10 of the best satire books on race, gender and society

Starting with the classics, this 60 CE text contains one of the best satirical meal scenes I have ever read. It’s a real send-off of Nero’s Rome with the wealthy indulging themselves to the fullest. I had read it just for this scene; the satire continues with the other fragments, but it really gets “out there” in the rest of the story.

This is an 18th-century experimental novel allegedly about Tristram Shandy, which tells his life story… sort of. This is a book that defies summary, but I would describe it as a satire on learning, literature, and philosophy as a whole. It’s all over the place, back and forth in the timeline — so much so that the book includes a pictorial depiction of the plot near the end that’s basically one giant scribble. It is a strange and special book and truly a book out of its time.

Few books are dedicated to the worm breaking down the author’s body, but here we are. Set in 19th century Brazil, Brás Cubas tells his life story with biting commentary – since he is dead, after all. He breaks off at various points, at one point to recount a crazy dream of riding a hippopotamus. It’s reminiscent of 19th century Brazil, but also of society’s senseless adherence to tradition.

Winner of the National Book Award and considered one of the most important books of the 20th century, Invisible Man features an unnamed young black man who travels the nightmarish American landscape from south to north. Through surreal and maddening encounters, the book exposes racial dynamics in the United States. It may have been written in 1952, but it is still relevant today.

Parker is one of America’s great writers, known for his quick wit and commentary. This book is a collection of his short stories, essays, poetry, and more. For example, she once said, “The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” His scathing writing, whether fiction or non-fiction, exposes many of the contradictions of American society.

This is Arenas’ account of the classic Cuban history of 1839 Cecilia Valdes about mixed-race Cecilia, who falls in love with a wealthy aristocrat who ends up betraying her. Arena’s version tells the story from multiple perspectives. It’s a satire of the original work, full of racial and gender dynamics, but Arenas puts his own spin on the idea of ​​the tragic love story or even the love story in general.

The premise of this book is that one day women realize that they can electrocute people with their hands. The book winds from a cast of characters, an American politician, an adopted child, a daughter of a crime family, and more. It’s not a thought-provoking story of women’s liberation, but a dark reflection on how things never really change.

Korede continues to have to clean up after the murders of her sister Ayoola. So far, that’s three. She could go to the cops, but she’s family, right? When his sister lays eyes on Korede’s crush, however, things may have to change. It plays with the crime novel format as well as the idea of ​​what we are willing to do for our families.

This book explores the absurd world of work. The narrator is a temp who goes from job to job, from any pirate, assassin, witch’s assistant, all in search of illusory performances. It’s a commentary on how employers ask workers more and more for little in return.

While female dog planet is a three-book dystopian graphic novel (two trade books and a third short stories), it’s an incredible exploration of gender dynamics. Women who act outside of their prescribed patriarchal gender roles are branded nonconformists and sent to a prison planet indefinitely. From not being the perfect mother to refusing advances from your employer, you can get a one-way ticket to Bitch Planet. It has been compared to that of Margaret Atwood The Handmaid’s Tale. Unfortunately, this seems increasingly relevant in our time.