Personal Office Library
I'm happy to lend a book (just some of these) if you're interested in reading more about these topics. What I have listed below are curated for students that I interact with at my job. They are also meant to showcase a little bit about the kinds of things I like to read about.
Some of these books I haven't read yet, or I haven't read fully.
I aim to keep updating this page when I have new books I want to share with others.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
The Diversity Bargain: And Other Dilemmas of Race, Admissions, and Meritocracy at Elite Universities - Warikoo, N.
Read this if you are interested in learning about critical race theory applied to higher education.
Ebony & Ivy - Wilder, C. S.
This book is about the intertwined history of race, slavery, and America's Universities.
DEI Deconstructed - Zheng, L.
Read this if you're curious about DEI and how to do it right.
Imagination: A Manifesto - Benjamin, R.
I haven't read this book yet, but I see it as Ruha Benjamin's take on what we can do moving forward to decolonize and dismantle systems of oppression in an imaginative and hopeful way. Her other book, Viral Justice, is also similar but shares more real stories of people doing the work and creating new visions for the future.
Tech and Racism
More Than a Glitch - Broussard, M.
This book outlines racism in tech and also touches on accessibility.
The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World - Fisher, M.
Read this if you have problems with social media! This book reports on real-life consequences of social media use and their effects on society.
Weapons of Math Destruction - O'Neil, C.
This is a favorite of the CS Department. Read about how data isn't always good. How we make sense of the numbers and use them can have huge effects, typically disadvantaging people of color.
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men - Perez, C. C.
I haven't read this one, but read this if you want to learn more about sexism. This is great for people who want to have a primer for making the tech industry less sexist.
Self-Help / Psychology
Set Boundaries and Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself - Tawwab, N. G.
This is the kind of book they suggest you read in therapy. I recognize the value of focusing on the self, but I also have issues with this book because the practice of therapy is too colonized for my tastes. But I still recommend it for people trying to understand themselves!
Science/Speculative Fiction
2001: A Space Odyssey - Clarke, A. C.
A classic sci-fi book that is prominent in pop culture.
Exhalation - Chiang, T.
This book is a collection of short stories. Their first collection, Stories of Your Life and Others is also great (the cover title story is what the movie Arrival is based on).
The Southern Reach Series - VanderMeer, J.
Considered environmental sci-fi. The first book is Annihilation, which was turned into a movie. Except the book and movie are nothing alike, and there's something more eerie about the book.
Last Updated 10/24/2024