Economic & Societal Influences
Collection of economic & political nonfiction books that have influenced or helped shape my novels. Evergreen Post (Updated as New Favorites are Discovered)
Collection of economic, political, and societal commentary nonfiction books that have influenced or helped shape my novels. In no particular order.
Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language
by Amanda Montell
Why You Should Read: Words shape our world. The words we use have an origin, which can shift and morph as time passes. The words we use (the thoughts we have) create the experience of our reality. Why do we say “Hey guys!” to reference a group of people no matter the gender? Why is there no second person plural in the English language (and how is using “ya’ll” not bad grammar)? Your brain will break. Guaranteed.
Five Steps to Tyranny Documentary
Why You Should Watch: Because this stuff is scary and real. We need to be informed. We need to understand how easy it is to be indoctrinated. This documentary was integral in shaping my Dark Perception Series.
A Paradise Built in Hell
by Rebecca Solnit
Why You Should Read: There is a natural disaster in Seize the Power. The economic and political backlash that occurred afterward was inspired by this book and the events that took place during Hurricane Katrina. Read this if you want to get angry, but also want to leave feeling that there is hope.
The Shock Doctrine
by Naomi Klein
Why You Should Read: Wow! Are you ready for a rabbit hole? Also—you should probably read this BEFORE A Paradise in Hell because you will be upset by what you read. This completely changed the way I understand the world and first-world countries. This book, and the next three, were integral in shaping Descend into the Void and Seize the Power. I get bored reading typical fantasy books about kings and queens—I want to read fantasy and magic systems that reflect the way our world works today & right now. Read this if you want your mind blown.
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
by John Perkins
Why You Should Read: (Note: I only read the first edition) Do you believe in fate? I went to a used book sale. Saw this book. Was like, hey! i love economics! this sounds cool! Then, read the book and realized it is a first-hand account of the concepts discussed in The Shock Doctrine. This book will be the basis for my Dark Perception series spin-off.
What It Is Like To Go To War
by Karl Marlantes
Why You Should Read: Because I hate, I mean hate, war documentaries and history class—but I loved this book. It is so much more than your dad’s typical history and war book. There are psychological discussions about the impact of war on society and the individual. There are larger economic discussions about the ethics of war. This book should be required reading. (But it will never be because it undermines the government’s objectives.)
Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World
by Naomi Klein
Why You Should Read: I don’t know who I would recommend this to. It is a difficult, dense read, but the analysis is delicious. When I first started reading, I seriously didn’t know if I was reading fiction or nonfiction—which just adds to the irony of the story. People who love cultural commentary and analysis of characters will love this book. It tickled the part of me that likes to intellectualize everything. PS it is nonfiction.
Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism
by Yanis Varoufakis
Why You Should Read: *crying emoji* You should read this because it will make everything that is happening in our society right now make sense. Late-stage capitalism has passed—we are living in a technofeudalist world. Basically, before capitalism (industrialization) people worked farms they didn’t own in order to be allowed to live in a house they didn’t own. Everything was owned by the “lords” (i.e. landlords). Capitalism actually created things—products—but nowadays, it only pays if you own something that makes money without creating a product (Apple/Android app store, iTunes Store, Spotify, Facebook/Instagram). These companies don’t create a product. They have a marketplace and get free labor by convincing you to make the product. Read the book—because there is so much more to it.
Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World
by Jason Hickel
Why You Should Read: Beautiful outline of the Degrowth movement. Bigger and more isn’t always better.
The Uncommon Knowledge of Elinor Ostrom
by Erik Nordman
Why You Should Read: Elinor Ostrom was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in economics. People working together and rising up has been the only way change can happen. The fact it took a woman to say, “You know what? The tragedy of the commons isn’t a tragedy at all,” just says so much about why it’s necessary to have diverse voices and brains in all areas of life.
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women
by Kate Moore
Why You Should Read: Because no one ever listens to women. Because we need to listen to people who society typically tries to shut up.
The Woman They Could Not Silence
by Kate Moore
Why You Should Read: Without this book, I would not have written Ascend from the Shadows. Every day that I want to quit, I remember the strength this woman showed in impossible circumstances. If I was going to start a religion—Elizabeth Packard would be our messiah.
“We must not be paralyzed by fear to offend, nor desire to please, nor dependence on the judgement of others.” - Elizabeth Packard
Why We’re Polarized
by Ezra Klein
Why You Should Read: We can’t blame and shame people and hope to change their minds. We need to understand how we got this way.