“Bad Indians Book Club: Reading at the Edge of a Thousand Worlds” by Patty Krawec and Omar El Akkad encourages readers to reflect on who is telling the stories we consume, for whom they are intended, and for what purpose.

The book is divided into nine sections that focus on so-called "Bad Indians"—those who resist conforming to hegemony/ kyriarchy/systems of oppression/white supremacy. The chapters cover a range of themes, including creating space for storytelling, exploring nature and science writing, engaging with history, challenging patriarchy, and delving into memoirs, fiction, speculative fiction, and horror.

The authors emphasize the importance of connection, writing, and reading, especially in an era of book bans. They argue that to bring about change, we must read intentionally and radically. The book draws on the voices of other Indigenous and marginalized groups, including those of Black, Jewish, and Palestinian backgrounds, to explore complexity and help decolonize our language, storytelling conventions, and perspectives.

The authors showcase the power of language, illustrating how the stories of marginalized writers can help us envision new ways of understanding the world. Readers are invited to reflect on how these narratives can foster community and connection, as well as provide a deeper understanding of contexts often overlooked in mainstream historical texts, media, and national narratives/lore.

I highly recommend this book. Although I don’t often read nonfiction, I was captivated by the cover and description. Once I began reading, I was hooked. I plan to pre-order a hard copy so that I can reflect on the text, highlight important sections, take notes, and dog-ear my favorite passages.

While the authors address both past and present struggles, the reading experience was engaging, uplifting, and motivating. Anyone who enjoys the works of authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Tommy Orange, Aaron John Curtis, Stephen Graham Jones, Ibram X. Kendi, Mikki Kendall, Angela Davis, and Morgan Talty may find this thought-provoking book compelling. Thank you to Broadleaf Books and NetGalley for the amazing ARC in exchange for an honest review.