Readers United is excited to announce that we will be increasing the frequency at which we publish book reviews! Expect new posts biweekly, on Mondays and Thursdays.
For our first Monday installment, we enlisted the help of Caroline Rispoli '20, an ardent book aficionado. Rispoli is a frequent visitor to the library, and she has checked out many of the new books on display. Her enthusiasm about reading is contagious, and she shares some of the books she has recently read below.
Race In Mind
Written by Paul Spickard with contributions by Jeffrey Moniz and Ingrid Dineen-Wimberly
A collection of essays surrounding race relations both in the past and the present day, Race In Mind delves deeply into how the idea of race came to be and what race truly means. Paul Spickard defends the notion that race is not just one thing, and his knowledge on the subjects of race and ethnicity are evident as he provides a thorough, thoughtful opinion that will have readers questioning their own perception of race today.
Exploring racial multiplicity not just in the U.S but around the globe, the book includes multiple perspectives, and contributions from other civil rights researchers provide a fresh outlook with every turn of the page. With an emphasis on “today’s increasingly multiracial America,” the book does an extraordinary job providing a step by step timeline of the development of race relations over the years.
With much of the book inspired by W.E.B Dubois, an American civil rights activist, historian, and sociologist, Race In Mind ties historical and contemporary racial studies together, exploring them in further depth and comparing and contrasting them. The book gives multiple definitions of race and ethnicity, ranging from the interpretation of Pacific Islander Americans and the significance of race in Hawaii, to interpretations of race from people and populations around the world. Paul Spickard gives insight into the subject of race, something most people would assume they were thoroughly educated in, but, after reading Race In Mind, will realize there is so much more to learn.
Verdict: A fresh and unknown perspective on race and ethnicity, engaging, powerful, and informative. I’d recommend Race In Mind to any and all interested in broadening their education on racial studies.
Independent Filmmaking Around The Globe
Edited by Doris Baltruschat and Mary P. Erickson
Informative, compelling, and eye-opening. Independent Filmmaking Around The Globe provides a much needed glimpse into the hardships, successes, and evolution of what has become independent filmmaking worldwide. Made up of a series of essays, the book comments on the meaning of independence, the changes and progress of independent filmmaking in the present day, and the struggles of independent filmmakers trying to distance themselves and their work from major movie making corporations.
The book provides information and strives to educate the audience on independent filmmaking in places including Greece, Turkey, Iraq, China, Malaysia, Peru, and West Africa. This collection of essays does an extraordinary job comparing the range of difficulties among filmmakers around the globe, highlighting independent filmmakers' motivations to succeed in a line of work where success seems hard to come by. With very little funding, equipment, and actors, it is often hard for filmmakers today to create a finished project.
However, not all is lost. The book adds that independent films seem to have gotten more and more popular among modern-day consumers, and many independent films have been recognized and awarded for their work. Thus, Independent Filmmaking Around The Globe is a must read that will enlighten you on the topic of independent filmmaking, provide a history as to how independent filmmaking came to be, and provide a global perspective.
Verdict: Anyone interested in filmmaking should read this book; intriguing content and fantastic writing come together to create a book that will leave you feeling satisfied!
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