These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.
Why do we have addresses? The question is at the center of Deirdre Mask’s book, which is an impressive examination of the origins of street names around the world. Mask, a lawyer and academic, reveals that addresses hold greater and more nefarious purposes than the accurate distribution of mail. She picks apart street names in Germany, the Caribbean, the U.S. and beyond to argue that addresses organize people not only by where they live, but also by who they are. It’s a damning look at the intersection of place, power and identity, tied together through Mask’s absorbing and thoughtful voice.
Buy Now: The Address Book on Bookshop | Amazon
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
