Reading lists

Books for people who want to change the world

Recommended reading for anyone in your life who want to understand more about the challenges facing society today and really make a difference, from Greta Thunberg to Ibram X. Kendi.

Image: Penguin
Image: Penguin

These days, there are a lot of reasons to want to make a difference: climate catastrophe, a new Civil Rights movement, mental health crises and continuing discussions over LGBTQ rights and representation.

The good news is that there are lots of brilliant books about how we can get involved and make our voices heard, too. Here are some of the best for those who want to educate themselves, then help change the world. 

Trans Britain: Our Journey from the Shadows edited by Christine Burns (2018)

Trans rights continues to be a big topic in politics and popular discourse. This essential 2018 collection of writing gives much needed context and history to the struggle, exploring how activists spent decades on the margins fighting for rights and recognitions that today make mainstream news. It's a perfect guide for those with unanswered questions about the trans community, and has been recommended as vital reading by bestselling YA author Juno Dawson and prominent journalist, presenter and transgender rights activist Paris Lees. 

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