Born on the Fourth of July, by Ron Kovic

In an effort to make sense of the world and my place in it, I’ve been trying to read more about people’s lives and the diversity of experiences that humans can have. I see many parallels between the current world and the ‘70s, including but not limited to: mass protests and Presidential impeachment drama, and I’ve become increasingly fascinated by the anti-Vietnam war movement. Kovic’s memoir isn’t a great work of art, but it’s an incredibly real and heartbreaking account of his very specific story. His descriptions of his life after the war—the time he spent in government hospitals and traveling the country as an anti-war activist—are just as, if not more harrowing than his passages about the war itself. The Vietnam War may be over, but Kovic’s story (and the on-going issue of how we treat our veterans) is just as relevant as ever.

The Truth Will Set You Free, But First it Will Piss You Off! Thoughts on Life, Love, and Rebellion, by Gloria Steinem

There is no doubt that Gloria Steinem is an absolute legend but this book just reinforces why. A compendium of her most famous quotes, interspersed with longer essays on feminism and other topics, this book is a short read but one worth revisiting over and over again whenever you’re in need of inspiration. I’m embarrassed to admit that this is my first time reading a book by Steinem, but it certainly won’t be my last.

Prime Time: Love, health, sex, fitness, friendship, spirit; Making the most of all of your life, by Jane Fonda

I’ve been voraciously working my way through anything I can get my hands on related to Mother Fonda, and this book was even better than I expected. Part memoir, part self-help and part instruction manual, Prime Time contains a lot of essential information for anyone who intends to get older (i.e., everyone, if we’re lucky). Fonda has been remarkably candid about her struggles through the years, but there’s no denying that she’s done a lot of things very right—and if you’re looking for a role model on how to age gracefully and thoughtfully, look no further than Queen Jane.

Giovanni’s Room, by James Baldwin

This was my second time reading a Baldwin book, and it should go without saying that he’s an absolute literary treasure. Giovanni’s Room is a queer classic, but anyone who has ever struggled to fit in or grappled with the existential questions presented but just being alive should be able to identify with Baldwin’s heartbreaking and heartwrenching words.

Rubyfruit Jungle, by Rita Mae Brown

Rubyfruit Jungle appears on almost every list of essential queer literature books, and it’s not hard to see why. The story of a woman’s (mostly) unapologetic attitude toward her attraction to other women was groundbreaking when it was published in 1973 and it felt no less revelatory when I read it nearly 50 years later. I wish I had discovered this book when I was a teen, but it was also immensely helpful to me this summer when I finally decided to embark on a similarly liberating journey.

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