It’s Spring! With a change in the season, now is a great time for new ideas, perspectives, and approaches. Check out these five books chosen by Librarian Allyson Mower on the theme of common humanity, intervening, free-thinking, and speaking up for others and yourself.

The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas

This book offers excellent storytelling and ethnographic research on how people build communities, start movements, and work with others. It offers compelling perspectives on determining how and when to call people in.

Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

When it comes to being educators and academics, it can feel like you always need to say ‘yes’, but this book offers a research-based perspective on reasons to not always say ‘yes’ as a form of self-compassion and a central element of our common humanity. According to Dr. Neff’s research, those with a strong sense of common humanity along with an understanding of self-compassion have lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher emotional intelligence and greater overall life satisfaction.

The Crime of Complicity by Amos Guiora

Come hear Dr. Guiora and Dr. Goldberg speak on this topic on April 19.

The Sum of Us by Heather McGee

Speak Freely by Kevin Whittington

Whittington discusses the importance of members of a campus community making choices as a form of intellectual commitment in order to sustain an environment for free inquiry and learning. To create the right kind of learning and scholarly environment is no easy task. I plan on pursuing further Whittington’s list of reads that deal with the “tension” (Whittington’s term) between inclusiveness and free speech.