Staff picks

You may be wondering: when not at work, what were CFSC staff listening to, watching, and reading in 2024? Even if you weren’t wondering, we’re about to tell you! Here are our (slightly belated) staff picks of content we loved in our downtime in 2024:

Mel Burns, Peace Program Coordinator—Curiosities by Anny Flemming. Half-novel, half-historical account, this fascinating tale explores a story of two gender nonconforming and sexual minorities in the 17^th century. Note that the book contains minimal suggestive content.

Dalya Eidda, CFSC Administrator—Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco. I reread this graphic novel, which narrates the harsh conditions that Palestinians lived under after the 1948 Nakba when people were expelled from their homes by Israel. It shares the events of the 1956 war, highlighting the massacres Israel committed and events that have been relegated to the footnotes of history. It also describes the conditions that Palestinians in Gaza were living in in the early 2000s (at the time of the author’s visit).

Matthew Legge, Communications Coordinator—The Human Network: How Your Social Position Determines Your Power, Beliefs, and Behaviours by Matthew Jackson. This book was written by an economist who thinks very differently from me, and perhaps because of that I learned a lot from it that was both highly relevant and that I’d never heard elsewhere. In particular the chapter on homophily is a deeply intriguing read for those of us who are interested in working for more just and equitable societies.

Jennifer Preston, General Secretary and Indigenous Rights Program Coordinator—Quaker Spirituality: Selected Writings by Douglas Steere. This was a pick in my Monthly Meeting’s book club and I really enjoyed reading the words of early Friends.

Priscila Recinos, Finance Assistant—The Substance directed by Coralie Fargeat. This is a movie about the price that humans are willing to pay to maintain their youth.  It’s kind of a scary movie when you think that this is reality for a lot of people.

Karen Ridd, Transformative Justice Program Coordinator—Indictment: The Justice System on Trial by Benjamin Perrin. Published in 2023, this book is a scathingly critical look at the Canadian justice system and the injustices that it perpetrates. In doing this, Perrin (a former advisor to Stephen Harper and an architect of that government’s “tough on crime” policies) candidly and honestly indicts himself. Although written by a legal scholar, it’s very accessible. One of the best things about the book is that Perrin has done a very thorough job of consulting with people “on the ground” who know more than he does… and listening to them.

Rachel Singleton-Polster, Indigenous rights work (contract)—I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl’s Notes from the End of the World by Kai Cheng Thom. This collection of writing is a powerful antidote to the grief and anxiety of our present moment—especially for those working in, or caring deeply about, social justice. Thom’s approach is refreshing and inspiring, a call to meet the challenges of our time with compassion, empathy, courage, and, as the title suggests, love.

Jeremy Vander Hoek, Assistant, CFSC Events and Indigenous Rights—Dear Hank and John! This is a comedy podcast where the two titular brothers answer listener questions about science, life, and everything else. It is sincerely funny and often surprisingly genuine. Alongside the jokes, the Green brothers often speak about celebrating positive change in the world and why hope isn’t foolish. Unlike some other content these days, they inspire change through positivity rather than rage-baiting.

Sandra Wiens, Government Relations Representative—Pod Save the World and Pod Save the UK. I like the insightful and humorous look at politics and the interviews are almost always intelligent and entertaining. It makes me wish there was a Pod Save Canada version!