When I connected with Melinda Borda, a fellow homeschooling mom who shares insightful book reviews on Instagram, I was thrilled to learn that she had not only read my book, A Place to Belong: Raising Kids to Celebrate Their Heritage, Community, and the World, but she also decided to delve into every book I referenced within it. Our conversation revealed how profoundly enriching it can be to read what an author you admire has read. Building a reading list using a bibliography is not something I’ve done before, and I was intrigued!

Melinda’s journey through my book’s bibliography became a transformative experience. She shared how reading those texts broadened her understanding of cultural heritage, community, and the world. It allowed her to see the threads that connect various authors, ideas, and perspectives, weaving them into a more comprehensive understanding of the topics that matter to her and her family.

What makes this approach so powerful is the growth that comes from reading expansively. As Melinda explored each book, she encountered ideas that resonated deeply with her, as well as those that challenged her perspectives. This balance of agreement and disagreement, comfort and discomfort, is where true growth happens. It’s in these moments of stretching our minds that we can develop a more nuanced and informed view of the world.

Be sure to preorder my newest book! Soul School: Taking Kids On a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture

By using a book’s bibliography as a roadmap, you can build a reading list that not only aligns with your interests but also pushes you to explore new directions. Whether you find joy in the texts or grapple with them, the experience enriches your understanding and equips you with a broader, more diverse perspective.

So next time you finish a book you love, take a moment to explore the bibliography. You might just find that it leads you on a journey of discovery that’s as rewarding as the book itself.

Don’t miss my discussion with Melinda in the video below!

If you’re inspired by Melinda’s journey or simply want to learn more about raising children with deep roots and a wide-reaching embrace of others, I invite you to grab a copy of my book!

Melinda Borda is a homeschooling mom to six children living in central Nebraska. She and her husband, Jason, are both second-generation homeschoolers. Melinda has been a reader for as long as she can remember, and she shares book reviews on Instagram in the hopes of helping others find new-to-them books. Melinda can be found on Instagram @lifegivinglearning, and you can catch me there @heritagemomblog