If you enjoy reading books by Isabel Wilkerson then you might also like the following authors:
Ta-Nehisi Coates is an author who is known for exploring deep truths about race and identity in the United States. In his book “Between the World and Me,” he writes a personal letter to his son that reflects on what it means to grow up Black in America.
He shares stories from his own life, drawing a vivid picture of the struggles and fears that have shaped his understanding of the world. The book touches on history, family, and the search for safety in a society filled with injustice.
Readers who enjoy how Isabel Wilkerson examines race and history may appreciate Coates’ honest and heartfelt storytelling.
Michelle Alexander is the author of “The New Jim Crow,” a book that takes a close look at the U.S. criminal justice system and its impact on Black communities.
In it, she shows how mass incarceration has become a system of racial control, connecting it to the legacy of slavery and segregation.
She explains how policies around the War on Drugs led to large-scale imprisonment, stripping people of their rights and opportunities even after serving their time.
It’s not just about statistics; Alexander includes real-life stories that show how this system affects families and individuals.
Bryan Stevenson is an attorney and social justice advocate who writes about the American justice system. His book, “Just Mercy,” tells the story of his work defending people who have been wrongfully convicted, facing unfair sentences, or overlooked by society.
One of the stories follows Walter McMillian, a man sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit despite overwhelming evidence proving his innocence. Stevenson’s writing shows the personal impact of systemic inequality, bringing humanity to those most affected by it.
Jill Lepore is a historian and writer who explores American history in a way that connects individual stories to larger events. Her book “These Truths” traces the history of the United States from its founding to modern times.
It looks at how democracy, freedom, and justice have been debated and shaped over the years. Lepore brings up moments like Benjamin Franklin’s experiments with electricity and the rise of the internet to show how ideas and technology have shaped the country.
Readers who enjoy learning about history through personal stories and big-picture context may find her work fascinating.
Ibram X. Kendi is a historian and author who explores the history and impact of racism in America. His book, “Stamped from the Beginning,” uncovers how racist ideas have shaped the country’s policies and culture over the centuries.
The book takes readers through stories of key figures like Thomas Jefferson and Angela Davis, showing how these ideas were built, spread, and challenged. It’s a deep look into how racism has been embedded in society, with real stories that make history feel alive.
Heather McGhee is an author whose work focuses on big societal questions about fairness and economic inequality.
Her book, “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together,” explores how racism not only harms specific groups but impacts society as a whole.
One powerful story looks at the way public pools across America were drained during the Civil Rights era just to avoid integration, leaving everyone—white and Black—without this shared resource.
McGhee weaves these examples into a broader look at how people often work against their own interests when divisive systems are in place. The book is filled with insights that show the links between race, policy, and prosperity.
Nikole Hannah-Jones is a journalist and author who focuses on the history of race and its impact on American society. Her book, “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story,” expands on the New York Times Magazine series she led.
It reframes American history by placing the legacy of slavery and Black Americans’ contributions at the center. The book blends essays, stories, and poetry to explore how institutions like law, education, and healthcare have been shaped by this history.
One essay examines how capitalism in the U.S. was structured around slavery, showing the human cost behind economic systems we often take for granted.
Claudia Rankine is a writer who uses poetry and prose to confront issues of race, identity, and social justice in America.
One of her books, “Citizen: An American Lyric,” examines the everyday experience of racism through a mix of personal anecdotes, cultural commentary, and historical references.
She highlights moments that may seem small but carry deep weight, such as a friend’s casual comment or a stranger’s glance.
The book also includes stories about public figures like Serena Williams, weaving personal and public narratives together to showcase the layers of systemic inequality in modern life.
Rankine’s writing makes you see the world through a different lens, and her work stays with you long after you close the book.
bell hooks was a writer and thinker who explored race, feminism, and culture with clarity and honesty. One of her well-known books, “All About Love,” takes a deep look at how we understand love in our personal lives and society.
She shares stories and examples that highlight how love can transform the way we connect with ourselves and others. Her writing challenges ideas about power and care in relationships, making it both thoughtful and relatable.
Eduardo Galeano was a writer from Uruguay who told stories about history, people, and power in a way that feels personal. In his book “The Open Veins of Latin America,” he looks at centuries of exploitation in Latin America, from the time of colonization to modern struggles.
He writes about how natural resources, like gold and silver, shaped the lives of people there, often at great human cost. The book mixes historical events with stories of individuals who lived through them, offering a way to see how past events still shape the present.
It’s written with heart and care, making complex histories feel immediate and real.
Roxane Gay is an author who writes with honesty and insight about society, identity, and relationships. Her book, “Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body,” is a powerful reflection on her relationship with food and her body.
She shares her personal experiences, shedding light on topics like trauma and how it shapes a person’s life. The book reads like a conversation, where Gay isn’t afraid to share her vulnerabilities, making it deeply personal and thought-provoking.
Zadie Smith is a British author known for capturing the complexities of identity, culture, and relationships. Her novel “White Teeth” explores the lives of two families in London over several decades.
The book focuses on themes like immigration, generational clashes, and how personal histories shape lives.
There’s a mix of humor and heartfelt moments as it follows characters like Archie, who marries a Jamaican woman on a whim, and Samad, a Bangladeshi man torn between tradition and modern life.
The story dips into their children’s struggles with fitting in, showing how race and heritage affect their choices. It’s rich in detail and vivid scenes, making the characters unforgettable.
Arundhati Roy is an author known for weaving rich storytelling with themes of social and political importance. Her debut novel, “The God of Small Things,” tells the story of a fractured family in a small Indian town.
The book moves between past and present, following the lives of twins Estha and Rahel as they grapple with love, loss, and the rules of society. It paints vivid pictures of landscapes and relationships, offering glimpses into moments that are both beautiful and haunting.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer known for her stories that explore identity, history, and the human experience. Her novel “Half of a Yellow Sun” is set during the Nigerian Civil War.
The story follows the lives of three characters: a university professor, his young houseboy, and a woman who comes from a well-off family but chooses to live on her own terms. Their lives intertwine as they navigate the chaos and uncertainty brought by the war.
The book weaves personal struggles with the impact of larger historical events, giving readers an intimate look at a time of deep division and resilience.
Jesmyn Ward is a talented storyteller whose works often explore themes of family, struggle, and resilience in the American South. Her novel “Salvage the Bones” follows a poor Mississippi family in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.
The story focuses on Esch, a teenage girl navigating pregnancy while her family prepares for the looming storm. The tension builds with each chapter as the hurricane approaches, creating a sense of urgency and intimacy.
Ward paints vivid scenes of life in a rural, impoverished community, bringing the characters’ hardships and hopes to life.