We see a lot on Booktok and Bookstagram about reading diversely, but what does it mean and why is it important? Experiencing a completely homogeneous life, both in reality and in the stories we consume, can be limiting. If you only experience the same things as you always have and read about people who look and think like you, then you’re only exploring a tiny corner of the world.
In this blog, we’ll break down what diverse reading means, why it matters, and how you can start incorporating more of it into your reading life.
What types of diversity are there?
Diversity can cover almost any type of lived experience. These include:
- Race and ethnicity
- Religion and belief systems
- Sexuality
- Gender identity
- Country or culture of origin
- Neurodivergence
- Physical or mental health conditions
- Disability
- Economic background
- Geographic location (rural, urban, global north/south)
Think about yourself for a moment: What is your race? Your religion? Your gender and sexuality? Where do you live? Are you neurotypical? Do you have any health conditions? What is your economic background?
Then think about the last book you read, how many of these things did the author or main character have in common with you? If the answer is all or most, then it was not a diverse read for you.
Because we all have different lived experiences, diversity can mean something different to everyone. However, in the whole, when we talk about diverse books we are talking about books that include stories that are different to the “norm” in publishing. In the Western World, this is typically a white, cis-het person from the USA, Canada or Europe who has no health conditions, disabilities or neuro-differences. Traditionally, writers who didn’t fit these categories struggled to get published.
Why is it important that we read diversely?
As mentioned above, reading books by people and featuring characters who all live and think like you is pretty monotonous. There is a saying that ‘A reader lives 1000 lives’, but if you always read about the same one, then that’s not really true.
We know from multiple studies that reading can make you more empathetic, which is only ever a good thing. For example, I am a white woman from the UK. I can not ever know first hand what it is like to be a Black man in the USA; but I can read about it and learn to empathise in ways I never could otherwise.
Reading diversely also sends a clear message to publishers that these stories matter and deserve to be printed. As mentioned earlier, authors from marginalized backgrounds have traditionally found it harder to break into publishing. So to ensure that these stories are told and are available for the next generation, we need to show publishers that we want to read them now.
What does Own Voice mean?
Own Voice is a term that is often mentioned in collaboration with diversity. Put simply, Own Voice means that the author has a first hand, lived experience of the thing that they are writing about.
For example:
- A Black author writing about Black characters
- An autistic author writing about an autistic character
- An author from Argentina writing about Argentine culture
By finding diverse books written by an Own Voice author you can be more confident that the experiences they write about are true to life. However, it’s important to remember that no group is a monolith; one person’s experience of being trans, autistic, Black, Muslim, disabled, etc., may differ completely from another person’s.
This is why it is important to continue to read diversely rather that ticking a box and calling it done.
Celebrating Differences, Not Erasing Them
When we read diversely, the goal isn’t just to acknowledge differences but to celebrate them. Diverse books should highlight the value of varied experiences, perspectives, and ways of being in the world.
Stories that frame neurodiversity or disability as something to be “cured” or erased undermine this purpose and can perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Instead, meaningful diverse reading helps us appreciate unique strengths, recognize systemic barriers, and foster empathy. Choosing books that affirm and uplift these identities is essential for creating truly inclusive and respectful reading experiences.
How do I find diverse reads?
You may need to do a little bit more work to read diversely, but it is so worth it!
I’d suggest checking out our Read the World series for lists of books written by authors from various countries around the world. We have a new country every month, if you don’t spot your country and want to write a list for us, email jenny@bookinfluencers.com.
A way that I like to read diversely is to gamify my reads. I pick 10-12 diverse traits at the start of the year, and aim to fulfil these over the year. This covers different nationalities, races, religions, disabilities, neuro-differences, mental health conditions, sexualities and gender.
And remember: you don’t have to read nonfiction to read diversely. Every genre: romance, fantasy, thriller, sci-fi, horror, and more, includes diverse authors. Look out for titles in the genres you already enjoy!
Reading List: A Starting Point for Diverse Reads
Below is a list of titles that include various diverse traits to give you a starting point for your diverse reading.
Disabilities and Health Conditions
- Out on a Limb — Amputation and limb difference
- Fourth Wing — Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- The Chemistry Test — Wheelchair user
Sexuality
- You Weren’t Meant to Be Human — Trans representation
- Loveless — Asexuality
- I Wish You All the Best — Non-binary representation
Mental Health
- All the Bright Places — Depression
- Fight Club — Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Challenger Deep — Schizophrenia
Neurodivegence
- Act Your Age, Eve Brown — Autism
- Percy Jackson — ADHD
- Six of Crows — Dyslexia
Conclusion: Reading the World Makes Your World Bigger
Reading diversely isn’t about meeting a quota, it’s about expanding your worldview, deepening your empathy, and celebrating the incredible variety of human experience. The more we read stories unlike our own, the better equipped we are to understand others and challenge the biases we may not even realise we carry.
By choosing diverse books and supporting the authors who write them, we create space for more voices, more stories, and more truth on our shelves. And in doing so, we make our own reading lives richer, fuller, and undeniably more interesting.
