Essential books for building community in a divided world

We are all living increasingly isolated lives. Overwhelmed by work and school, which demands more of us than ever before. We are spending less time meaningfully connecting with others, more time scrolling, and less time doing what we love.

That is where community comes in. 

Community is the glue that holds humanity together. It’s saying ‘good morning’ to your neighbour, organizing a communal pantry, volunteering at a local shelter, reaching out to a friend in need, showing up to an event when you’re tired, and the list goes on and on.

But community isn’t something that happens on its own, it has to be cultivated. In our neighbourhoods, at work, and with people in our social circles, community is built one step at a time. Not only is it a vital tool in building more inclusive spaces, but it is also good for our collective health.

In a recent Statistics Canada report, they found that 96% of young people who had a strong sense of belonging reported being in good physical health, and 86% of those people also reported having positive mental health. 

Building community is not just a ‘nice to have’, it’s an absolute necessity.

We spent time curating this list of book recommendations for anyone who wants to help rebuild community connection. If you’re looking for practical tools, heart-expanding stories, or deeper insight into what inspires people to come together, look no further!

And please, if you decide to purchase any of the books recommended in this list, consider supporting your local books stores. 

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The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker (2018)

Priya Parker strives to help people create a sense of belonging. As a facilitator, Priya helps readers rethink and reimagine how we spend our time together and how we infuse it with creativity and meaning. If you’ve ever wondered why some events feel electric and others fall flat, this book is a blueprint for creating spaces where people truly feel seen.

One reader on Good Reads describes how impactful this book is perfectly:

“This is the most important book I have ever read. It has transformed the way I think about what has to go into creating meaningful and impactful experiences out of every meeting amongst friends, lovers, business acquaintances, and overall, what it really takes to build movements.”

One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies for a Planet by Richard Wagamese (2019)

“The most profound truth in the universe is this: that we are all one drum and we need each other.” - Richard Wagamese, One Drum

Richard Wagamese was an Ojibwe Canadian author and journalist. One Drum is a series of stories and ceremonies, and was the last book he ever wrote.

Wagamese believed that there is a shaman within each of us, that we are all teachers, and that there is no right or wrong way to gather in community. One Drum encourages its readers to heal themselves so that they can come together in harmony and community with others. 

An excerpt from the book:“Around the world humankind shares a deep and resonant yearning for connection with the cosmos, with spirituality, community and the planet. We're all going somewhere. We can feel that. We just don't want to make the journey alone — and we never have.”

The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health Is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier by Kasley Killam (2024)

This book explores a powerful but often overlooked idea: that our relationships and sense of connection are just as important to our wellbeing as physical exercise, nutrition, and mental health care. It offers practical advice to build stronger connections and combat loneliness using science, research, and real-life stories.

As Killam explains in the book: “Human connection is so important, so influential for our overall health and longevity, that it deserves to rise from the shadows and stand tall in the spotlight. It should be a protagonist, not a supporting character, on the stage of health.”

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: An Introvert's Year of Living Dangerously by Jessica Pan (2019)

If you’re anything like us, and your introverted nature tends to keep you inside, turning down invitations, and with the same small social circle, this book is for you.

Jessica Pan spent a year doing things outside of her comfort zone, like talking to strangers, doing things alone, and performing stand up comedy, all in hopes of re-building her connection to herself and others. It acknowledges that the price for community is often discomfort.

One reader explained: “Instead of making bold proclamations about how totally rewarding uncomfortable social events can be (*cough* only an extrovert would say this cough), she goes out and does the legwork for us introverts reading with apt attention. And guess what: sometimes it really sucks. She had some really awful, panic-inducing, I'd-rather-be-anywhere-but-here moments along the way, but she stuck with it and came out with a group of unexpected new friends to invite to a dinner party.”

The Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg (1989)

The term "third place" was coined by this author in the 1980s and was popularized by this book. The Great Good Place defines neutral, public spaces outside home and work, where people gather, socialize, and build community, like cafes, parks, and pubs.

Oldenburg suggests that in order to live a healthy life, people must be able to balance 3 realms: home life, the workplace, and the inclusively sociable places.

Other cultures such as the French have their rendezvous term to describe this third realm, though as the American English language has no vocabulary to describe this third realm, Oldenburg adopts the accepted term third place to describe these locations throughout the book.

Mutual Aid by Dean Spade (2020)

Dean Spade is an American lawyer, transgender activist, and writer known for his work in queer and trans liberation, prison abolition, and poverty law. 

Mutual Aid explores how people can meet their needs and build collective power through cooperation, shared responsibility, and solidarity, especially in times of crisis. The book argues that many systems we rely on, such as governments and charities, often fail to adequately support marginalized communities, particularly during emergencies like pandemics, climate disasters, or economic downturns. In these gaps, mutual aid emerges as a vital practice.

As excerpt from the book: “Activism and mutual aid shouldn’t feel like volunteering or like a hobby — it should feel like living in alignment with our hopes for the world and with our passions. It should enliven us.”

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Books about community invite us to rethink how we gather, how we listen, how we organize, and how we show up for others. They spark ideas, encourage us to sit in discomfort, and inspire us to take small, meaningful steps towards building something we all so desperately need.

Whether you're a community organizer, a charity leader, a volunteer, a neighbour, or simply someone craving stronger connections, these books offer wisdom that can help you shape the kind of community you want to belong to. 

What book is missing from our list? Email us to let us know!