10 Must Read Books by bell hooks
bell hooks is the pen name of Gloria Jean Watkins ( (September 25, 1952 – December 15, 2021), a Black feminist theorist and cultural critic. She wrote extensively on topics including books about social justice, race, art, gender, sexuality, mass media, history, and class. She is known for her critique of dominant power structures in society.
hooks (who did not capitalise her name) was also a professor at several universities, including Berea College, Yale and City College of New York. Her work emphasises the intersectionality of oppression and the need for transformative social change. hooks was an influential figure in contemporary feminist and critical race theory, and her work continues to inspire activists and scholars today. She published around 40 books, including essays, poetry, and children’s books.
Here is a list of 10 must read books by bell hooks. They should serve as a good introduction to her theories and views, and make essential reading for those interested in intersectionality, race, and gender.
Contents
- 1. Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism
- 2. Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center
- 3. Teaching to Transgress
- 4. All About Love: New Visions
- 5. Black Looks: Race and Representation
- 6. Homemade Love
- 7. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love
- 8. Killing Rage: Ending Racism
- 9. Skin again
- 10. Belonging: A Culture of Place
1. Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism
In this seminal work of feminist scholarship, hooks explores the intersections of race, gender, and class as manifested in the experiences of black women in the United States.
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2. Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center
A critique of mainstream feminist theory, arguing that it has been largely white and middle-class, centred on the experiences of women in the global North. In this book, hooks proposes a more inclusive and intersectional approach to feminist theory.
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3. Teaching to Transgress
Education as the Practice of Freedom – In this influential book on pedagogy, hooks argues for the importance of critical thinking and engaged, transformative teaching that helps students become agents of change in both their own lives and their communities. Full of passion and politics, Teaching to Transgress combines a practical knowledge of the classroom with a deeply felt connection to the world of emotions and feelings.
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4. All About Love: New Visions
This is the acclaimed first volume in bell hooks’ Love Song to the Nation trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. In this exploration of the nature of love, hooks argues that love is a powerful force for social and political transformation, and that it must be grounded in respect, honesty, and a commitment to both mutual growth and development.
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5. Black Looks: Race and Representation
In this collection of essays, hooks focuses on spectatorship and examines the ways in which blackness has been represented in literature, film, and popular culture. She argues for the importance of resisting stereotypical portrayals and images. In her own words: “the essays in Black Looks are meant to challenge and unsettle, to disrupt and subvert.”
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6. Homemade Love
In this beautifully illustrated children’s book, bell hooks delivers a powerful message about the power of love and forgiveness. The beautiful, rhythmic prose is perfect for reading aloud.
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7. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love
In The Will to Change, bell hooks addresses toxic masculinity and shows men how to express the emotions that are a fundamental part of who they are—whatever their age, marital status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. A brave and astonishing work, tis book is designed to help men reclaim the best part of themselves and lay claim to the rich and rewarding inner lives that have historically been the exclusive province of women.
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8. Killing Rage: Ending Racism
In this powerful collection of essays, hooks confronts the realities of racism in America, and offers a passionate call to action for those who seek to end it. The wide spectrum of covered topics dealing with race and racism in the United States includes: friendship between Black women and white women; psychological trauma among African Americans; and internalised racism in movies and the media.
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9. Skin again
An award-winning children’s book that celebrates all that makes us unique and different and offers a timeless message of loving yourself and others. With beautiful illustrations, it teaches children to see beyond skin colour and find common ground with others.
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10. Belonging: A Culture of Place
In this book, hook highlights links between land ownership, the environment, and sustainability and the politics of race and class. Belonging charts a cyclical journey in which hooks moves from place to place, from country to city and back again, only to end where she began: her old Kentucky home.
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Did we miss any must read books by bell hooks? Let us know in the comments below!
