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7 New Books You May Not Have Heard Of ... Yet

Dear <<First Name>>,

I don't want to gloat but I crushed that public library summer reading challenge in 1975. The librarian had to give me another sheet to fit all my stickers. Two whole sheets!

As you can see below, I hit both my reading and fashion peak at age 7.
Dolly as a young girl wearing a 1970’s green outfit.  She has a big smile and is holding up 10 fingers or perhaps making a na-na-na-na gesture.

Finding the Right Books for You


Now, though, I care less about the quantity of books I read and more about the quality of the reading experience.  Book discovery is a big element of a quality reading experience, especially when millions (literally) of new books are published every year.  In life, one has to search for one’s people … and for one’s books.  And, the right book for you at a particular moment may or may not be one that everyone is buzzing about. 
 

My Very Good Reading Summer


I became a published book author three years ago (my book's birthday is next weekend!).  Since then, I have discovered that one of the best (and most underpublicized) perks of being an author is that you get to know other authors and people in the publishing industry.  They tell you the real deal about the behind-the-scenes book roller coaster.  Sometimes, they even send you drafts and advance copies of books they think you will like in hopes you might possibly - if time, bandwidth, and sincerity allow - provide feedback, buzz, and blurbs.  

In other words, a curated selection of books just shows up at my home and in my inbox, before being released to the world.  Like, how is this real life?
A Black woman in front of a bookshelf
And, this is how I have once again had a Very Good Reading Summer, circa 2021 (my sense of fashion, however, not so much).   
 

New Book Recommendations


Since I have heard about or screened some new releases, I wanted to share a few with you. Some are getting a lot of buzz, but I bet you have not heard of all on this list. 

(I swear, I'm doing this to help you find the right books for you (and your book clubs), not just to ensure the Free Book Gravy Train keeps stopping at my house!  The truth is that I get far more than I can keep up with or have included here.)

Here are 7 new non-fiction books about diversity, inclusion, and bias (or adjacent topics), all relevant to the scope of the Dear Good People newsletter. 

 

You Have More Influence Than You Think:  How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion, and Why It Matters by Vanessa Bohns (September 7, 2021)


Dr. Vanessa Bohns reveals that we are not as “ineffective, inarticulate, or invisible” as we sometimes feel at home, at work, and in our communities.  In her examination of the topic of both positive and negative influence, Bohns offers a fresh perspective on topics like #MeToo, white privilege, and systemic power.  An exhilarating and eye-opening book. 
Cover art for You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion, and Why It Matters by Vanessa Bohns. Photo of the author.


Unraveling Bias:  How Prejudice Has Shaped Children For Generations and Why It’s Time to Break the Cycle by Christia Spears Brown (November 30, 2021)


Dr. Christia Spears Brown breaks down the impact bias has on children ...  and what adults can do about it.  If you have any interaction with or impact on kids, you will be so grateful for this important and useful book.  An empowering follow up to her wonderful first book, Parenting Beyond Pink and Blue
Cover art for Unraveling Bias: How Prejudice Has Shaped Children for Generations and Why It’s Time to Break the Cycle by Christia Spears Brown. Photo of the author.


Driven by Intention:  Own Your Purpose, Gain Power and Pursue Your Passion as a Woman at Work by Michelle Gadsden-Williams (April 2022)


Executive Michelle Gadsden-Williams blends her own leadership experience with case studies of Mellody Hobson, Angela Yee, and others.  Through inspiration, exercises, and reflection prompts, she guides readers - particularly women in the workplace - to be both ambitious and intentional.  A motivational career (and life) guide.
Cover art for Driven by Intention: Own Your Purpose, Gain Power, and Pursue Your Passion As a Woman At Work by Michelle Gadsden-Williams. Photo of the author.


Speaking of Race:  Why Everybody Needs to Talk about Racism - and How to Do It by Celeste Headlee (November 2, 2021)


Journalist and PBS host Celeste Headlee speaks to those of us dodging conversations about racism, especially with people outside of our bubbles.  She weaves together stories, science, and memoir to give us an actionable toolkit and inspiring rationale for speaking of race.  An excellent followup to her earlier book We Need to Talk.
Alt text: Cover art for Speaking of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism -- And How To Do It by Celeste Headlee. Photo of the author.


All In:  An Autobiography by Billie Jean King (August 17, 2021)


Social justice icon and tennis champion Billie Jean King has been my hero since I was that little girl crushing the summer reading challenge.  I have been hearing about her herculean memoir-writing efforts from her team ever since she endorsed my first book (OMG OMG OMG).  Well, it was worth her work and our wait.  Both the print and audio versions are a mesmerizing look into the heart, mind, and life of a very special human being.
Cover art for All In, an autobiography by Billie Jean King. Photo of the author.


How You Say It:  Why We Judge Others by the Way They Talk - and the Costs of this Hidden Bias by Katherine D. Kinzler (August 3, 2021)


Dr. Katherine Kinzler blends together the fields of linguistics and psychology in her research on accents and linguistic discrimination.  In this new paperback edition of her excellent book, she argues that we under-appreciate the role of speech in social identity and social justice.  A convincing examination.
Cover art for How You Say It: Why We Judge Others by the Way They Talk -- And the Costs of This Hidden Bias by Katherine D. Kinzler. Photo of the author.


The Power of Us:  Harnessing Our Shared Identities to Improve Performance, Increase Cooperation, and Promote Social Harmony by Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer (September 7, 2021)


Drs. Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer tackle topics like implicit bias, echo chambers, sexism, racism, and partisanship through the lens of social identity.  They weave together an array of scientific evidence with terrific storytelling.  A thought-provoking read.
Cover art for The Power of Us by Jay J. Van Bavel, PhD and Dominic J. Packer, PhD. Photos of each author.

Let’s Keep Reading and Growing


To see more of what I am reading, on a broader array of genres and topics, check out my goodreads.com (my adult version of those reading trackers from the library).

Speaking of reading, I am so glad you are reading Dear Good People -- a bite-sized, evidence-based, action-oriented newsletter on how to be the inclusive person you mean to be.

If you liked this issue, please help me spread the word by using the links for sharing and posting at the bottom of this email.  If someone forwarded this to you, sign up below to get your own free, monthly, spam-free subscription.  

And, I’m always thrilled to hear from you.  You can write me by replying to this email or clicking the little "envelope" icon below. 
Thanks for growing with me,

Dolly ChughDolly Chugh

 


This month's artwork credits from top: Katie Sutton (logo), Jeana Marinelli (books), Chugh family (young Dolly), Suad Kamardeen@unsplash (woman reaching for books), W. W. Norton & Company (You Have More Influence), BenBella Books (Unraveling Bias), amazon.com (Christia Spears Brown), mgadsdenwilliams.com (Driven by Intention), savoynetwork.com (Michelle Gadsden-Williams), Harper Wave (Speaking of Race), celesteheadlee.com (Celeste Headlee), Penguin Random House (All In), The Independent (Billie Jean King), Mariner Books (How You Say It), Cornell University (Katherine D. Kinzler), Little, Brown Spark (The Power of Us), Brett Topel (Dolly by signature)

Many thanks to Katie Sutton and Evelyn Parker for their continued commitment, care, and creativity.

Dolly Chugh is the Jacob B. Melnick Term Professor at the New York University Stern School of Business in the Department of Management and Organizations. She studies the psychology of good people and teaches leadership/management courses. All views are her own.

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