Looking to get into reading this year? When choosing what to read, consider the many benefits of reading diverse authors.
For starters, reading is a way to broaden our perspectives and live the stories of people different from ourselves. This creates empathy and the ability to connect to others in the real world around us! If we branch out and read stories written by authors of a variety of backgrounds, our empathy and ability to connect becomes more inclusive.
It is also a way of putting your money where your mouth is! Whether you buy a book or borrow from the library, authors are getting the income and recognition they’ve worked so hard for! As in any field, it’s important that people of marginalized groups are getting that boost, and unfortunately it can be tougher to get those opportunities when not part of the “mainstream.” Publishers and distributors look to the data of what we read to decide who to promote in the future.
And finally, if you have felt marginalized yourself, or experienced challenges that those around you don’t understand, it is so validating to read stories like yours, told by authors who get it! Representation matters!
We are hoping to read more books this year written by authors living with illness and disability! These communities are an often overlooked demographic, especially given the number of us whose challenges are invisible. Reading these stories reinforces the nuanced experiences that only someone who has lived it can describe.
If you want to join us, here are 5 books to get started: