Why we need literature more than ever to face the rise of the right

The news these past days, weeks, even years has been relentlessly bleak. Every headline seems to land harder than the last. Whether it's the rights of immigrants, Palestinians, or the LGBTQ+ community under threat; climate disasters like the LA fires; the J6 pardons; or the very existence of people like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg—it’s an endless wave of shit.
I tell myself to arm up with facts and stats, to debate those I’m politically opposed to harder and better, to fight with the weight of evidence behind me. But the debates leave me drained, stuck in a loop of frustration, right back where I started. There’s only so much one person can take before you feel like you’re drowning.
When it all gets too much, anger and frustration give way to numbness. That’s when I retreat into books or my own writing. Screw the morning paper—how about opening a novel?
It’s easier to look away—and I do. Sometimes, I feel guilty, like I’m turning my back on the moment, giving up—or worse, becoming a bystander. But while reading Minor Detail by Adania Shibli, I realized something: books aren’t about turning away. They’re not an escape—they’re a window. And right now, more than ever, we need them.
The Power of Books
Over the past year, I’ve read Determination by Tawseef Khan, Guatemalan Anthology by Jared Lemus, Under a Neon Sun by Kate Gale,Pig by Johanna Stoberock, Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán, Not a River by Selva Almada, There is a Rio Grande in Heaven by Ruben Reyes Jr... to name just a few.
Each of these books made me think—not just about the issues they explore, but about the irreplaceable role literature plays in challenging and expanding our perspectives. They reminded me why stories matter now more than ever. Because literature isn’t just entertainment—it’s fuel. It’s empathy in action. A great book doesn’t just tell you about someone else’s world—it lets you live in it.
And in a time when so many leaders are peddling an "us vs. them" mindset, stories make it impossible to ignore the humanity in others. They tear down the walls people like Musk and Trump are so determined to build. They don’t just foster empathy; they demand it. They force us to question systems and assumptions that some people take for granted. And in the face of leaders signing executive orders that strip away rights and freedoms, these books couldn’t feel more urgent.
The Rise of the Right
The rise of right-wing politics isn’t new, and literature has always been one of the most powerful ways to understand how these movements take shape, what they lead to, and how to resist them. Books like Jack London’s The Iron Heel or Paul Lynch’s The Prophet Song lay it bare.
That’s why books have always been targets for censorship, especially by authoritarian governments. Because literature is power. It’s freedom of thought and expression—the bedrock of any democracy worth fighting for. When you read a book, when you share one, you’re standing up for those freedoms.
Political movements thrive on oversimplified narratives and black-and-white thinking. Literature refuses to let you off that easy. Great books are messy. They’re full of complexity, ambiguity, and hard truths about right and wrong. They demand you sit with discomfort and grapple with nuance. To think about the world in a different way.
Open a book
And yes, this is another echo chamber. The books we share and the conversations we have are often with people who already agree—and that’s okay. We need reaffirmation of our convictions, to stand firm in the face of this onslaught. To keep reading is to preserve empathy, to keep learning, and to remind ourselves not to give up. It helps us think critically, reinforce our values, and see the world through someone else’s eyes—and ultimately, to resist.
In the chaos and division we’re living through, don’t underestimate the power of literature. In a world on fire, when everything feels like it’s gone to shit, stories might be the one thing that keeps us fighting.
So pick up a book. Share it. Talk about it. It’s never been more important.
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