Chelsea Greenwood
NO matter where you fall on the political spectrum, it pays to be well informed. From criminal justice and civil rights to environmental policy and freedom of speech, these books of fiction and nonfiction span a wide range of genres and topics. One thing they all have in common is that they speak to core liberal beliefs, and provide knowledge and perspective for budding young progressives everywhere.
1984 by George Orwell
In the book, a tyrant named Big Brother reigns supreme, rewriting history, spewing propaganda, and oppressing the populace via the Thought Police.
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
The author explores how the US criminal justice system, which has targeted black men, is one of the biggest perpetrators of systemic racism.
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Focusing on the meat-packing industry in Chicago, The Jungle, explores the plight and exploitation of immigrant workers in the early 20th century.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Bradbury presents a dystopian future in which firemen are tasked with torching any surviving books in an effort to censor ideas and eradicate knowledge.
— The Independent