BOTW 4/22

By Paige Waskow

The Water Will Come:

Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World

by Jeff Goodall

What is it about?

As climate change and sea level rise become more and more relevant to our lives, what happens to the cities and people on the coast lines? Jeff Goodall dives in the history of water, our present struggle with fighting flooding, and what to expect as we welcome our underwater future.

He gives many examples of cities that have watery histories and presents such as Venice, Miami, and New York City. From reporting on good solutions or band-aid over bullet hole type plans that cities have, much like the title, Goodall explains what is happening with rising sea-levels and how we will have to face them no matter what.

                                                

       via GIPHY

Why did I choose it?

I read this book during July 2018 while camping in Colorado. Although the book was mainly about water systems, it also talked about other climate change affects taking place in our world right now. As I sat and read under the pine trees being killed by thriving beetles, Goodman described the phenomenon and how it connected to climate change. I literally was able to look up and see the dying trees. I was able to see the effects of climate change in action, and it was mind blowing.

Goodall does a great job of making climate change real and relevant. Often, we see climate problems as something far away or as a future problem. Although it will be a future problem, it is also a now problem. In his reporting, he describes many cities and how we are already struggling to manage changing water systems. I found the writing to be a fantastic mix of scientific data, dialogue, and storytelling. This book is so interesting and gave real insight to what we are facing as a world. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to learn more about climate change or simply wants a good book to read.

Where can you get it?

This book is available at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. You can get a library card for free anytime the library is open. The closest location is downtown on 4th street. You can visit their website here!

Happy Reading!

BOTW 4/15

By Paige Waskow

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

By Peggy McIntosh

The book of the week is not exactly a book. Instead, I thought I would post this resource about white privilege.

What is it about?

This resource, which comes from a larger publication by McIntosh, helps identify what white privilege looks like in everyday society. This list of statements allow the reader to look at their own lives and see how they are able to interact with the world in comparison to others. White privilege does not always mean active violence, it is ingrained in every part of society.

Here are the first seven (out of 50) examples from McIntosh's list of what white privilege looks like:

"1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.

2. I can avoid spending time with people whom I was trained to mistrust and who have learned to mistrust my kind or me.

3. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live.

4. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.

5. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.

6. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.

7. When I am told about our national heritage or about "civilization," I am shown that people of my color made it what it is" (McIntosh 1988, 2).

                                   

via GIPHY

Why did I choose it?

I think this resource is a great way to target what privilege looks like for white people. What I mean is that as a white person, I am able to ignore or more seamlessly move through society in a way that people of color cannot. I get to choose whether or not I want to think about how society is privileged to white people. I do not have to experience it.

All of the statements that McIntosh mentions are crucial to understanding what white privilege looks like, and they should make you uncomfortable- especially if you are not a person of color. I think this source challenges my normal and helps me remember to be aware of what I can do without feeling awkward, fearful, isolated, or ignored because of the color of my skin. It is so so so important that those who have privilege in society challenge themselves to see bias and then change how they act or don't act. One thing that I have learned is that listening and learning go a long way. Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack is a way to actively listen and challenge the status quo.

Where can you view it?

Right here! This is a PDF document of the list (but not the whole publication).

Is there anything else you should know?

If you would like to view another post I wrote about white privilege, you can click here. I added some resources that I have found useful to that post. Additionally, if you have any resources, comments, or questions, please leave them below. Happy reading!

References

McIntosh, Peggy. 1988. "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." (part of "White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming To See Correspondences through Work in Women's Studies") https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf. April 17, 2019.

BOTW: April 10th

By: Paige Waskow

The Sun Does Shine:

How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row

By Anthony Ray Hinton

What's it about?

What is it like to be on death row? What is it like to be innocent on death row? What is it like to be a black man, innocent of a crime but convicted for it, and on death row?

Anthony Ray Hinton tells his true story of growing up as a black man in Alabama, being accused of murder, and being sentenced to death. Not only is he completely innocent, but he spends thirty years of his life on death row before getting out. His story recounts the trial, the injustice and inequality of the system, and how he grows in spite of his circumstances. Hinton fully describes the hardship of being on death row and losing so much of his life to it. He speaks of his troubles with belief in God, fear of never seeing his mother again, frequently hearing and smelling men being killed near his cell, and struggling with how to get out. He also describes his incredibly journey in being able to make friends and share his knowledge with fellow men near his cell. He even starts a book club. Although he is in the worst of situations, he is able to serve the people who are on death row through kindness and compassion.

Why did I choose it?

This book affected me so deeply and profoundly. As mentioned above, it is not simply a story of injustice, but also one of strength and growth. Hinton has to face what I can only imagine as one of the most entirely life shattering and deeply horrifying experiences a person can live through. And yet, even after losing it all, he is still able to help other people. It is hard to describe the book without giving too much away, but I promise it is worth the read. I love books that challenge the status quo, and Hinton absolutely does this. But, he does it through love and compassion, which are seemingly impossible from being in the circumstances that he was put through. I highly recommend this book as it will challenge you, probably make you cry (or at least feel some serious emotions), and shares a powerful example about how love wins over racism, privilege, pain, sorrow, and inequality.

Where can you get it?

The Sun Does Shine is available at the Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL). You can get a CRPL card anytime for free.

Is there anything else you should know?

A part of the book recounts Hinton's journey to get off death row with help from lawyer Bryan Stevenson. I have written a few posts before mentioning Stevenson, specifically the BOTW post on Just Mercy which he wrote. If you are interested, you can view that post here. Additionally, I highly recommend checking out Stevenson's firm the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). You can view their website here.

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References

Equal Justice Initiative. EJI. 2019. https://eji.org/

Hinton, Anthony Ray. Hardin, Lara Love. The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row. St. Martin's Press, 2018.

BOTW: March 27

By Paige Waskow

Nature Anatomy

By Julia Rothman

What's it about?:

Basically a fun and beautiful field guide, Nature Anatomy takes you through the natural world in vivid watercolor drawings and descriptions. You can learn about the origins of the universe, classifications of trees, and the difference between a carpenter and bumble bee. The book gives you the environment in detailed and unique pages, fun crafts to try, and much more. You won't come away bored (even if you're not a nature nerd like me!)

 via GIPHY


Why did I choose it?:

I love nature! And I love books that explore the outdoors. This book is an easy read and always fun to come back to. If you are looking to read the whole thing, or open its pages randomly, this book offers a field guide experience: learn as much as you'd like, but there's not a plot to follow.

As mentioned above, this book has a beautiful art style of watercolor with bold but not limiting sketched outlines. Whether or not you even read the descriptions, the art is enough to boldly stand out and make the book a wonderful experience.

Where can you get it?:

Nature Anatomy is available at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. You can get a library card for free anytime they are open. Check out their website and request books here!

Is there anything else you should know?:

Julia Rothman has also written books about food (Food Anatomy) and farms (Farm Anatomy) which are in the same colorful, field guide style as Nature Anatomy. I highly recommend! If you are interested in learning more about the author and her works, check out here website here!

via GIPHY

References:

Rothman, Julia. Books - Nature Anatomy, https://www.juliarothman.com/books-2#/nature-anatomy/.

Rothman, Julia. Nature Anatomy. Storey Publishing, 2015.

BOTW March 11

By Paige Waskow

The Book of the Week is:

Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution

by Janette Sadik-Khan and Seth Solomonow

"If you can change the street, you can change the world."

                                 

via GIPHY

What's it about?

How do you manage making sure millions of people from one place to another on a daily basis let alone try to change how they get around? Whether we think about it or not, streets are incredibly important. As former transportation commissioner of New York City, Janette Sadik-Khan did just that. This book is her journey, achievements, and failures.

Sadik-Khan introduces the reader to streets in the eyes of an urban planner. Questions such as: how do you maintain what exists so that people can drive or walk while also making the street safer for everyone? and how do neighborhoods vary in transportation opportunity? are frequent topics of consideration. She covers how to read the street and how to make it better for people, communities, and local business rather than strictly cars. Her work challenges the status quo and makes bikes, pedestrians, and those who take public transport just as important as those who drive. It also addresses how to change a busy place, such as Times Square, and make it into a place where people can stop and just be.

Why did I choose it?

Streetfight is an excellent introduction to the work of an urban planner. I knew nothing about how transportation planning really worked until I read this book. I went in with an expectation of it being good, but was surprised by how fascinated I was within the first few chapters- I couldn't put it down.

I am a huge biking and walking advocate, and it was really amazing to see how a more sustainable and safe city could be made. By challenging the status quo, Sadik-Khan brings real hope and action to how we view the street. It inspired me to challenge my own views of cars, not that the book says that they are bad, but how we can make the street a more equitable and community-based place.

Growing up in St. Louis, I have seen a lot of the impacts of how transportation opportunity affects so much of what a person can do. Not having a car here in Cedar Rapids has taught me the value and privilege of being to drive and the need for universal bike lanes and reliable public transportation. This book was an answer to a lot of the burning questions I had about how to solve these problems. Of course, I still have a lot to learn, but I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to change the city they live in.

Where can you get Streetfight?

Sadly, this book is not available at Coe's library or the Cedar Rapids Public Library. If you are really interested in reading it, it is available for purchase on Amazon or other online book-selling services.

If you have a book you love and want to see as a BOTW, leave a comment below!

Happy reading!

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References:

Sadik-Khan, Janette, Solomonow, Seth. Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution. Penguin Random House LLC, 2017.

BOTW February 20

By Paige Waskow

The Book of the Week is:

Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton

What's it about?

How do the people of the world live? How does experience shape our beliefs, struggles, and response?

Humans of New York: Stories is a nonfiction compilation of photography and captions of everyday people sharing something about their lives. Most are answering questions posed by author Brandon Stanton, a photographer who blogs and posts online about the experiences of those he meets on the streets of New York. The book itself derives its stories from those online publications. Each page typically has one or two photographs and are put together often in ways that reflect themes or beliefs.

Why did I choose it?

This may be, and as a huge bookworm I say this quite cautiously, my favorite nonfiction book. My love of stories has always been present and driven me to learn more about the world I am in. I heard about the social media page Humans of New York on Instagram and followed them. I loved the stories shared, and eventually, the author of the site announced the release of the Humans of New York: Stories book. I got it for Christmas and, like most books I ended up loving, I read it in a day.

My very loved copy of HONY: Stories.

The book is so unique and powerful in its ability to tell the stories of everyday people. It pulses with emotion and is so full of diversity.  From children collecting rocks and talking about building bridges to memories of people who have survived war or gang violence to conversations between lovers to those attending religious events, this book leaves nothing out. I think what is most amazing is that the book itself is not crafted by one person. Sure, there is one official author, but it is a book by people, capturing one sliver of a moment in their lives. Side by side on the pages, people have different beliefs and life experiences.

Together, these photographs and captions form what I believe to be both a beautiful and often heart-breaking look at what it means to be human- what it means to be alive. Like, if I had to send an alien planet one piece of media that describes humanity, it would be this book. I have read HONY a few times now, and it doesn't fail to get old. If you are looking for beautiful photography, people, and stories, please read this book.

Where can you get HONY: Stories?

This book is available for checkout at Coe's library and the Cedar Rapids Public Library. If you don't have a CRPL library card, you can get one for free any time.

Is there anything else you should know?

As mentioned above, Humans of New York started as a photography blog and continues to publish stories online. You can view their work on social media or at their website here. From this site, you can view all of their past stories and series. I highly recommend checking it out.

Additionally, Brandon Stanton also wrote a book published in 2013 (earlier than HONY: Stories) called Humans of New York. I haven't read it, but it has the same premise as Stories. The only difference is that Stories has longer captions alongside the photographs.

                                            

via GIPHY

If you have a book you love and want to see as a BOTW, leave a comment below. 

Happy reading!

References:

Stanton, Brandon. Humans of New York. www.humansofnewyork.com/.

Stanton, Brandon. Humans of New York: Stories. St. Martins Press, 2015.

BOTW January 21

By Paige Waskow

The book of the week is:

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

What's it about?

Just Mercy is a nonfiction recollection of the work of Bryan Stevenson, a defense lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama. The central plot of the story follows Walter McMillan, a black man convicted of killing a white woman. His trial only lasts a day and a half, the jury is made up of eleven white people and one black person, and the judge overrules their conviction of guilty to sentence him to death row. As Stevenson quickly notes in his story, McMillan is completely innocent, and there was significant evidence to prove so. His fight to prove McMillan innocent identifies the injustice and racism in the justice system.

Alongside this story, Just Mercy follows the cases of other individuals Stevenson defended. Some are guilty of a crime, some are innocent, but the central point of the book argues that the choices and procedures of the judicial system are not equal. Stevenson's journey and heartbreaking experiences raise important questions such as: what is mercy and why is it important?, who gets to decide who lives and who dies?, and why do we use methods such as solitary confinement and trial as adults for children?

Why did I choose it?

I choose this book because of its raw honesty and identification of injustice. The stories of the book helped me better understand both the broken judicial system as well as how those who do not have power in society are treated. I especially got a better sense of the racism of the system and how it does not give equal protection under the law. Of course, I went in and came away biased, I am against the death penalty, but regardless of any individual's belief, Just Mercy is an important book that gives light to issues that are easily covered up.

Beyond the message of the book, Stevenson's writing reads like a novel. The book's action and stories are careful laid out in extensive detail. Both the facts and emotions are powerful, and you will not get bored reading it.

Learning more:

If you are interested in learning more about Stevenson's law firm, The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), you can click here to go to their website.

Additionally, the author spoke at a TED conference about his work and personal beliefs. His talk is called "We need to talk about injustice". If you are interested, click here to go to the video.

Is there anything else you should know?

Just Mercy does have accounts of murder, sexual assault, and other violence due to the nature of crimes and stories discussed through out Stevenson's career.

Where can you get Just Mercy?

Just Mercy is available at Coe's library as well as at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. If you don't have a CRPL library card, you can get one for free.

If you have a book you love and want to see as a BOTW, leave a comment below. 

Happy reading!

References:

Equal Justice Initiative. “The Book.” Equal Justice Initiative, 2017, eji.org/just-mercy/book.

Conover, Ted. “‘Just Mercy,’ by Bryan Stevenson.” The New York Times, 17 Oct. 2014, www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/books/review/just-mercy-by-bryan-stevenson.html?smid=pl-share.