UNC Press Books Selected as 2023 Choice Outstanding Academic Titles

Congratulations to the following books that have been selected as 2023 Choice Outstanding Academic Titles! Choice’s list “reflects the best in scholarly titles, both print and digital, reviewed by Choice during the previous year” and contains only about ten percent of the books that they reviewed this year. You can learn more about the selection process on their website.

An Army Afire: How the US Army Confronted Its Racial Crisis in the Vietnam Era by Beth Bailey

“An essential addition to the historiography of the Vietnam War era and the US Army, as it relates the racial conflict in the US to the experiences of American soldiers worldwide. Bailey expands the field of military history and is taking the discipline to exciting new places. This book is a must read for all who are interested in the history of race relations in the US, and should be required reading for all military historians . . . . Highly recommended.”—CHOICE

The Benefits of Friends: Inside the Complicated World of Today’s Sororities and Fraternities by Jana Mathews

“Essential . . . . Mathews digs deep into a world below the surface of publicly marketed university life, engaging readers in conversation regarding the future of these organizations, which both critics and advocates of Greek life can appreciate. Mathews brings together research, thoughtful reflection, and personal accounts with a captivating style. Campus leaders will value the opportunity for campus discussion alongside potential research topics with an in-depth bibliography for students. This is necessary reading for higher education professionals.”—CHOICE

Drastic Dykes and Accidental Activists: Queer Women in the Urban South by La Shonda Mims

“There is no one lesbian experience, just as there is no one human experience. Mims confronts this challenge head-on in her parallel histories of “women loving women” in Atlanta, GA, and Charlotte, NC . . . . [Mims] incorporates the experiences of women of color without tokenism . . . . She also skillfully discusses the role of sexism and gay white privilege. This important work sits at the intersection of race, economics, religion, sectionalism, gender, and sexuality . . . . Highly recommended.”—CHOICE

State of Disaster: The Failure of U.S. Migration Policy in an Age of Climate Change by Maria Cristina Garcia

“This book is critical for understanding how climate change intersects with hemispheric political history and regional inequality to increase immediate suffering in the wake of natural disasters and undermine longer-term safety and security. . . . Essential.”—CHOICE

The Unfinished Business of Unsettled Things: Art from an African American South edited by Bernard L. Herman

“Essential . . . . This well-written, lavishly illustrated volume will be valuable for a wide audience.”—CHOICE

Toxic Debt: An Environmental Justice History of Detroit by Josiah Rector

“An outstanding book examining multiple issues of environmental justice in Detroit. . . . Alongside the issues, Rector highlights the story of the many people involved in environmental justice activism, critically examining successes and failures in their efforts to bring about change. . . . Highly recommended.”—CHOICE

Transpacific Convergences: Race, Migration, and Japanese American Film Culture before World War II by Denise Khor

“A marvelous, well-researched exploration of Japanese American film culture. . . . This methodical, exemplary book is a valuable contribution to early-20th-century film culture in the US. Essential.”—CHOICE