These weeks looking forward to spring should be a hopeful time of transformation. The weather begins to change, and more of nature starts to wake up. Many religions and cultures take this time to prepare for major spring holidays by coming together to reflect and work toward something new. Yet, this spring, it’s sometimes a little harder to be hopeful.
From what we hear on the news, or just in casual conversations, it’s clear many are feeling the weight of isolation, loneliness, fear and mistrust. Communities feel divided, and everyone is uncertain what might come next and who can help. Not everyone is in a position to take large scale action to tackle these concerns, but each of us is capable of building and rebuilding community and personal bonds, which can be both a solace and source of strength. We can face setbacks when they come with less fear, knowing that we are not left alone to handle them. We can also work together to find new solutions to the challenges that face us.
Despite being a librarian, I don’t think books solve everything, but I certainly think they can do a great deal to help inspire us and get a deeper understanding of the world around us. Some can transform our thinking, and others can help us clarify our own beliefs. We can then take those ideas into the world and put them into action. Here are five books that offer perspectives on building community and strengthening relationships.
How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community by Mia Birdsong. “In this provocative, groundbreaking work, Mia Birdsong shows that what separates us isn’t only the ever-present injustices built around race, class, gender, values, and beliefs, but also our denial of our interdependence and need for belonging. In response to the fear and discomfort we feel, we’ve built walls, and instead of leaning on each other, we find ourselves leaning on concrete. Through research, interviews, and stories of lived experience, How We Show Up returns us to our inherent connectedness where we find strength, safety, and support in vulnerability and generosity, in asking for help, and in being accountable.”
Connect by David L. Bradford. “A transformative guide to building more fulfilling relationships with colleagues, friends, partners, and family, based on the perennially popular Interpersonal Dynamics (“Touchy Feely”) course at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. The ability to create strong relationships with others is crucial to living a fulfilled life and becoming a more effective manager and leader. Yet many of us find ourselves struggling to build solid connections at work, with friends and at home, or unable to handle challenges that inevitably arise when we grow closer to others. When we find ourselves in an exceptional relationship–the kind of relationship where we feel fully understood and supported for who we are–it can seem like magic.”
Be My Guest: Reflections on Food, Community, and the Meaning of Generosity by Priya Basil. “A thought-provoking meditation on food, family, identity, immigration, and, most of all, hospitality—at the table and beyond—that’s part food memoir, part appeal for more authentic decency in our daily worlds, and in the world at large”
Sisterhood Heals: the Transformative Power of Healing in Community by Joy Harden Bradford. “In Sisterhood Heals, Dr. Joy unearths the foundations of our connections, reveals the role of attachment theory in our friendships, offers solutions to rebuild after there has been a rupture in a friendship, and shares strategies for taking care of ourselves after a friendship ends. Drawing on her years of clinical experience, Dr. Joy provides actionable advice and scripts we can use to navigate difficult conversations and foster relationships that are not only positive, but transformative. With warmth, wisdom, and empathy, Dr. Joy reminds us that sisterhood is often a lifeline during difficult times and has the power to help us experience increased mental wellness and fuller, more satisfying lives.”
How to Connect by Thích Nhất Hạnh. “With our world experiencing the deep effects of loneliness, environmental detachment, and digital overload, this eighth pocket-sized How To book reminds us of our crucial need to connect to ourselves, our ancestors, and nature. Written with characteristic simplicity and kindness, these wise meditations teach us how to remember, at any time, our fundamental gift of belonging.”
In addition to providing books and resources, it is our goal at the library to provide a place to find and strengthen community. Join us for library programs, use our spaces for collaboration, and, of course, keep arming yourself with knowledge. Looking for more books and resources? Just ask.
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash.