“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.”

-Lemony Snicket, Horseradish

I grew up as a bookworm and remember taking trips to the library to pick out new books every week. I can easily compare my childhood experience with books to Matilda's from Roald Dahl's Matilda. I don't read as much for personal enjoyment as I would like to as of lately due to digital and every day life distractions. I am currently reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed.

My favorite books of the last year are Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self  by Rebecca Walker, Covering America: A History of a Nation's Journalism by Christopher B. Daily, and Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg.

Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self  by Rebecca Walker was assigned to me in my introductory women's studies class. Rebecca Walker is the daughter of Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple and activist. The autobiography reflects Rebecca's childhood and experiences as the daughter of a famous activist for women and people of color. 

I particularly enjoyed this book because I was able to relate to the idea of shifting in between locations and never quite having a whole self. Rebecca's parents were divorced, and she depicts her experiences of moving in between her parent's households across the country for two years at a time. It is one of my most highlighted books because many of the quotes in the book highlight significant parts of my life. 

Check out Black, White, and Jewish: A Shifting Self here

I read Covering America: A History of a Nation's Journalism by Christopher B. Daly last year for my "The Past, Present, and Future of American Journalism" class. It was our class textbook, and the only textbook I've ever read from cover to end. It covers the history of the nation through a journalist's perspective in a new and innovative way.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about American history because it differs from your typical AP US History class, and provides new insight into the past of our country. This is a must for aspiring and current journalists!

Check out Covering America; A History of a Nation's Journalism here

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg was on the New York Times bestseller list when it released, and turned out to be a very controversial book about the role women have in the workforce. As a feminist and activist for women's rights, I enjoyed the book because of its ability to inspire women to ask for raises, speak their voices, and further the role of equality in big businesses.

 It became controversial because the author, Chief Operating Officer at Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, is a white, wealthy woman with the privilege to speak up about these issues because of her status in society. Many argued that they could not relate to the book because it was written in a way that only related to upper class white women already established in their careers.

Check out Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead here