What scholars are reading: Top-read JSTOR ebooks and editor picks

Who it’s for: This book may be of interest to art history faculty teaching early modern Europe, graduate seminars on visual culture and empire, or librarians building collections on art and colonialism.

Why you should read: The research presented in this monograph offers a fresh perspective on the 17th-century Dutch Republic, specifically the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on global commerce and various Dutch artists. Ultimately, it highlights the absence of Indigenous and African enslaved individuals in art that, inevitably, derives from economic and cultural logics rooted in the commodification of bodies.

Who it’s for: This monograph is ideal for film and media studies programs, urban studies faculty, and students interested in cinema and public spaces.

Why you should read: Projecting Desire illustrates a shift in audiences for Indian screen and exhibition enterprises. While these were primarily designed for subaltern men, globalization’s effect on media and urban planning has allowed for a substantial reimagination of media, culture, and cinema. The book focuses crucially on the role of middle-class Indian women in these changes.

Who it’s for: This would fit well in the syllabi of US history survey instructors. It will also be of interest to scholars of hemispheric studies and librarians building on 19th-century transnational topics.

Why you should read: Exceptionalism in Crisis explores the American Civil War’s influence on popular notions of the U.S. It explains that where Americans once believed their nation to be impervious to political instability, the war revealed an unacknowledged actuality. It also outlines Mexico’s longstanding general position as a foil to the U.S. in terms of unrest and how this varied during the nineteenth century.

Who it’s for: Crush works well for introductory creative writing and poetry courses, as well as courses dedicated to LGBTQIA+ literature. It may also be of interest to librarians curating contemporary poetry.

Why you should read: Originally published 2005, this seminal poetry collection solidified Siken’s place in contemporary poetry. Its poems explore themes of intimacy, grief, and loss. With a new foreword from Nobel laureate Louise Glück and an introduction by poet Dana Levin, this 20th anniversary edition carries the debut collection into a new decade.

High praise: Crush has been awarded the 2004 Yale Series of Younger Poets prize and the 2005 Thom Gunn Award for Gay Poetry. It was also a finalist for the 2005 National Book Critics Circle Award (Poetry).

Who it’s for: Nahua Horizons would suit rhetoric courses, especially in Latin American rhetoric, along with Latin American literature courses. It may also be of interest to those focused on Indigenous studies and studies of colonialism.

Why you should read: This book describes how Nahua and other Mesoamerican writers conceived of and actively worked toward their community’s future in response to Spanish colonial rule. It describes how these writers helped determine cultural progress while recognizing their roles in doing so, arguing that colonialism did not successfully erase Nahua culture.

Who it’s for: Whether or not you’ve read extensively or watched documentaries about Martin Luther King Jr., this title is essential for deepening your understanding of the Civil Rights Movement beyond the South. It’s a perfect choice for readers passionate about history, American studies, urban politics, social justice, and community engagement.

Why you should read: There are countless books dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., but this one stands out. Described by the publisher as “myth-shattering,” it draws on meticulous research to show how Dr. King’s work challenged school segregation, police brutality, housing discrimination, and job inequality across the Northeast and West Coast—not just in the South. This is a powerful title on a timeless historical figure that offers a fresh and necessary perspective.

Who it’s for: Whether or not you follow the latest Wicked fandom, this book will appeal to readers across a range of disciplines—and even some outside traditional academic fields. It’s a perfect fit for classrooms in religion, gender studies, and anthropology, as well as for librarians curating decolonial and global religion collections.

Why you should read: Long a figure of cultural imagination, the witch has often been framed through Eurocentric lenses. This book reframes the concept by centering practitioner knowledge from the global South and diasporas. Through diverse contributions, readers encounter powerful stories and histories that move beyond conventional Western media portrayals, offering a deeper and more expansive understanding of what it means to be a witch.

Who it’s for: As this title explores the intersections of history, culture, and religion in the postwar period, it is well-suited for courses in European and North American religious history, world history, and comparative cultural studies, as well as for library collections on religion and society.

Why you should read: How did WWI change the roles of churches, religious movements, and communities? This collection of essays by contributors from around the world explores the role of Christian churches in Europe during the postwar period. Its transnational perspective also highlights the resilience of ecclesiastical networks and the cross-Atlantic loyalties that connected Europe and North America.

Who it’s for: With U.S.–Mexico migration remaining a pressing issue, this book will interest anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the subject. It is highly recommended for scholars and practitioners in migration studies, sociology, urban studies, political science, policy, qualitative research, and related fields.

Why you should read: Drawing on interviews with former U.S. migrants now living in Mexico City, the authors examine the experiences of returnees and contribute to a deeper understanding of return migration to urban areas. This book follows migrants as they navigate work, family, and policy after years in the United States, and discusses practices and solutions that could improve their lives and ease their social and psychological reintegration.