“These are the books on my summer reading list. I haven’t had a lot of time off this summer to read, so my list so far is aspirational. The only one that’s a must-read right away is Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabelle Wilkerson. I’m interviewing her for my podcast “Silence Is Not An Option.” I’m fascinated by the subject. I’ve been intrigued by how it plays out in India, since I was assigned by CNN to work there in 2008. The caste system and their obsession with light skin has always reminded me of growing up in Louisiana with its caste system among African Americans. When I grew up, one had to be lighter than a brown paper bag if you wanted to be accepted by whites and [be] on the higher rung of black society. This is gonna be good.”
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Isabel Wilkerson
Intimations, Zadie Smith
The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir, Michele Harper
The Vanishing Half: A Novel, Brit Bennett
Utopia Avenue: A Novel, David Mitchell
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand
