Submit your Book Recommendations to us by Friday 23 June

Row of books on their sides. The bottom of the books is at the front of the image. The books are set against a yellow background.

Are there any books you would like us to order for the library?

Friday 23 June is the last date for book recommendations this financial year.

You can recommend a book title to the SSL by:

  • emailing ssl-orders@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
  • completing the online form on the Bodleian Libraries website under Collections and resources > Recommend a purchase
  • completing a paper Book Recommendation Form, available at our Issue Desk and in our New Books Display area

Book ordering will begin again in the new financial year, from 24 August 2023 onwards.

LGBT+ History Month at the SSL – Subject Recommendations

For February, we’ve put up a book display to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. It features selections from our subject librarians, as well as recommendations from readers in previous years. This will be the first of a series of blog posts highlighting aspects of our book display. This post covers the recommendations made for specific subjects at the SSL!

Development with a Body: Sexuality, Human Rights and Development

The cover of Development with a Body, featuring a pink background with abstracted images of two people overlaid with brown skin, and red and blue clothing.

For Forced Migration, African and Commonwealth Sarah Rhodes has suggested: Development with a Body: Sexuality, Human Rights and Development (eds. Cornwall, Corrêa & Jolly). Sarah Rhodes has said:

‘The shift towards a rights-based approach to development has brought the human rights dimensions of sexuality into clearer view, and consequently the need to address discriminatory laws and violations of the human rights of those whose sexual identity and practices diverge from dominant sexual orders/norms.

This book offers compelling insights into contemporary challenges and transformative possibilities of the struggle for sexual rights. As Arit Oku-Egbas, (African Regional Sexuality Resource Centre, Nigeria) highlights: ‘’We used to talk about development with a human face. We should be talking about development with a body’

An e-book is available at: https://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,development%20with%20a%20body&tab=local&search_scope=LSCOP_ALL&sortby=rank&vid=SOLO&facet=frbrgroupid,include,239740091&lang=en_US&offset=0

 

Russian Homophobia from Stalin to SochiThe Cover for Russian Homophobia, featuing a red background with a red and black image of Stalin's face, split by a rainbow pattern over which the title is displayed.

For Russian and Eastern-European Studies, the SSL recommends Russian Homophobia from Stalin to Sochi, by Dan Healey.

Professor Dan Healey is both a pioneering researcher of Soviet and Russian homosexuality, and a retired member of Oxford’s own History Faculty. In Russian Homophobia from Stalin to Sochi he explores the Stalinist roots of contemporary Russian homophobia, through a series of case studies.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has accorded a new relevance to Healey’s work: homophobia is key to the Putin administration’s justification of its war.

An e-book is available at https://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=oxfaleph021828375&context=L&vid=SOLO&lang=en_US&search_scope=LSCOP_ALL&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=local&query=any,contains,dan%20healey%20russian%20homophobia&sortby=rank&facet=frbrgroupid,include,374131911&offset=0

 

Samoan Queer Lives

The Cover of Samoan Queer Lives, featuring a photograph of several fa`afafine in white dresses, with tiaras, sashes, and bouquets.

In the field of Anthropology, Helen Worrell recommends Samoan Queer Lives by Dan Taulapapa McMullin and Shigeyuki Kihara. Helen says:

‘This volume examines the unique lives of Samoan people who are ‘fa`afafine’ – broadly understood as persons who are of part of the LGBTIQA+ community.  As Kihara notes in her introduction, the book offers a counterpoint to the western centric and colonialist study of Samoan culture (often conducted by anthropologists) by giving fa`afafine the space to tell their own stories.’

‘This book, the first of its kind, is edited and written by fa`afafine. Here fa`afafine share their stories in their own words.  Featuring 14 autobiographical stories from fa`afafine and LGBTIQA+ Samoans based in Sāmoa, Amerika Sāmoa, Australia, Aotearoa NZ, Hawai`i and USA.

Samoan Queer Lives can be found on the book display. Its shelfmark is DU813.KIH 2018

 

When States Come Out: Europe’s Sexual Minorities and the Politics of VisibilityThe cover of When States Come Out, featuing a painting of various disconnected bodies, faces and hands. A fist with a gold beaded bracelet on the wrist is raised in the foreground.

Jo Gardner (Politics and International Relations Subject Consultant) has selected When States Come Out: Europe’s Sexual Minorities and the Politics of Visibility by Philip Ayoub.

‘This innovative book breaks new ground in the study of human rights, international relations, social movements, and identity politics. Phillip Ayoub provides a deep and rigorous multi-method analysis of a critical issue at the frontiers of the struggle for human dignity.’ Alison Brysk (Mellichamp Professor of Global   Governance, University of California)

‘This is an important contribution not only to the literature on LGBT politics, but also to that on comparative social movements and the politics of social change more broadly.’ Robert Singh (Birkbeck, University of London)

The e-book is available here: https://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=oxfaleph001342024&context=L&vid=SOLO&lang=en_US&search_scope=LSCOP_ALL&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=local&query=any,contains,When%20States%20Come%20Out:%20Europe%E2%80%99s%20Sexual%20Minorities%20and%20the%20Politics%20of%20Visibility%20%20Philip%20Ayoub&sortby=rank&facet=frbrgroupid,include,433731689&offset=0

 

Gender Diversity, Recognition and Citizenship: Towards a Politics of Difference

The Cover of Gender Diversity, Recognition and Citizenship, featuring a photograph froma parade, where a person walking away from the camera is almost entirely obscured by a peacock-style feather tail, only their calves and heeled shoes are visible beneath.

Jo also suggested Gender Diversity, Recognition and Citizenship: Towards a Politics of Difference by Sally Hines:

‘A wonderful, scholarly elaboration of a politics of difference, carefully argued and grounded in the claims and experiences of transgender people.’ Fiona Williams (Professor of Social Policy, University of Leeds)

‘In a nuanced and vivid account of trans people’s engagements with gender recognition law, Hines offers important new reflections on the politics of recognition and difference.’  Davina Cooper (Professor of Law & Political Theory, University of Kent)

Gender Diversity, Recognition and Citizenship is available on the book display, and we have an additional copy under the shelfmark HQ77.9.HIN 2013

 

Mapping LGBTQ Spaces and Places: A Changing WorldThe Cover of Mapping LGBTQ Spaces and Places, featuring white text over a bright red abstract background.

Andy Kernot (Geography, Social Policy & Intervention, Public Policy, and Internet Studies Subject Consultant) has selected Mapping LGBTQ Spaces and Places (Eds. Blidon & Brunn).

“This book addresses LGBTQ issues in relation to (among others): law and policy, mobility and migration, children and family, social well-being and identity, visible and invisible landscapes, teaching and instruction, parades, arts and cartography and mapping. This extensive book stimulates future pioneering research ventures in rural and urban settings about existing and proposed LGBTQ policies, individual and group mapping, visible and invisible spaces, and the construction of public and private spaces. Through the various methodologies and rich bibliographies, this book provides a rich source for future comparative research of scholars working in social work, NGOs and public policy, and community networking and development.”

This title is only available as an ebook, and can be accessed here: https://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=oxfaleph022922462&context=L&vid=SOLO&lang=en_US&search_scope=LSCOP_ALL&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=local&query=any,contains,lgbtq%20spaces%20and%20places&offset=0

Feel free to pop by and browse or borrow any of these titles, or suggest your own! We’ll be highlighting other resources, including those recommended by SSL readers, later in the month!

Black History Month at the SSL

For October, we’ve replaced part of our usual new books display with a display highlighting the theme of black history throughout our subjects. The display has been produced by the graduate trainee, with the content put forward by subject librarians.

The Black History Month display at the Social Science, featuring four books with accompanying recommendations, as well as the front covers of several ebooks.

Politics and International Relations: Jo Gardner

Jo really enjoyed engaging with the project, and produced several recommendations; we’ve chosen to highlight the print copies in the library, which are Patrick Vernon and Angelina Osborne’s 100 Great Black Britons, and Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law. Jo’s contributions also included ebooks which has provided a small ‘further reading’ addition to the display. Links for these can be found at the end of this post too.

100 Great Black Britons  Patrick Vernon and Angelina Osborne

The front cover of 100 Great Black Britains, featuring black and white text over a simplified black and white version of the union flag.

“This book is timely and so important. Especially now during the Black Lives Matter movement, people all over the country are looking to expand their knowledge of Black British historical figures and this book will help people to do just that.” – Dawn Butler MP

“An empowering read . . . it is refreshing to see somebody celebrate the role that black Britons have played in this island’s long and complicated history.” – David Lammy in ‘The Best Books of 2020’ The Guardian

100 Great Black Britons is only available as a print copy in the library, and its record on SOLO can be found here.

 

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America – Richard Rothstein

The Front Cover of Rothstein's 'The Color of Law', with text displayed over a 'redlined' urban zoning map.

“A powerful and disturbing history of residential segregation in America. [..] One of the great strengths of Rothstein’s account is the sheer weight of evidence he marshals. […] While the road forward is far from clear, there is no better history of this troubled journey than ‘The Color of Law.'” – David Oshinsky, New York Times

“Rothstein’s comprehensive and engrossing book reveals just how the U.S. arrived at the ‘systematic racial segregation we find in metropolitan areas today, ‘ focusing in particular on the role of government.” – Starred review in Publishers Weekly

The Color of Law is only available as a print copy in the library, and its record on SOLO can be found here.

Geography, Social Policy & Intervention, Public Policy, and Internet Studies: Andy Kernot

Andy Kernot recommended Black Faces, White Spaces, and wrote the blurb below, which looks at a more contemporary relationship between black communities and the environment, of interest to Geographers and Environment Studies students.

Black faces, white spaces : reimagining the relationship of African Americans to the great outdoors – Carolyn Finney

The Cover of Black Faces, White Spaces. A black person obscures their face with a painted portrait of another head, while sitting beside a waterfall.

Why are African Americans so underrepresented when it comes to interest in nature, outdoor recreation, and environmentalism? Bridging the fields of environmental history, cultural studies, critical race studies, and geography, Finney argues that the legacies of slavery, Jim Crow, and racial violence have shaped cultural understandings of the “great outdoors” and determined who should and can have access to natural spaces. – Andy Kernot

Besides the physical copies in the library, there is also a link to the e-book here.

 

International Development, Forced Migration, and African & Commonwealth Studies: Sarah Rhodes

Sarah Rhodes chose to recommend Voices of the Windrush Generation, of interest to students in International Development and Commonwealth Studies for its first hand account of the post-Colonial relationship between Britain and the Caribbean. Its outlook is based in individual experience, which also makes it more accessible for the general reader.

Voices of the Windrush Generation – David Matthews

This book details the personal testimonies of the many migrants who arrived in Britain in the early 1950s from the Caribbean. Through their own voices and stories we learn of the struggles they faced as they created communities and navigated integration into an often hostile society. Their resilience shines through as the book celebrates their contribution to black British culture we have today. – Sarah Rhodes

Voices of the Windrush Generation is only available as a print copy in the library, but its catalogue record can be accessed here.

Further Reading: e-Books

The following are e-books that we wanted to highlight, you can click each to go through to its solo record and e-book.

Invisible Voices: The Black Presence in Crime and Punishment in the UK, 1750-1900 – Martin Glynn

Available online here.

 

Who’s Black and Why? A Hidden Chapter from the Eighteenth-Century Invention of Race – Edited by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Andrew S. Curran

Available online here.

Teaching Black History to White People – Leonard N. Moore

Available online here.

Feel free to pop by and pick up one of these books, or come and tell us if you’re read something that should be featured too!

Submit your Book Recommendations to us by Friday 24 June

A row brightly covered books, lent on their sides.

Are there any books you would like us to order for the library?

Friday 24 June is the last date for book recommendations this financial year.

You can recommend a book title to the SSL by:

Book ordering will begin again in the new financial year, from 24 August 2022 onwards.

 

Submit your Book Recommendations to us by Tues 15 June

Are there any books you would like us to order for the library?

Tuesday 15 June is the last date for book recommendations this financial year.

You can recommend a book title to the SSL by:

Book ordering will begin again in the new financial year, from August 2021 onwards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submit your book recommendations to us by Fri 21 June

Row of books

Are there any books you would like us to order for the library?

Friday 21 June is the last date for book recommendations this financial year.

You can recommend a book title to the SSL by:

Book ordering will begin again in the new financial year, from August 2019 onwards.

Submit your book recommendations to us by Friday 15 June

Row of booksAre there any books you would like us to order for the library?

Friday 15 June is the last date for book recommendations this financial year.

You can recommend a book title to the SSL by:

Book ordering will begin again in the new financial year, from August 2018 onwards.

Submit your book recommendations to us by Friday 16th June

The last day for receipt of book recommendations from you before our financial year closes is Friday 16th June.

You can recommend a book for purchase by:

Emailing us at ssl-orders@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Completing the online form available on our website

Writing a message in our Comments Book (located at our issue desk)

Completing a ‘Recommend a Book’ slip (located at our issue desk and on top of the new books display area)

Book ordering will begin again in our new financial year from August onwards. Any book recommendations received after the 16th June will be saved and processed during August.

Last date for receipt of book recommendations is the 17th June

Recommend a book picture

The last day for receipt of book recommendations from you before our financial year closes is Tuesday 17th June.

You can recommend a book for purchase by:

Emailing us at ssl-orders@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Completing the online form available on our website

Writing a message in our Comments Book (located at our issue desk)

Completing a ‘Recommend a Book’ slip (located at our issue desk and on top of the new books display area)

Book ordering will begin again in our new financial year from August onwards.

If you cannot find the title you need for your course or research, recommend a book to us

Recommend a book picture

Can’t find the title you need for your course or research?

You can recommend a book to us for purchase by:

Emailing us at ssl-orders@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Completing the online form available on our website

Writing a message in our Comments Books (located at our issue desk)

Completing a ‘Recommend a book’ slip (located at our issue desk and at our new books display area)