Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery, by bell hooks and narrated by Adenrele Ojo, is a classic that always rewards revisiting.

By the time I read the first edition of this book, hooks was already among my favorite writers. Coupled with Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, she heavily influenced how I approached my teaching. A colleague brought this book to my attention and suggested that I offer it as voluntary reading on syllabi. Over several years of doing so, it was the book that generated the most discussion during office hours and was the most referenced non-mandatory reading in classroom discussion. This book doesn't just inform, it helps people to grow and heal from the many wounds our society inflicts on a daily basis.

I just listened to the audio version and thoroughly enjoyed it. The narration is superb and being able to just listen is a gift. Like her wonderful lectures, her writing is sometimes best absorbed by listening.

Along with all of her books, I highly recommend this volume. Of all her books, I think this is an ideal one to have in audio. It rewards multiple readings/listenings and having it on while driving or commuting, while going about the more mundane tasks we do every day, can help us to keep things in perspective while also making sure we don't lose sight of our personal wellbeing. It is from that position that we can best make societal change.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )