10 Books From 2024 To Add To Your Reading List

The Home I Worked to Make

By Wendy Pearlman, professor of political science, Jane Long Professor of Arts and Sciences, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences 

War forced millions of Syrians from their homes, forcing them to rethink the meaning of home itself. In “The Home I Worked to Make,” Syrians now on five continents share stories of leaving, losing, searching and finding — or not finding — home. Pearlman challenges readers to grapple with the hard-won wisdom of those who survive war and to see anew what home means in their own lives.

The House of Being

By Natasha Trethewey, Board of Trustees Professor of English, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Natasha Trethewey revisits her Mississippi childhood in “The House of Being,” recalling the Confederate flags proudly flown; her gradual understanding of her identity as the child of a Black mother and a white father; and her grandmother’s collages that offered glimpses of an ideal world. Trethewey sees writing as reclamation, both of our own lives and the stories of the forgotten.

Inside the Invisible Cage: How Algorithms Control Workers

By Hatim Rahman, associate professor of management and organizations, PepsiCo Chair in International Management, Kellogg School of Management

As algorithms and AI increasingly run our world, Rahman examines how organizations use algorithms to control workers in an “invisible cage.” This book traces how the invisible cage developed, explores its implications for the spread of new technology and provides insights on how to ensure the future of work has truly equitable, mutually beneficial outcomes.

The Rent EATS First

By Eric Sirota, clinical associate professor, director of Tenant Advocacy Center, Pritzker School of Law

In this poetry collection, Sirota draws on his experience as a public interest lawyer representing low-income tenants as he uses biting satire and honest anger to critique the social and governmental systems that breed disparities. The collection also reminds readers that the political is emotional, as Sirota shares struggles with mental health, self-image and relationships in the face of social crisis.

Three Poems

By Reg Gibbons, professor emeritus of English and classics, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

The trio of poems in this book explore themes both personal and societal. “Mōdor: An Elegy” is a reminiscence and imagining of Gibbons’ mother’s life, while “Mother Tongue” satirizes the language of purveyors of falsehoods and fanaticism. Finally, “Elegy” weaves the story of a friend from Gibbons’ youth who died too young with passages from a book of poetry that brought the two together.

We Are the Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything

By Arionne Nettles, former lecturer and director of audio journalism programming, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications

Black Chicago culture is American culture, writes Nettles, whose book published while teaching at Medill. Chicago was the headquarters of the tastemaking Johnson Publishing Company and the birthplace of “Soul Train.” It’s where Oprah Winfrey premiered her record-breaking talk show and Michael Jordan led the Bulls to six championships. In this pop culture deep-dive, Nettles offers insight into the ways culture spreads and influences our lives.

Your Values-Based Legacy: Making a Difference at Every Age and Phase of Life 

By Harry M. Kraemer, clinical professor of management and organizations, Kellogg School of Management

The fourth installment in Kraemer’s series on values-based leadership invites readers on a journey of introspection and exploration to discover how they can help make the world a better place. Kraemer’s writing offers actionable guidance alongside inspiring first-hand accounts from dozens of individuals who are building legacies by tackling some of the planet’s biggest challenges, including hunger, climate change and more.