The Autobiography of Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley

I’ve lived in Harlem for years, but I didn’t know much about Malcolm X beyond vague highlights of his infamous life (and death). His autobiography is a fascinating account of an incredibly complicated and interesting man, who never stopped learning, changing, and trying to spread his message. His premonitions about his own violent death are still chilling even more than 50 years after they came true, and his theories on race, America, and humanity in general have changed my perspective forever.

On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal, by Naomi Klein

This is the book that inspired Jane Fonda to move to Washington, D.C. and start Fire Drill Fridays to educate people about the urgency of the climate crisis. I devoured this book in a few days and it was immediately obvious to me why Fonda was moved to action by Klein’s dire warnings. The more I read and learn about the climate crisis, the more terrified I become—but Klein also has hope that we can turn things around if we organize, mobilize, and demand that our leaders follow suit.

Shut it Down: Stories From a Fierce, Loving Resistance, by Lisa Fithian

Lisa Fithian was one of the 30+ other women who got arrested along with me (and Jane Fonda) for civil disobedience during a climate change rally on November 1. I had no idea at the time, but Fithian is an activist legend. She has participated in or helped organize some of the major social justice movements around the globe, including Occupy Wall Street and Standing Rock. My first-ever arrest sparked me to want to learn more about activism and if you’re a newbie like me this book is an essential read. Protests and marches may not always have immediate outcomes, but Fithian is great at providing perspective and her hopeful outlook—even after fighting the system for decades—is inspiring.

Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman, by Patricia Bosworth

I’ve read two books written by Fonda herself, but there are a few less-than flattering details in this biography (authorized by Fonda, who has known Bosworth since the ‘60s) that made it worth wading through some of the duplicate information. I’m deep into my Fonda “damage” so I didn’t even mind revisiting the facts of Fonda’s fascinating life—my only complaint is that the biography, which was published in 2011, ends rather abruptly. Fonda divorced Ted Turner in 2001 but Bosworth barely touches on their ten-year relationship, which I think is equally as interesting—and deserved as much coverage—as Fonda’s earlier relationships.

White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America, by Nancy Isenberg

I’ve just begun my quest to try my best to understand AMERICA (a tall order, I know), but White Trash was as good a place to start as any. There is a lot of fascinating history in this book but my main takeaway was that America was basically started as a repository for all of Britain’s “less desirable” people—not exactly surprising. Also, the idea that the U.S. is a “classless” society is not only wrong but downright dangerous and plays a large part in the manipulation of those with the least by those with the most.

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