There have been a few justice-related books I’ve wanted to review for you as I believe they have incredible value for us Changemakers. Even if you don’t read these books for Changemakers, learning about them, following the authors, and listening to interviews about them can drastically help us do good better, practice justice, and love our neighbors better.
Granted, I am going to warn you, I haven’t read most of these books! But they are ones I am aware of or they are on my TBR list. And of course, this list is not exhaustive! Feel free to share in the comments any other books you believe should be highlighted that were released in 2024 or are coming out at the beginning of 2025.
Belonging without Othering: How We Save Ourselves and the World by John a. Powell (Author), Stephen Menendian
Here is a quote from the description:
“John a. Powell and Stephen Menendian make a powerful and sweeping case for adopting a paradigm of belonging that does not require the creation of an “other.” This new paradigm hinges on transitioning from narrow to expansive identities – even if that means challenging seemingly benevolent forms of community-building based on othering.”
It sounds interesting! Get it here!
(It goes with another book later in this list, Othered, covers something similar from a faith-perspective and is by an author I vaguely know, which you can check out, too!)
The above books were from my browsing at Barnes and Noble. I haven’t heard of any of the authors besides Upworthy, who’s content I enjoy on social media. As I live close to the border and have interacted with people who’ve likely used coyotes, or smugglers before, Soldiers and Kings is the one I am most excited to read of the above five books is . To be clear human trafficking and human smuggling are usually different things (one is by choice, the other isn’t–but the line can be blurred, especially when a smuggler takes advantage of someone paying to be smuggled.
Innovation for the Masses by Neil Lee
Here is a snippet about Innovation for the Masses: How to Share the Benefits of the High-Tech Economy by Neil Lee:
“Rather than simply asking how we can create more high-tech cities and nations, Innovation for the Masses focuses on what we can learn from places that foster innovation while also delivering the benefits more widely and equally.”
Get it here.
Ten+ Justice-Related Christian Books from 2024
Although I feel like many people who care about justice will also appreciate some of these, for the faith-based Christian community I specifically wanted to create a list of books released in 2024.
I shared this list originally my column at Patheos, Flourishing Faith and Justice. These ten books were released in 2024–not just ones I read in 2024. They discuss topics related to social action, justice, advocacy, and God’s Kingdom and its flourishing. From these you might find a tool to help you pray, a peak into Christian history, guidance to form your faith community after God’s heart justice, or a curriculum to parent your kids on practicing justice and love. I hope that from this list of ten Christian justice-related books you’ll find one that meets you where you’re at!
Read the full list here!
However, there were a couple that were also faith adjacent that missed this list as I didn’t know about them. Here they are:
Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself by Chanté Griffin
Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself: A Guide to Closing the Space Between Us by Chanté Griffin is a book that uses guided readings, prayers, challenges the author calls “heart checks.” She teaches about leveraging these ways to love your Black neighbor better through intimacy, honor, standing up, God’s gifts, and the Spirit of love.
Grab a copy and read it here.
Brown Faces, White Spaces by Latasha Morrison
Brown Faces, White Spaces: Confronting Systemic Racism to Bring Healing and Restoration by Latasha Morrison is another book about racial reconcillation. Here is a snippet about it:
” Through story, historical context, and present realities, Morrison looks at what it means to recognize and confess the truth about inequities in the system (preparation), commit ourselves to changing the system (dedication), and move into true freedom as a society (liberation). “
You can get a copy of Brown faces, White Spaces here.
Here were some of the ones I specifically wanted to make sure I shared about here. These are excerpts from the above list of ten article above.
Othered: Finding Belonging with the God Who Pursues the Hurt, Harmed, and Marginalized by by Jenai Auman
Othered addressed justice in the context of the church system in the Western world. It addresses what it is like to feel like you can’t belong in churches because of injustices like spiritual abuse or disregarding areas of justice that God values.
The author is authentic and open about her own experiences of being “othered” and is a guide and healing balm to those who’ve been hurt or found themselves on the side of the oppressed (often because they are standing up for those even more oppressed). I’ve definitely been “othered” and her ability to meet me in her writing where I am has been so encouraging. Jenai’s experience as a therapist only helps! In addition, her content regularly invites us to still care about justice as Christians.
Get Othered here.
On the Same Page With God: Embracing the Power of Praying Scripture by Jenn Soehnlin
A prayer book about justice? Yes please!
Granted, this book isn’t specifically about faith and justice, although disability justice leaders might point out how much the author’s love for her children with special needs opens our hearts to this population. Rather, On The Same Page With God is about prayer scripture to increase our relationship with our spiritual Father.
However, there is one chapter dedicated entirely to the Christian’s pursuit of justice. Taking apart the story of Esther, Jenn Soehnlin helps us see a Biblical approach to seeking justice. She also shares one of her own stories about growing in passion for justice and gives us a set of scriptures to pray for God’s justice to prevail. I was privileged to give feedback and guidance on this section of the book. Not only was I grateful that the author didn’t forget the the topic of justice, which is often left to the wayside in books on prayer, but she did an excellent job helping the prayer-warrior see how essential it is.
You can get On The Same Page With God here.
Being a Sanctuary: The Radical Way for the Body of Christ to Be Sacred, Soft, and Safe by Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez
I love how Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez approaches justice, relationships and theology in her regular content. This book is Biblically based, trauma-informed, and justice-centered as it tackles what Christians look like as they build faith communities’ and interact with unbelievers.
Pricelis invites followers of Jesus to not be a building that meets, but to be a “sanctuary” as a radical in the way they embody Christ. It is everything I love, challenging us to not glaze over the Bible but return to it, to practice real compassion and empathy. And of course, why I am including this book here is because its third purpose is “To pursue justice as an active path and no longer be performative with our justice and dignity towards others.”
You can get Being a Sanctuary here.
Again, you can look at the full list of faith-adjacent books here.
Social Good Books Coming in 2025
I wasn’t really planning on adding to the books coming list, but it turns out I had already thought this book was out but it wasn’t! Oops! That being said, this one comes out next month!
Be a Revolution by Ijeoma Oluo
The last book I read, So You Want To Talk About Race by author, Oluo, was challenging, helpful, and I learned a lot, even if I didn’t totally agree with everything in it. I haven’t gotten a change to read this one, but I appreciate how much broader it is in topic and that it is for everyday people. Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World―and How You Can, Too by Ijeoma Oluo might be a classic go-too for everyday advocates–it is actually on my list of ” for my own
