Three Activist Books To Kickstart 2021

Education is a powerful tool for activism. When we educate ourselves on matters like the climate crisis, racial injustice, ableism, or other oppressive systems in society, we can make informed decisions on how to act and make the world a better place. You can educate yourself in many ways, from watching documentaries to going to (virtual) talks or even following activists on social media.

One of the ways I like to educate myself is by reading material which are either written by activists, touch on activist subjects, or generally make me think about society. In this article I wanted to share three of my favourite activist books which I think are an excellent way to start off 2021!

‘SOS – What you can do to reduce climate change, Simple actions that make a difference,’ by Seth Wynes

I’ve mentioned this book a few times before because it really is a fantastic read for anyone who wants to get involved in environmental activism. In this book Seth Wynes looks at the best possible things you can do to prevent climate change, along with why they’re the best, and how to do them.

Some books on climate change can be really daunting or contain a lot of scientific terminology, which although important, can be confusing. This book is written in a brilliantly concise and accessible way with a clear and moving introduction, and chapters covering each type of action you can take — from transportation to collective action. It ends with a chapter on how it all adds up and a tick-list where you can decide which eco-friendly steps you will be making this year.

I can’t recommend it enough, and at the moment you can buy a used copy for just a couple of pounds on Abe Books, so go for it!

‘Girl, Woman, Other,’ by Bernadine Evaristo

This book won the Booker Prize 2019 and was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020. It’s the only piece of fiction in this blog post, and it is a really compelling read. The novel explores the lives of twelve characters, mostly black British women, whose experiences are often intertwined. The book starts with Amma, a socialist lesbian playwright, and ends with her incredible performance at a London theatre, which a lot of the other characters attend. Themes include intersectional feminism, race, immigration, family relationships, LGBT+ rights and more. I love the way the book is written and how some of the stories are intergenerational — exploring different perceptions of shared experiences, from daughter to mother to grandmother.

Trigger Warning: it does discuss difficult topics like rape, abuse and manipulation. I usually struggle with these topics, but it was handled very well within the novel. Honestly, I found it hard to put this book down. It was an insight into lives very different from my own and an education on how black women, non binary-people, and immigrants are treated in the UK. Even though it is fiction, it’s written by literary activist, Bernadine Evaristo, who has talked about how her own experiences shaped the stories told within this novel.

It’s an incredibly important read and I hope you’ll add it to your TBR list this year. You can currently find it for £7.89 from Hive, who support independent bookshops.

‘Vegan Life – Cruelty-free Food, Fashion, Beauty and Home’ by Jo Peters

This book was a gift from my girlfriend this Christmas and I honestly love it! I’ve been a vegetarian for about five years now and I’m looking to transition into veganism, so I was overjoyed to find this under the Christmas tree. The book doesn’t try to push you into anything, but instead holds your hand while exploring a vegan way of life. Like SOS, it’s written in a very accessible way, with clear facts sprinkled throughout the book, along with lovely illustrations and photos which make it an easy read. I honestly love the aesthetic of this book.

It covers many topics in veganism from animal welfare to the best non-dairy milks, and it even goes beyond the topic of food to talk more widely about living an eco-friendly vegan lifestyle, with top tips on fashion, home, makeup and more.

I hope this book brings you a little joy like it’s brought me, and that maybe you’ll find it helpful too! You can currently buy it for about £5 on Abe Books.

So those are my book recommendations to start off your activism journey of 2021! I really want to expand on my own activist reading pool this year — so if you have any recommendations please comment down below!

P.S. All of these books are either available second-hand for good prices on Abe Books or from ethical sites like Hive. Check out the links below their descriptions. This post is not sponsored by Abe books or Hive.

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