talks available to folks regardless of income. When money is a resource we have, we can gift it in this way to ensure that such wisdom remains accessible to as many people as possible.

Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture — edited by Roxane Gay

I struggled with whether or not to include this book in my top five non-fiction recommendations because it is brutal. It is brutal and raw and also true. Which is why I have chosen it. Because I wish every single human being would read it — but especially cis-male folk.

This book is a collection of personal accounts and reflections on the impact of misogyny, sexism, patriarchy, and restrictive masculinity on all genders. This is a social problem we all have a responsibility to address, and men have yet to really step-up and get on board to dismantle. This is why Roxane Gay continues to write about rape and sexual abuse. This is why Hannah Gadsby’s Nannette is so necessary, important and groundbreaking. This is why #MeToo matters.