Oh what a wonderful world...
March 15, 2012 9:03 AM   Subscribe

Asking for a friend: Any recommendations on books about social or environmental justice for a high school junior?

A friend of mine from university is looking for recommendations for accessible, intellectually engaging and HOPEFUL books about social/environmental justice for a super mature and highly socially conscious lovely wonderful grade 11 who has the weight of his privilege in the world weighing on his shoulders. (As a side note, any recommendations for college aged students as well?). Thanks!
posted by snowysoul to Grab Bag (9 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Jane Jacobs' The Death and Life of Great American Cities might fit. Also: Barbara Ehrenreich's Nicked and Dimed.
posted by troika at 9:07 AM on March 15, 2012


Check out www.greenbookreviews.ca
It's a comprehensive database of environmental/social justice related books. You can pick and choose according to the reviews that have been given.
posted by raintree at 9:21 AM on March 15, 2012


Jonathan Kozol might be good. I also highly recommend David Shipler's The Working Poor: Invisible in America.
posted by anotheraccount at 9:28 AM on March 15, 2012


Perhaps Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickle and Dimed ?
posted by carmicha at 9:45 AM on March 15, 2012


I read Polluted Promises last year for a class on environmental justice and I remember enjoying it. If I'm remembering right it was pretty accessible.
posted by ethansh at 11:35 AM on March 15, 2012


Assuming he's white, White Like Me by Tim Wise. Clearly written, very accessible, and hopeful without ignoring the fact that it's really freaking hard to unlearn racism.

Death and Life of Great American Cities is great, but it's a wee bit dry for a high schooler.
posted by ActionPopulated at 12:08 PM on March 15, 2012


Fast Food Nation (can't believe that book is ten years old!)
Dead Man Walking
posted by hepta at 12:48 PM on March 15, 2012


Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States is unmissable!
posted by kettleoffish at 4:44 PM on March 15, 2012


Beverly Tatum's books, especially Why Do All the Black Kids Sit Together in the Cafeteria?
posted by naturalog at 9:15 AM on March 16, 2012


« Older Credit card fraud - how to act?   |   How to dispose of an unwanted Hookah Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.