Books on Justice & Injustice

James Baldwin said, "It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." In this collection, we've compiled texts that explore the idea of what justice is — and how it can thrive.

Interior Chinatown

by Charles Yu

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Nation, Justice

Tags Realistic Fiction, Symbolic Narrative, Race & Racism, Arts & Culture, Diversity, US History, Asian Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, Humor

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In the Penal Colony

by Franz Kafka

Publication year 1919

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Justice

Tags Symbolic Narrative, Philosophy, German Literature, Horror & Suspense, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

“In the Penal Colony” is a short story by Franz Kafka that was written in the German language in 1914. It is an allegorical fantasy set in an unnamed, deserted colony. The story explores themes like the dynamics of Power and Control, the tension between Tradition and Conformity Versus Innovation and Progress, and the consequences of a Lack of Sense of Self and Belonging. The machine is a metaphor for the judicial system, which can... Read In the Penal Colony Summary

In the Shadow of Man

by Jane Goodall

Publication year 1971

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Environment, Animals, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Justice, Conflict, Forgiveness

Tags Science & Nature, Animals, Anthropology, Anthropology, Classic Fiction, Biography

Published in 1971, In the Shadow of Man is the third and most famous book by British primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall. The work details Goodall’s groundbreaking study of chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park and her unlikely journey from being a secretary in the UK to heading a major chimpanzee study in East Africa and becoming one of the world’s foremost primatology experts. Functioning as both a memoir and a scientific exploration of chimp... Read In the Shadow of Man Summary

Intimacies

by Katie Kitamura

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Friendship, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, Art, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

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Intruder In The Dust

by William Faulkner

Publication year 1948

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Shame & Pride, Race, Equality, Justice

Tags Race & Racism, Southern Gothic, Mystery & Crime Fiction, American Literature, Southern Literature, Southern Gothic, World History, Classic Fiction

Intruder in the Dust is a 1948 novel by William Faulkner that examines racism in the American South in the mid-20th century through the tale of a Black man wrongly accused of killing a white man. The novel was adapted into a well-received film in 1949.This guide is based on the 2015 Vintage edition.Content Warning: The source text and this guide discuss racism, enslavement, and death by suicide. In addition, the source text uses the... Read Intruder In The Dust Summary

Invisible Child

by Andrea Elliott

Publication year 2021

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Race, Social Class, Education, Loyalty & Betrayal, Justice

Tags Race & Racism, Social Justice, Poverty, Sociology, World History, Politics & Government, Biography

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Invisible Girl

by Lisa Jewell

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Grief, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Masculinity, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Family, Justice, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Self Discovery

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

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Iqbal

by Francesco D'Adamo

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Childhood & Youth, Truth & Lies, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Arts & Culture

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I, Robot

by Isaac Asimov

Publication year 1950

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Science & Technology, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Classic Fiction, Fantasy

I, Robot, a science fiction novel by Isaac Asimov, is a set of stories about the first robotic machines and the problems and pitfalls of living with and working alongside them. The book is the first in a series of several novels about robots; it is famous for its Three Laws of Robotics that govern machine behavior, and for its device, the positronic brain, which contains a robot’s conscious intelligence.Asimov (1920-1992) is one of the... Read I, Robot Summary

Iron Lake

by William Kent Krueger

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Grief, Memory, Indigenous Identity, Death, Climate, Environment, Place, Family, Colonialism, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction

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Iron Widow

by Xiran Jay Zhao

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Equality, Justice, Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+

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Ironwood

by Michael Connelly

Publication year 2026

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Guilt, Loneliness, Love, Femininity, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Death, Future, Climate, Environment, Plants, Place, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Immigration, Politics & Government, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Horror & Suspense

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Islam

by Karen Armstrong

Publication year 2000

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes The Past, Colonialism, Community, Globalization, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Religion & Spirituality, World History, Philosophy, Theology, Politics & Government, Historical Fiction

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