“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.”
BOOKS (FICTION & NON-FICTION)
Reading is one of the most powerful tools we have to expand our minds, challenge our assumptions, and nurture our humanity. Non-fiction grounds us in truth, it sharpens our awareness, exposes systemic realities, and fuels the intellect needed to question the world around us. Fiction, on the other hand, restores balance. It reawakens imagination, empathy, and emotional depth, qualities that allow us to connect meaningfully beyond facts and figures. Without fiction, we risk becoming informed but uninspired; without non-fiction, we risk being inspired but uninformed. The harmony between the two keeps us both conscious and creative, awake and aware, yet still human enough to dream. Because in the end, it’s cool to be woke, but sometimes you need naps.
We welcome recommendations for books or documentaries that align with this mission; please send suggestions to pocbookrecs@gmail.com.
DOCUMENTARIES
Documentaries play a vital role in illuminating the lived realities of people who are too often marginalized, silenced, or misrepresented, offering necessary context to stories that history, media, and institutions have left untold. They create space for deeper understanding by centering voices, struggles, and perspectives that challenge dominant narratives and invite empathy, accountability, and reflection. This list has been intentionally curated to provide a diverse lens across many sectors of life, history, politics, culture, labor, art, and resistance, highlighting the interconnected nature of these experiences. (Click Covers to View Trailers)
The collection will continue to grow over time, and we welcome recommendations for books or documentaries that align with this mission. Please send your suggestions to pocbookrecs@gmail.com.
