Announcing Silicon Valley Reads 2022

Silicon Valley Reads masthead - a Silicon Valley wide literacy program that the Santa Clara City library foundation and friends supports

Silicon Valley Reads has announced their theme for 2022: Power of Kindness, Resilience, and Hope. From their press release:

“This year’s theme will allow us to engage in conversation about the transformative power of kindness, highlight our remarkable capacity for resilience, and build hopefulness for our future,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools, who serves as Silicon Valley Reads co-chair along with Jill Bourne, City of San José Library Director and Jennifer Weeks, Santa Clara County Librarian.

The featured nonfiction books have been selected to highlight the 2022 theme:

  • ·       See No Stranger* by Valarie Kaur: A synthesis of wisdom and a chronicle of personal and communal history, See No Stranger is part memoir, part practical guide to changing the world. Author Valarie Kaur, renowned Sikh activist, filmmaker and civil rights lawyer ignited the hearts of millions around the globe by sharing her compelling story and declaring Revolutionary Love as the call of our times: a radical, joyful practice that extends to others, to ourselves and to our opponents. A #1 Los Angeles Times best seller. *adult content
  • ·       Enough about Me by Richard Lui: Richard Lui made the difficult decision to leave his dream job as an NBC News/MSNBC anchor to help care for his ailing father in San Francisco. It was a difficult time, and through the challenge he realized that doing this selfless act had a positive overall impact on his well-being. He decided to dig deep into exploring acts of compassion from the lens of a reporter. Part scientific, part emotional, his journey is one that many will travel and the element of “anti-self” self-help can benefit our community as a whole.
  • ·       A Dream Called Home by Reyna Grande: A beautifully written immigrant story that quickly engages the reader. Reyna crosses the border at 9 years old and perseveres through many difficulties to find her way to UC Santa Cruz. With a passion for writing and the resilience to push forward, her story enlightens us to the challenges so many confront in making a home in America.

“The diversity of our authors and their personal stories reflect the experiences of our community members,” explained Jill Bourne, Director of San José Public Library. “People will identify with these memoirs, and if they can’t relate personally, they can learn from them.”

We’re looking forward to the 2022 version of Silicon Valley Reads!