By Layal Al Ghoozi

Let’s be honest—this year has been long. As the holidays come round, I find myself wanting to bundle up with some cinnamon-vanilla coffee, a scented candle, and a good book.

Specifically curated to inspire thoughtful conversation between friends, family, peers, or even within yourself, this list of books is my personal selection of insightful finds I have come across that have either changed my life or reaffirmed my beliefs. This list is meant to make our readers feel grounded and question given assumptions about life, conflict, international relations, and society. 

Suggestions to add to your holiday reading: 

1. Human kind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman (2021)

2. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle Book by Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski (2019)

3. The Oxford Handbook of the International Law of Global Security (Oxford Handbooks) by Robin Geiß and Nils Melzer (2021)

4. The Law of the List: UN Counterterrorism Sanctions and the Politics of Global Security Law Book by Gavin Sullivan (2021)

5. Do Muslim Women Need Saving? by Lila Abu-Lughod (2013)

6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker (1982)

7. The Naked Diplomat: Understanding Power and Politics in the Digital Age by Tom Fletcher

8. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: The Workbook by Lori Gottlieb (2021)

9. She Must Be Mad by Charly Cox (2018)

10. Of Women: In the 21st Century Book by Shami Chakrabarti (2017)

11. Global Governance, Human Rights and International Law Combating the Tragic Flaw By Errol P. Mendes (2014)

12. Rescuing Human Rights: A Radically Moderate Approach by Hurst Hannum (2019)

And books to keep an eye out for next year…

1. Women and International Human Rights in Modern Times: A Contemporary Casebook by Rosa Celorio (coming out in January 2022) 
2. The Trial of Julian Assange: a story of persecution by Nils Melzer (coming out in February 2022)
3. Protection from Refuge: From Refugee Rights to Migration Management by Kate Ogg (online print coming out in May 2022)

We hope you enjoy some of these selections and add them to your own reading list. We wish our readers and loyal listeners a warm holiday and a happy new year!