How to Say Babylon

Poet Safiya Sinclair grew up under a father who was a volatile reggae musician and a militant follower of a strict sect of Rastafari. In her memoir, he becomes obsessed with guarding her purity from Babylon, the Rasta name for the corrupting influence of the Western world, and prizes obedience above all in women. The women of the house wore long skirts and head wraps and were allowed no makeup, jewelry, opinions or friends. Her mother, though loyal to him, gave the children books, and poetry became Safiya's lifeline; education gave her a voice, and set her against her father's rage. The memoir won the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Jenna Bush Hager included it on her Read With Jenna book club list for the Today Show.