A Compass for Belonging: Exploring the Layers Within

#5 Deepen Your Gaze: The Inclusion Virtual Library

Welcome to The Inclusion Room — a space where literature, science, and storytelling meet to unlock the power of diversity, inspiring both personal and professional growth.

Dear Readers,
I hope this letter finds you well!

One of Inclusion Room’s ambitions is to create a virtual library of books and resources that will bring together knowledge and insights to:

• Empower individuals to embrace their uniqueness and thrive outside the box.

• Create a path towards building a more inclusive society for all.

I hope that these resources will offer you additional insights to deepen your reflections.

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Belonging can be tied to a place, a passport, a tradition, or a social class. But more deeply, it’s a layered journey through who we are, what we value, and how we show up in the world.

In this article, I’d like to share a few books and resources on this layered path. Each one speaks to a different level of that journey—and might, I hope, offer you words, reflection, or comfort as you walk your own.

Here’s what I’ve put together for you.

📚 2 books that provide food for thought

📻 2 podcast episodes rich in first-hand experiences

💌 2 posts from our Inclusion Room community

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📚 Books

1. Educated - Tara Westover

I loved this book. I especially appreciated how the author's tone evolves as she moves from youth to adulthood. It truly felt like listening to a woman speaking from different stages of her life, each with her distinct voice.

The concept of belonging becomes a character in its own right, growing alongside Tara and unfolding, layer by layer.

Tara first belongs to her family—rooted in strict religious beliefs and enclosed within the rigid boundaries drawn by an absolutist, fundamentalist worldview.

Then, Tara begins to seek connection beyond the walls of her home—through a local choir, a theatre group, glimpses of a world that feels freer. But no matter how deeply she longs to belong, the gap remains. Her dresses are too large, too outdated. The unspoken rules of that world—its codes, its ease—remind her she doesn’t quite fit, doesn’t belong. Not yet. Later, through university, she tries again.

What connects people more deeply than shared stories and knowledge?
But what if the world you come from tells a different story—one where the heroes are others, and the truths you carry aren’t recognized?

Tara comes to understand that she doesn’t truly belong even to herself.
Not until she chooses to craft her own education,her own path, to hold on to her memories, even as her family denies them.

For me, this is the book’s most powerful message:
You can’t truly belong anywhere until you belong to yourself.
And that kind of belonging only becomes possible when you allow enough space—for reflection, for doubt, for clarity.

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2. That Hair - Djaimilia Pereira de Almeida

It's a disjointed novel with a staccato rhythm. Hair becomes a symbol of the author's identity and her story between Angola and Portugal.

I wouldn’t recommend it for its plot or style, but I strongly suggest reading it to grasp—or at least sense—how multiculturalism is embodied in the soul and body of a young woman seeking belonging while torn between worlds.

Taming her hair, in a way, becomes a means to shape family history, make sense of fading memories, and preserve within herself a version that longs to be expressed but never will.

I wish I could read Portuguese to fully appreciate the original version. I read it in Italian and, although I’m sure the translator did a good job, I often felt that some words didn’t quite capture the essence of what the author was trying to convey. If any of you have read it in the original language, I’d love to hear your thoughts—perhaps we can explore that feeling together.

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📻 Podcast

1. What Makes Home a Home? (From DEEP CULTURE PODCAST )

What makes a place home when your roots are scattered across continents?

In this episode, the authors discuss Third Culture Kids—people who grew up between cultures, often never fully belonging to any. For them, home isn't a fixed place on the map, but a connection to others who’ve lived the same in-between story.

They speak of being chameleons—learning to blend in anywhere, but struggling to feel anchored somewhere. Born in one country, raised in another, their identity often resonates more with fellow global nomads than with the places themselves.

The conversation also touches on those who were forced to move—by war, displacement, or crisis. For them, the search for home is often filled with grief, loss, and reconstruction.

The episode introduces concepts like “encapsulated marginality”—living on the edge of multiple cultures, never fully inside one.

This exploration reminds us that, at its core, belonging is caring—it’s about the presence of people who truly see one another, understand shared struggles, and create a sense of safety and love.

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2. Presence starts within (From THINK FAST TALK SMART)

This podcast was recommended by my dear friend

Maria Cires

after a deep conversation we had about belonging in the workplace.

Imposter syndrome often whispers that you don’t deserve a seat at the table, but what if you could transform that voice into a signal of your need to belong?

Instead of comparing yourself to others, pause and ask: Which value do I bring to the table? True belonging starts with this question — and with accepting yourself, regardless of external validation.

The episode invites you to slow down, engage your presence, and ask not just how you are perceived, but how you experience yourself in the moment. Because before being fully present for others, you need to be present for yourself.

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💌 From our community

Don’t Let the “Esq.” Fool You

Not all journeys start from the same place.
Some of us grow up straddling two worlds — learning to speak in different codes, adapt to different norms, and constantly prove we belong. Inclusion means recognizing that the keys to belonging are not handed to all of us equally. This is a reminder to pause, reflect, and imagine what the path looks like for someone who didn’t grow up with the same map.
And still, despite the barriers,

Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq.

built her own path and found a place of her own.

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Daring to be myself

Belonging means being able to show up as your true self — without fear, without masks. For

Amal Shakeb

, wearing the hijab was a powerful step toward embracing and expressing her identity. What once felt like a risk became a turning point: from self-doubt to confidence. In choosing to be visible as a Muslim woman, she stayed true to herself and found her place in a global community.

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Enjoyed the recommendations?
We add new titles to the Virtual Library every month — don’t miss the next update!

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Join the Conversation

What books have shaped your understanding of belonging?
Have you written a post about it?
Feel free to share your favorite reads or drop the link to your post — I’d love to explore your perspective.