In Praise Of: Essays

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'I've been wondering who might fill the intellectual void after James Baldwin died. Clearly it is Ta-Nehisi Coates' Toni Morrison'Searing. One of the foremost essayists on race in the West... [He] is responsible for some of the most important writing about what it is to be black in America today' Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good ImmigrantAn essential account of modern America, from Obama to Trump, from black lives matter to white supremacists rising - by the bestselling author of Between the World and MeObama's presidency was a watershed moment in American history. From 2008-2016, the leader of the free world was a black man. In those eight years, Obama transformed the conversation around race, gender, class and wealth - inspiring hope but also attracting criticism and breeding discontent.In this unflinching book, Ta-Nehisi Coates takes stock of Obama's eight years in power, through such iconic, unmissable essays as 'Fear of a Black President' and 'The Case for Reparations'. His account traverses the intersections of the political, the ideological and the cultural, presenting an America in radical flux and yet still in the grip of racial injustice, class warfare and institutional conspiracy. And it reflects on the author's own journey through these eight years, charting the public through the private in passages of startling intimate and piercingly relevant memoir.Ta-Nehisi Coates is one of our most brilliant, most fearless and most essential living writers - and his work is crucial to understanding race in America today.Finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize 2018Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence 2018RAVE READER REVIEWS:'Brilliantly written, incisive, and extremely relevant. Read it with your families, use it in your classrooms, give copies to your friends' (Liz)'Coates thinks more deeply and writes more clearly about the national tragedy and disgrace that is our collective failure to confront the legacy of White Supremacy than just about anyone... I can't recommend it highly enough' (Worddancer Redux)'Every white person who wants to really know how it looks from 'the other side' should take on the responsibility of reading Coates' eye-opening, informative book... A must read for everyone of every colour' (Indy JV)'A masterful understanding of how the USA really works' (shedgirl)'If you want to know the wellsprings of racism in America - then read this book!' (David C. R. Hancock)

A Burst of Light is a powerful collection of essays by Audre Lorde that resonates with contemporary social justice warriors. Lorde's writing tackles the intersections of race, cancer, intersectionality, parenthood, and injustice, calling for a radical politics of intersectionality. Her message of caring for oneself as an act of political warfare is particularly inspiring, and her thoughts on Black women and LGBTQ+ communities organizing, as well as her insights on erotic pleasure, continue to be relevant today. This book is recommended for readers looking to expand their understanding of anti-oppression and resistance through the lens of intersectionality.

"Fight of the Century" is a compelling anthology that brings together some of the greatest living writers and their personal takes on a century's worth of landmark civil liberties cases. Written by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman in partnership with the ACLU, this book is perfect for history buffs and those passionate about civil rights and social justice issues. The essays are crafted in a way that educates and entertains, making them accessible to a broad readership. The focus on each of the famous and not so famous cases is unique and offers readers an opportunity to understand how each has influenced modern society.

As someone interested in Singapore politics and contemporary issues, "Singapore: The Air-Conditioned Nation" is a must-read. Cherian George's collection of stimulating essays provides an insightful analysis of the political success of the ruling People's Action Party and sheds light on the tensions and contradictions inherent in Singapore's system. The book enables readers to gain a more nuanced understanding of the factors shaping Singapore's politics and society.