Linda Hirshman’s novel, “Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World,” follows the lives and careers of Justices O’Connor and Ginsburg. Although O’Connor and Ginsburg have drastically different political views and backgrounds, they both experienced many of the same obstacles in their legal careers.

Ginsburg’s educational career at Cornell and Columbia Law Schools was marked by discrimination based on her gender. She faced discrimination from a professor who asked the female law students to justify taking a man’s spot and from employers who told her they couldn’t hire female attorneys to preserve their firm’s reputation. 

Hirshman follows Ginsburg’s career as an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union where she advocated for women’s rights and gender equality in multiple Supreme Court cases. Her path to the Supreme Court is inspiring for women in the legal field and paved the way for women’s rights.

O’Connor’s career followed a different path. She attended Stanford University but had the same difficulties as Ginsburg when finding employment before becoming a judge and elected official in Arizona. Justice O’Connor is the first female Supreme Court Justice. Although she is not as vocal of a feminist as Ginsburg, Hirshman makes it clear that she played an important role in the fight for women’s rights and representation. 

This book is an enjoyable read because of its engaging writing style and important message. Hirshman does an excellent job of making court cases and the legal system easy to follow and understand for the reader. 

While reading, I learned a lot about different court cases that I was previously unaware of, which was interesting because it demonstrates the long fight for gender equality and the strategies employed to give legal protections to women. Through reading about O’Connor and Ginsburg’s contributions to the legal field and the struggles they endured, I gained a greater appreciation and respect for both women. Hirshman captures the distinct personalities of both Ginsburg and O’Connor while simultaneously connecting both of their careers to illustrate the broader picture of women’s rights and feminism’s impact on society.

I would recommend this book to everyone since I think this topic is important. In particular, I would recommend this book to pre-law students because it helped me gain a broader view of the legal field and gave me a stronger appreciation for the opportunities afforded to me because of Justices Ginsburg and O’Connor.

“Destined for War: Can America and China Escape the Thucydides’s Trap?” by Graham Allison is a book that every American should read. Following the election of Joe Biden, the United States will most likely have a different approach to foreign affairs. Biden’s approach must address the situation and the threats that we will face. The book does a great job of detailing the next major conflict. More importantly, it explains how close we are to it. 

Chinese-American relations have always been tense, but as Allison analogizes, we are sitting on a ticking time bomb, and no one knows when it will go off. An informed populace is a safe populace, and Allison’s book explains the facts that matter in the battle for the title of the global superpower. 

Allison is one of the most distinguished political scientists in the U.S. Notably, he was the dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University between the years 1977 and 1989. In the book, Allison explains the concept of the Thucydides Trap. The Thucydides Trap is the theory that describes the relationship between an established power and a rising power and is based on the relationship and eventual war between Sparta and Athens.

The Thucydides Trap theorizes that the actions by a rising power to expand and grow, whether economically, militarily or in size, will be seen as an imminent threat to the established powers’ respective hegemony. The intention of the rising power does not matter because the established country acts based on the capabilities of the country, not what it says it will do. The situation, as a result, escalates between the two until an event happens that sets off a war. In the book, Allison says that 16 countries have met his standard for established power and rising power in all of recorded history. Twelve of those conflicts have ended in a major war. 

However, this book is not all doom and gloom. The major theme of the book is that war between the two countries is not inescapable. If both countries make radical and drastic changes, then a war that will rock the global economy and global relations can be avoided. 

As Allison mentions, we have 16 examples of countries that have messed up this dynamic and how 10 ended in a major war, and two ended in world wars. Allison specifically mentions and describes past scenarios that are eerily similar to the relationship between Beijing and Washington. More importantly, he explains what they did wrong and what we need to learn from their blunders and successes.

The book does a brilliant job laying out the scene for the dilemma that will plague our generation. Allison describes the rapid economic growth of China in a way that every person can understand and master. In this description, he begins to portray the reality that the United States will not be (and perhaps already is not) the economic hegemon and the global trendsetter. That in itself will rock most Americans to their core. That statement is only one of the many bold, shocking and true statements about the reality of the race for hegemony between China and the US.

War with China is closer than anyone cares to admit or acknowledge. Allison describes the situation with an incredible amount of detail yet also with great simplicity. You do not need a degree in political science or economics to understand his message. He also avoids the cardinal sin of academic-based books: monotony. The pace of the books flows very well while still maintaining the severity of both the situation and facts.

I would recommend “Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’ Trap?” for anyone that wants to know more about the world we live in outside our borders. Americans are lulled into a sense of security with a propaganda machine that portrays us as the quintessential superpower. Allison’s book beautifully portrays the fact that there is a new player on the block, and they want to have their time on the alleged “throne.” How we react to this dynamic is unclear, but “Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’ Trap?” gives a brilliant sneak peek and hypothesis.

As a self-proclaimed avid reader, many books have influenced my worldview and helped me understand my identity. I’ve learned so much about different cultures and perspectives through reading, which has ultimately expanded my understanding and compassion. 

Books have also shown me characters with whom I share similar traits and experiences. In turn, I’ve learned how to navigate hardships and taken inspiration from authors and their characters. Through reading, I have learned life lessons that have shaped my upbringing and continue to push me to grow – these books have challenged me and influenced many aspects of my life. I credit most of my personal growth to books that have influenced how I view feminism, social issues, sexuality and the complexity of humanity.

“Women Don’t Owe You Pretty” by Florence Given

One of my favorite books, “Women Don’t Owe You Pretty,” by Florence Given, changed my outlook on feminism, especially regarding internalized misogyny. Given addresses controversial topics such as female sexuality, privilege and sexual assault in an honest manner, which helped me understand these topics in a more nuanced way. 

After reading this book, my outlook on relationships and heteronormativity changed for the better. The illustrations are also very fun and I love the representation it depicts. By reading this book, you can learn about self-love and acceptance, while also challenging yourself to hold yourself and others accountable. I would suggest this book to anyone, regardless of gender, because the lessons that it teaches are important for everyone to learn. The lessons on high-value partners, consent and body positivity are applicable to everyone.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee

My childhood favorite, Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” needs no introduction. This book addresses complex issues of systemic racism and features strong characters. The protagonist, Atticus Finch still remains one of my favorite characters. His morally-upright temperament is an inspiration. 

This book helped me develop my interest and desire to work in the legal field. The lessons in this book surrounding racism are still vital in today’s society, as institutionalized racism still exists. Overall, this book remains one of the most influential books from the 20th century, as it educated and inspired generations of Americans.

“Winesburg, Ohio” by Sherwood Andersen

Sherwood Anderson’s “Winesburg, Ohio” influenced my own writing, as it teaches life lessons through beautifully-written stories. The novel features a collection of short stories written about the townspeople of Winesburg, Ohio, and it taught me about the beauty of ordinary people in literature and the depth that exists within storytelling. 

Anderson’s novel addresses topics of social stigma, sexuality and sexism, which inspire compassion in the reader. My favorite thing about this book is that it illustrates the complexity of individuals while simultaneously affirming the basic humanity that all people have.

“Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell’s “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” changed the way I understand human thought and my own perceptions. This nonfiction book presents findings from the fields of psychology and behavioral economics in an interesting and engaging manner. It centers on the concept that our decisions are not as planned as we would imagine, and this is often beneficial. 

By reading this book, my awareness of biases changed: Previously, I was unaware of the impact that one’s identity had on forming the biases that affect all aspects of decision making, but now, I have a better understanding of subconscious decision making. I can challenge myself to make more conscious decisions without such biases.

“1984” by George Orwell

George Orwell’s “1984” remains one of my favorite books because of its influence on my view of society and politics. It’s a bleak novel, set in a dystopian and authoritarian society that acts as a warning against the deterioration of democracy. This book aided in forming my interest in politics and taught me the value of free expression. In today’s political climate, this book holds importance, as it shows the dangers of a nondemocratic and authoritarian government.

“The unicorn lived in a lilac wood and she lived all alone.” I think about this opening line, sometimes; how simplistic, how straightforward. How sad. There is no “once upon a time,” but you feel it there all the same. It’s the kind of opening line you dream about coming up with as a writer – but that might be because what follows it is so artfully crafted that the weight of the whole story rests, in turn, on that very first sentence.

Peter S. Beagle’s most well-known work is also one of his earliest, and it has more than stood the test of time. A self-aware fairytale, “The Last Unicorn” follows the titular unicorn on her hero’s quest to find and free the rest of her species from imprisonment by the lonely King Haggard, who has captured all the other unicorns because they are the only things that make him happy. The unicorn is joined on her journey by Schmendrick the magician, a young man cursed with immortality until he can unlock his potential for true magic but can only perform bad card tricks in the meantime, and Molly Grue, a woman with a sharp tongue and a soft smile whose resilience and love break my heart in all the best ways.

Not only is Beagle’s language beautiful and evocative but his commentary on standard character archetypes is clever, thought-provoking and thoughtful at the same time. One example of this metafictional commentary occurs during the unicorn’s final confrontation with the creature that guards the captive unicorns. Haggard’s son, Prince Lir, demands that Schmendrick do something to save her, asking what good magic is if it cannot even save a unicorn. “That is what heroes are for,” Schmendrick tells him – and it’s true, wizards in fairytales don’t charge in to save anyone, heroes do.

There are very few stories that manage to function both on a narrative level and a metafictional level, but those that do are breathtakingly beautiful in their craftsmanship. “The Last Unicorn” is one such story. Beagle’s characters question the roles they seem to have been given, question the line between fiction and reality and even tease the idea of what would happen if they terminated the narrative early and left the quest unfinished.

“Haven’t you ever been in a fairytale before?”

It’s impossible to read this book and not be left thinking: about the characters, about lines like this, about the nature of stories in general. Needless to say, if you’re looking for a casual read, this isn’t what you’ll want – but if you’re in the mood for a book that will ask you to reevaluate what you know about fairytales, reality and narrative – all while tugging at your heartstrings – pick up “The Last Unicorn.” You won’t regret it.