Author Savala Nolan to Speak in SF

Savala Nolan's work frequently explores the complexities of identity, drawing from her own experiences as a mixed-race Black woman. Her first essay collection, *Don't Let It Get You Down: Essays on Race, Gender & the Body*, delves into the nuances of living in the "in-between" spaces of race, class, and body type in American society. The book was shortlisted for the 2022 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. In *Good Woman*, Nolan examines the societal pressures on women to be "good" and the personal costs of adhering to these expectations. The collection of 12 essays blends memoir, history, and reporting to explore what it means to refuse these constraints. She probes into topics such as diet culture, sex, motherhood, and the legacy of race. Professionally, Nolan is the director of the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at the UC Berkeley School of Law. In this role, she leads workshops and lectures on issues like implicit bias and structural racism for law students and activists. Her writing has appeared in prominent publications such as *Vogue*, *The New York Times*, and *Harper's Magazine*. The Book Passage event will feature a reading and discussion, followed by a signing or meet-and-greet with the author. Book Passage at the Ferry Building regularly hosts a variety of author events, from novelists and poets to writers discussing current events and local history.