Books | Huck
Huck

Books

Ra’ed Khan and the tireless work of Road to Freedom

Hurriyah — Having been providing frontline aid and support to refugees for over a decade, a new book featuring poetry by Omar Mooro traces the story of the NGO. In this chapter extract, founder and music executive Ra’ed Khan explains its origins.

  • Activism
  • Isaac Muk
Young Black man in white shirt sits beside older white-haired man in dark jacket against warm reddish-brown background.
© Richard Schulman

Who was the real Jean-Michel Basquiat?

The Making of an Icon — A new book by art world insider Doug Woodham aims to illuminate the near-mythical artist’s life, via the friends, family and collaborators who knew him best.

  • Culture
  • Miss Rosen
Black and white grid of six overlapping photographs showing torsos and arms, with text "SILENCING A TALKING T-SHIRT" in upper left corner.

Remembering Clark Henley’s ’80s cult classic The Butch Manual

The New Drag — The playful book is back in print more than 40 years since it was first published. We revisit its gender-subverting fun and lasting influence.

  • Culture
  • Miss Rosen
Person with spiked white hair and sunglasses in colourful patterned shirt amongst crowd in purple-lit indoor venue.

Inside Japan’s ’90s gabber and hardcore underground

Manga Corps — A new book published by Italian hardcore artist Gabber Eleganza archives ephemera and flyers from the early days of gabber and hardcore from Tokyo and Osaka, which has gone on to have an outsized influence on popular music today.

  • Music
  • Isaac Muk
Man with glasses and beard sitting in green chair, wearing dark blue shirt and jeans in office or waiting room with wood panelling.

Alex Kazemi’s Y2K period novel reminds us that the manosphere is nothing new

New Millennium Boyz — Replete with MTV and endless band t-shirt references, the book follows three teenage boys living in 1999 USA as they descend into a pit of darkness. We spoke to its author about masculinity, the accelerated aging of teenagers, and the rebirth of subcultures in the algorithm age.

  • Culture
  • Isaac Muk
Black and white album cover showing group of people on boat deck with "SYLVESTER" banner above and "LIVING PROOF" text below.

How pop music introduced queer culture to the mainstream

The Secret Public — Between the ’50s to the ’70s, pop music was populated with scene pushers from the margins. A new book by Jon Savage explores the powerful influence of LGBTQ+ folk.

  • Music
  • Miss Rosen
Group of people holding white banner reading "Hermaphrodites with Attitude" in red and black text on building steps.

There have never been only two sexes — intersex people exist

Hemaphrodite Logic — Juliana Gleeson’s new book explores the intersex movement from 1990-2025. In this exclusive extract, the author outlines intersex liberation as an “unlikely offspring” of feminist and gay/lesbian struggles.

  • Activism
  • Juliana Gleeson
A person wearing a red bandana and denim jacket, looking directly at the camera.

A new book explores Tupac’s revolutionary politics and activism

Words For My Comrades — Penned by Dean Van Nguyen, the cultural history encompasses interviews with those who knew the rapper well, while exploring his parents’ anti-capitalist influence.

  • Activism
  • Isaac Muk
Black and white image showing a group of shirtless men socialising, some laughing.

A visual trip through 100 years of New York’s LGBTQ+ spaces

Queer Happened Here — A new book from historian and writer Marc Zinaman maps scores of Manhattan’s queer venues and informal meeting places, documenting the city’s long LGBTQ+ history in the process.

  • Culture
  • Isaac Muk
Vibrant book covers against bleak, rocky hills and buildings; 'Babylon' and 'Albion' text in bold lettering.

Dalia Al-Dujaili: “When you’re placeless, nature can fill the void”

Babylon, Albion — As her new book publishes, the British-Iraqi author speaks about connecting with the land as a second-generation migrant, plants as symbols of resistance, and being proud of her parents.

  • Culture
  • Zahra Onsori
Three orange book covers with the title "Foreign Fruit" against a dark background.

Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”

Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.

  • Culture
  • Angela Hui
Close-up view of a woman in a vintage pose, with flowing hair and an outstretched hand, set against a hazy, scenic background.
© Peter Palladino, courtesy of the Peter Palladino Archive.

Remembering Holly Woodlawn, Andy Warhol muse and trans trailblazer

Love You Madly — A new book explores the actress’s rollercoaster life and story, who helped inspire Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’.

  • Culture
  • Miss Rosen

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck+ members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:
Black and white O'Neill logo in a bold, stylised font against a black background.
You've read articles this month Thanks for reading

Join Club Huck — it's free!

Valued Huck reader, thank you for engaging with our journalism and taking an interest in our dispatches from the sharp edge of culture, sport, music and rebellion.

We want to offer you the chance to join Club Huck [it's free!] where you will receive exclusive newsletters, including personal takes on the state of pop culture and media from columnist Emma Garland, culture recommendations, interviews and dispatches straight to your inbox.

You'll also get priority access to Huck events, merch discounts, and more fun surprises.

Already part of the club? Enter your email above and we'll get you logged in.