Our Next Read + Book Guide
February/March book.
Book Coven is a free virtual book club dedicated to empowering members through literature as a tool for both personal and collective liberation. learn more
The results are in, and to be honest, it was a close call! Votes came in through comments, chat space, and direct email replies.
Inflamed is our next read.
This actually works in our favor, as we’ve just received news that No Spiritual Surrender is on backorder. We’ll be reading it after Inflamed, so if you’d like to grab a copy in advance, you can order it from the publisher or through Firestorm:
• Publisher: Detritus Books
• Firestorm Books (they have a few copies avaiable): Order here
If you haven’t grabbed a copy of Inflamed yet, you can order it through Bookshop, which supports independent bookstores and is linked to my personal Bookshop account. Purchasing through Bookshop helps sustain small bookstores rather than feeding corporate giants, ensuring that diverse and radical literature remains accessible.
I also encourage you to check your local bookstores and visit your library—many libraries offer physical, digital, and audiobook copies. Additionally, check Libby, a free app that allows you to borrow e-books and audiobooks through your local library. Supporting independent bookstores and public libraries strengthens our communities and keeps knowledge accessible to all.
To be part of Book Coven, all you need to do is subscribe to this newsletter community—so make sure you’re signed up!
It’s completely free to join.
Register
Our first Book Coven meeting will be on Thursday, April 3rd, at 7 PM Eastern Time. This will be our review and discussion session for Inflamed, and guess what? Dr. Rupa Marya will be joining us!
Important: At the end of this guide, you’ll find a call to action in support of Dr. Rupa Marya. It only takes a moment of your time, so be sure to check it out!
Register HERE.
If you need any support please reach me at support@iamjulietdiaz.com
Why Inflamed Is an Important and Timely Book
In a world increasingly shaped by climate crises, social upheaval, and deepening health disparities, Inflamed offers a necessary and urgent analysis of how our personal well-being is inseparable from historical injustices, ecological destruction, and systemic oppression. At a time when medical systems are failing marginalized communities, pandemics expose global inequalities, and environmental degradation threatens collective survival, this book demands that we rethink what health means—not just for individuals, but for entire societies and the planet itself.
We are at a critical crossroads: either we continue down a path of extractive destruction and worsening inequality, or we reimagine health as something inseparable from justice, land, and community. Inflamed is a book for those ready to engage in that reimagining—one that challenges power structures, centers communal well-being, and calls us to heal in ways that are as political as they are personal.
This is more than just a book—it’s an intervention, a wake-up call, and a guide for building a more just and healthy future.
Reading Guide for Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice
By Dr. Rupa Marya & Raj Patel
About the Authors
Dr. Rupa Marya
Dr. Rupa Marya is a physician, activist, and writer whose work focuses on the intersection of medicine, social justice, and environmental health. She is an associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and the founder of the Do No Harm Coalition, which partners with communities affected by structural inequities. Her work integrates Indigenous knowledge, decolonization, and systemic change into the understanding of health.
Raj Patel
Raj Patel is an author, activist, and academic who explores global food systems, economics, and social justice. He has worked with organizations like the World Bank and the WTO, often as a critic, and has written several books on food sovereignty and economic inequality. He teaches at the University of Texas at Austin and is known for his deep critiques of capitalism’s role in global health disparities.
About the Book
Inflamed argues that inflammation—both in the body and in society—is a direct consequence of colonialism, capitalism, and environmental destruction. It weaves together medical science, Indigenous wisdom, and political analysis to show how systemic injustices make entire populations more susceptible to disease. The book calls for a radical reimagining of health that acknowledges historical trauma, ecological destruction, and social oppression as fundamental determinants of well-being.
Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, Inflamed advocates for “deep medicine”—a way of healing that sees health as inseparable from the land, history, and relationships between people. The book challenges dominant medical models, offering a holistic, community-driven approach to reclaiming health from the forces that have exploited it.
Suggested Reading Schedule
We start today and meet for the final discussion on April 3rd at 7 PM Eastern Time. Here’s a structured plan to guide your reading:
• Week 1 (Feb 5 - Feb 11): Introduction + Chapter 1 (Fire)
• Week 2 (Feb 12 - Feb 18): Chapters 2-3 (Heart & Blood)
• Week 3 (Feb 19 - Feb 25): Chapters 4-5 (Gut & Mouth and Lungs)
• Week 4 (Feb 26 - Mar 3): Chapters 6-7 (Skin & Bones)
• Week 5 (Mar 4 - Mar 10): Chapters 8-9 (Mind & Spirit)
• Week 6 (Mar 11 - Mar 17): Chapters 10-11 (Immune System & Planetary Health)
• Week 7 (Mar 18 - Mar 24): Chapter 12 (Deep Medicine) + Reflections
• Week 8 (Mar 25 - Mar 31): Revisit key themes + Start discussion preparation
• Final Review & Discussion: April 3rd at 7 PM Eastern
Reading Prompts to Guide Reflection
1. How does the book redefine health beyond the conventional medical model?
2. What connections do the authors make between colonial history and current health disparities?
3. Which case studies or examples stood out most to you? Why?
4. How does inflammation in the body mirror social and environmental crises?
5. What role do Indigenous healing practices play in the book’s vision for a healthier future?
6. How do capitalism and systemic oppression show up in your own experiences with health care?
7. What practical steps can individuals and communities take to reclaim health through “deep medicine”?
Discussion Questions for Group Meetings
1. The authors argue that health is political. Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. What surprised you the most in this book? Did it challenge any of your beliefs?
3. How does the book’s concept of “deep medicine” compare to mainstream medical approaches?
4. What changes, if any, do you feel inspired to make in your own life after reading this book?
5. What systemic barriers to health exist in your own community, and how might they be addressed?
6. The book discusses how trauma is passed down intergenerationally. How do you see this playing out in the world today?
7. If you had the chance to ask the authors one question, what would it be?
Recommended Interviews & Videos
To deepen your understanding, check out these resources featuring the authors:
• Interview with Rupa Marya on Democracy Now!
Watch here
• Raj Patel’s Talk on the Politics of Health & Injustice
Watch here
Some of my favorite Quotes & Passages
• “The body is not independent from the land. The inflammation in our bodies is a direct consequence of the inflammation of the earth.”
• “Deep medicine requires us to see health not as an individual pursuit but as a communal one, intertwined with justice, history, and ecology.”
• “Colonialism is not in the past; it is in the very air we breathe.”
• “Healing requires more than just medicine; it requires dismantling the systems that make us sick in the first place.”
• “To truly heal, we must listen—not just to the body, but to the land, to the past, and to each other.”
A call to action
Dr. Rupa Marya, whose work and words have been a force for so many of us, is facing racist repression at UCSF for taking a principled stand against the normalization of genocide and racism in medicine. She’s currently on leave with pay but is being subjected to disciplinary proceedings—an attempt to weaponize Title VI against a woman of color who has spent 22 years speaking truth to power and taking the hits for it.
Clearly, her latest stance struck a nerve. If you believe in justice, in medicine that truly heals rather than upholds systems of harm, please take a moment to sign this letter of support. It was put together by the incredible medical students of SANAD—people who are actively building a path to liberation in medicine.
Let’s show up for Rupa the way she’s shown up for so many.
Sign here: bit.ly/rupamarya
BOOK COVEN
Welcome to Book Coven— Book Coven is a free virtual book club dedicated to empowering members through literature as a tool for both personal and collective liberation.
I’m so grateful you’re here. This is more than just a book club; it’s a Coven for those who believe in the power of literature to create change, heal, challenge, and transform. Whether you’re here to deepen your personal journey or to connect with a community dedicated to collective liberation, you are in the right place.
Rooted in Literary Activism
At its core, Book Coven is about more than books—it’s about action. We believe literature has the power to spark change, and we are committed to using this space to amplify urgent causes, share calls to action, and keep each other informed. Together, we engage with stories that challenge systems, honor voices too often silenced, and imagine new possibilities for ourselves and our communities.
Join us
What You Can Expect as a Book Coven Member
As part of the Book Coven community, you’ll receive:
• Monthly Reads – One book each month (with extended time for longer reads when needed).
• Curated Book Guides – Reflection prompts, discussion questions, reading schedules, and deeper resources to enrich your experience.
• A Private Chat Space – Ongoing conversations, insights, and support.
• Monthly Virtual Gatherings – Discussions where we come together to share thoughts, questions, and reflections.
• Guest Author Visits – Whenever possible, we invite the authors of our chosen books to join us for conversations.
• Polls to Help Shape Our Selections – You’ll get a say in what we read next.
• Event Announcements – Be the first to hear about upcoming virtual and in-person gatherings.
Note: You’ll receive the registration link for each virtual meeting directly in your monthly book guide.
Thank you for being part of this journey. I can’t wait to read, reflect, and grow alongside you.
With appreciation and solidarity,
Juliet Diaz (Founder of Book Coven)
By Juliet Diaz:
Juliet Diaz is an Indigenous Taino and first-generation Cuban American, as well as an award-winning and internationally bestselling author and literary activist. Her writing is rooted in liberatory and decolonial themes, empowering others to reclaim their voices, align with their truth, and embrace their innate magic and humanity.
As the founder of the Literary Craft Society, she leads a revolutionary writing community dedicated to fostering change, healing, and liberation through the transformative power of words.
Her works, including Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within, Plant Witchery, The Altar Within, the Seasons of the Witch Oracle Deck series, and the Earthcraft Oracle Deck, have inspired thousands across the world to create meaningful change within themselves and their communities.
I have my own newsletter:
A bi-weekly community newsletter: Writing as a practice—notes on life, magic, and liberation.
“Writing is a way of making sense of the world, of uncovering what’s hidden and reclaiming what’s ours. Here, I share reflections on life, the unseen forces that shape us, and the ongoing work of liberation—personal and collective. No fluff, no pretenses—just honest writing as a tool for deeper understanding and transformation.”
Letter of support for Dr. Marya sent!