Decolonize Your Bookshelves in 50 Books
This list is based on the book by Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne, and Kadija Sesay (This is the Canon: Decolonize Your Bookshelves in 50 Books)
As the title suggests, the book aims to broaden readers’ horizons. The list contains works by non-white, mostly female authors.
created by Punny
last updated June, 2026
Comments
Decolonizing our bookshelves but there’s two Japanese books on the list? The atrocities they committed against Koreans when they colonized Korea for 30 years were terrible!
It looks like this list is built with recommendations from a book, so idk if OP would have an answer for this. I haven't heard of the book though, so I'm not familiar with the criteria they used for their recommendations.
Yeah, i saw that description when I came across the list but that’s still my general question/commentary about it regardless of who came up with it.
Are you misunderstanding the list on purpose? As @acidicchaos says, this list is based on a book which aims to introduce readers to more diverse books written by non-white authors. (I mentioned this in the list's description as well...) I will quote from the blurb just to be clear: "Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne and Kadija Sesay have curated a decolonized reading list that celebrates the wide and diverse experiences of people from around the world, of all backgrounds and all races. It disrupts the all-too-often white-dominated 'required reading' collections that have become the accepted norm and highlights powerful voices and cultural perspectives that demand a place on our shelves."
If you didn’t come up with the name or the list, why are you bothered? I think you need to familiarize yourself with what the word ‘colonize’ means instead of asking me about my comprehension. The only thing the quote lets me know is they also used the word incorrectly. If the goal was just to recommend literature that wasn’t from white western authors, there are a million ways to articulate that.
OP doesn't seem bothered to me, you asked why those books were on their list and OP answered you. Looking forward to seeing your own version of the Decolonize Your Bookshelf List, @MadisonBailey with the changes you make!
As was clear from the beginning, the OP didn’t make the list so she actually didn’t need to feel compelled to answer for the authors choices (or to get indignant on their behalf). In every context imaginable, asking someone if they’re misunderstanding something on purpose does indeed indicate you’re bothered. You also seem bothered that I dared question something on this list that is CLEARLY beloved to both of you. Too bad, though! I said what I said and I asked what I asked and I’m NOT changing it because questioning things where marginalized ppl are involved and making sure history is not forgotten is NEVER wrong. Don’t bother quoting me again about this.
