Roxane Gay is a professor and the bestselling author of “Hunger,” and “Bad Feminist,” and “Difficult Women.” Her work deals with facets of her own identity (her race, weight and sexuality), that are rarely discussed as bluntly as they are under Gay’s lead. She also wrote the Marvel comic series World of Wakanda, a spinoff from the Black Panther franchise. For Gay, feminism belongs to all women, and it should embrace all types. She says, “It’s OK to believe in your voice, and to use it.” Her latest venture is an online magazine, Gay Magazine, for which she partnered with the website Medium.

Below are Roxane Gay’s favorite books, available to purchase individually or as a set.