Half the Sky

Last year for Christmas I received a book from my brother that he thoughtfully selected based on my interests. I was really excited when I opened it because it is exactly I something I would pick up in a bookstore, and now that the craziness of grad school is over I finally have time for leisure reading. I brought the book with me and read it last week and I have to make a recommendation here. If you are interested in women’s rights and the developing world, you have to read Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. The authors have traveled to numerous third world countries documenting the struggles that women face and coming up with suggestions for “turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide.” Some of the personal stories are difficult to read and heartbreaking, but you can’t deny the fact that things like sex trafficking, rape, maternal mortality, and lack of education are keeping women and girls from being able to take care of themselves and be successful in parts of the world. Even if development and poor countries is not something you’re usually interested in, I think everyone would learn something from this book and maybe at least be inspired to donate to aid organizations working to help in these areas. If you do read it, let me know what you think!