Matt McGorry is a man of many passions: online activism, playing a douchey law student turned investigator on TV and an avid promoter of great books. As a star in Netflix’s upcoming mystery series Archive 81, McGorry continues to use his platform — especially when all eyes are on him — to share the most meaningful reads of the day, week, month, year… you get it. Ahead, we’ve collected some of our favorites of Matt’s favorite books. Check them out, and follow him on Instagram for more McGorry reads.

Killing Rage: Ending Racism by bell hooks

An important social and culture critic, bell hooks maintained the idea that getting rid of racism and sexism must go hand in hand. She also believed that the often quieted woman voice was one of importance in the conversation about racism. This book provides the reader with 23 essays by the late author and gives firsthand perspective on both racism and sexism in a modern diaspora.

McGorry says he's “consistently astounded” by the late hooks’ “ability to write clearly and precisely about the ways that race, gender, and class intersect and provide obstacles to liberation.”

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Penned by writer and lecturer Susan Cain, Quiet makes the argument that Western civilization devalues introverts. In her deep dive into introversion, she argues that society is wasting the talent, energy and happiness of introverts. Cain herself admits to struggling with introvert tendencies and provides an insightful look for different personality types to better understand.

McGorry, a fellow self-proclaimed introvert, says, “I never realized that I was an introvert because I was so caught up with trying to meet the cultural expectations of extroversion that I wasn’t even explicitly aware of.”

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen

Written by Angela Chen, who self-identifies as asexual, this book provides a realistic look at the oft overlooked sexual identity through a series of interviews, cultural criticisms and personal narratives. Chen uses her own journey of self-discovery and struggle to convey some of the most common misconceptions about asexuality and to help smash social stigmas associated with it. In an effort to promote all aspects of LGBTQIA+ visibility, Chen provides invaluable insight into an identity that we ourselves may or may not associate with.

McGorry found reading this book a very educational experience, saying, “I learned a lot about asexuality and also about how society views sex as a whole. And how the cultural assumptions negatively impact everyone.”