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Editors’ Picks: Social Science
Thoughts on culture that sparked conversations nationally & among our editors.
Published on February 10, 2021
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah HarariDr. Harari’s seminal work merges science with history to give a thorough saga of the human species. Beginning with the appearance of modern cognition, Harari traces the evolution of humanity to challenge commonly held beliefs about our biology, our history, and ourselves.
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy
Jenny OdellTake action by doing nothing. This field guide from artist and critic Jenny Odell shows readers how to resist the pressure to be constantly productive 24/7. Learn how to take back your attention from all the daily distractions in order to reconnect with what really matters.
Bad Feminist: Essays
Roxane GayEverything from professional Scrabble to abortion to Lena Dunham comes under loving scrutiny in Gay’s profound essays. Told in simplistic yet soul-crushing prose, these musings show how media affects us.
The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America
George PackerPacker’s award-winning work on the economic anxieties of Americans has reached cult-like status since Donald Trump’s unexpected election. Those hoping to understand an electorate hungry for change will find much to consider in this excellent work of political journalism.
Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen
Jose Antonio VargasBattles over border walls and illegal immigration have sparked intense debate and led to severe actions this year as many migrants from Central America have tried to enter the US. “Dear America” describes the often misunderstood complexities of undocumented immigration and Jose Antonio Vargas’ personal experience as one of the most prominent undocumented immigrants. In its best moments, the book is a poignant story of finding a place to belong, and how you can define your own sense of self without a home to anchor to.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Michelle AlexanderAlexander makes her case that the War on Drugs created a new racial caste system in a highly readable & compelling way. This provocative work has shifted how we think about civil rights & prison reform.
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
Elizabeth KolbertThis incredibly accessible and informative look at the current mass extinction of species caused by human innovation takes on even more urgency in light of recent alarming climate research. Kolbert leaps through thousands of years of history and travels the world in this Pulitzer Prize winner.
Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic
Sam QuinonesOpioids have led to increased attention on drug addiction. This moving, journalistic account provides searing context to recent reports that opiate abuse rates are on the rise, while life expectancy for Americans is falling. Reporter Sam Quinones chronicles the shocking extent of how prescription pain medication addiction and an influx of cheap, potent heroin is threatening America’s heartland.