We are living in a time when diversity and representation are quickly becoming key components to be infused into every possible discourse, whether in educational environments or corporate settings, and it is about time this momentum reaches our bookshelves. The truth is that reading is more to us than mere entertainment; it can enable us to be more empathetic and transformative.
At Rebel Bookstore, we believe that reading has to be the act of a rebel, a means to question what we think we know and to listen to voices that are usually silenced, opening our minds to the complex world we live in. Making our reading habits inclusive is undoubtedly not about tokenism; it is about broadening our book universe to understand humankind in all its hues.
Here’s how you can begin incorporating inclusive reading habits and why it matters.
1. Acknowledge the Gaps in Your Bookshelf
The key to achieving inclusivity begins with self-awareness. Take stock of your bookshelf (and e-reader library). Whose stories are represented among the authors on those shelves? Whose stories are absent?
If your bookshelf is full of one sort of reader, or perhaps Western writers, male writers, and mainstream bestsellers, then it's about time you branch out because there is so much more to the world of stories than those told by voices that are most present in the mainstream. Indigenous voices, LGBTQ+ voices, immigrant voices, black and brown voices, and disabled voices, to name a few.
Inclusivity is about starting with absence. When you become aware of who is absent from the conversation, you can include them.
2. Diversify Beyond the Author
What constitutes an inclusive reading habit is more than who writes the book—the stories that are told and the manner in which they are told are also considerations.
Try to find readings that offer experiences outside your own through books written by different people. A white writer addressing systemic racism correctly, a male addressing gender equity, or someone privileged thoughtfully addressing poverty can still broaden your perspective if it is approached correctly.
On the other hand, be cautious about texts that purport to present marginalized voices but do not actually reflect them. A reader who engages with diversity must critically engage with texts with questions such as:
Whose story is this?
Who benefits from its telling?
Does it empower or exploit its subjects?
By incorporating these questions thoughtfully, one can be sure that one’s reading list elevates rather than appropriates diverse voices.
3. Read Translated Works
A great piece of international literature lies beyond the reach of the English-speaking audience, simply because we don't look for it.
Literature in translation provides access to whole cultures and histories. To tap into such worlds defined by other rhythms, other values, and aesthetics, one only has to read Elena Ferrante (Italy), Haruki Murakami (Japan), Gabriel García Márquez (Colombia), and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria), among others.
At Rebel Bookstore, translated works are to be celebrated. They are reminders that stories are universal, no matter the boundaries that separate us due to linguistic divides.
4. Follow Independent and Marginalized Publishers
The mainstream publishing industry has problems with diversity. Thankfully, indie publishers are one area that promotes more diverse stories.
Publishing houses such as Graywolf Press, Akashic Books, Haymarket Books, Seven Stories Press, Feminist Press, and Beacon Press are actively publishing marginalized voices with stories that defy convention and spark change.
Involvement with these presses exposes you to diverse readings while also ensuring marginalized voices are represented. You can find that these presses’ offerings are defined within the curated lists such as Rebel Bookstore’s Radical Voices, Afro-Caribbean & Latin Lit, and Speculative Resistance.
5. Join (or Form) A Diverse Book Club
One of the best ways to hold oneself accountable for inclusive reading is to join a book club. But no two book clubs are the same.
Find, or establish, one that features diversity in its choices. Various book topics such as “Indigenous writers,” “LGBTQ+ perspectives,” or “Translated works.” Engage reflective dialogue about representation, prejudice, and identity.
At Rebel Bookstore, our book club isn't about reading; it's about questioning. The point is not to come to terms with conclusions but to listen, to educate ourselves, and to evolve. When people from different walks of life come together to read and discuss complex stories, it is magic.
6. Read Across Genres
One form that diversity can take is in genre. If you feel most comfortable in the genre of literary fiction, consider reading the graphic novel by the Indigenous artist if you are comfortable with that genre. You might also consider the political activist’s memoir if that genre appeals to you. If you are comfortable with the genre of science fiction, then maybe you might think the
Genres such as Afrofuturism, Magical realism, Speculative Resistance, and Revolutionary Poetry are overflowing with inclusive storytelling that combines creativity with cultural truth. Genre-hopping challenges stereotypes, not only about who writes the stories but about what stories can be found within them.
7. Engage with the Story Beyond the Page
Inclusivity does not end after you complete the last chapter. Engaging actively means thinking about what you’ve read and doing something with what you’ve learned.
Ask yourself:
How did this story affect my assumptions?
What did you take away about another culture, identity, and struggle?
What other ways can I show appreciation to this writer and this group?
This might entail sharing the book on social media, donating it to an institution such as a school, attending the author's book talks, and other activities.
A book is more than an object; it is an encouragement to think and act.
8. Unlearn and Relearn
A habit of inclusive reading can never be ‘complete’. It’s all about unlearning and then learning again.
You will get it wrong. You might study the wrong writers or overlook key subtleties. That’s fine. The key is to keep moving forward. Every new story contributes to your understanding of the human experience.
The act of inclusive reading itself is a rebellion against ignorance and apathy. It is the quiet revolution that begins with curiosity and ends with compassion.
At Rebel Bookstore, the Revolution that is Reading, inclusive reading can be seen as radical, as it affects the reader and the world around them. Each book that comes from a marginalized voice that you read, and each time you get to share that book with someone else, writes a different story about whose story gets to count. So the next time you crack open a book, consider it to be more about liberation rather than mere leisure. Let your bookshelf be as diverse and complex as the world we are living in.