In Europe, the concept of “summer” feels almost like a fundamental right. For several weeks, shops close up and cities empty out as workers and families undertake their annual traditions of checking out from everyday life.
Soaring temperatures, spreading wildfires, and high-season prices do not appear to have changed this pattern much. It’s as if capitalism itself downshifts to a less oppressive mode of operation in this season—its neoliberal impulses dulled by ocean tides and mountain air.
Yet those structures are never far away. In the Mediterranean, they help determine who sinks and who swims; from the Balkans and across the Schengen Area, they police borders and movement across them.
Everyone should enjoy well-deserved time off, without forgetting who gets to be off and why—and what “off” even means.
That’s why, before you disappear till September, Shada, Emmanuel, and William send you packing with our favorite books. These are stories and histories of resilience, resistance, and remembrance. We hope they fill you with inspiration and good ideas to bring back with you.
We’d love to hear what you think of them and share your favorite books with us!
Until then, have a great and meaningful summer with the people who matter most to you.
Join us as we confront the imperial core with its multifaceted peripheries. And remember: Solidarity means moving through the world together, so be sure to share us with an ally or two—or someone needs a little nudge to become one.
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