10 Books About Fighting Back Against Corruption For the Fed Up Reader

(SPOT.ph) Nepotism, unthinkable greed, corruption on a scale of trillions, and an ongoing trial that seems to be going nowhere, these might seem like they're plot points straight out of a dystopian novel, but they're unfortunately our reality. And while it's easy to feel powerless, don't. If there's one thing the recent wave of anti-corruption protests here and abroad has proven anything, it's that people have had enough. Change won't happen overnight, but it's far from impossible.

Don’t just take our word for it—these books show why. Here are 10 reads to keep your fire for accountability—and your disgust for the corrupt—burning. Some may be fiction, but life has a way of imitating art, right?

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While George Orwell's 1984 is a classic for its exploration of the dangers of capitalism and warning against totalitarian rule, its prose is very direct and on the nose—not a bad thing, tbh. But his other dystopian novel, Animal Farm, takes a more symbolic approach in sending its message about the pitfalls of unchecked governance.

Animal Farm follows the humanized animals of Manor Farm who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where animals can be free from their human warden. But by the end of this dystopian satirical tale, the farm ends up in a worse state than it was, thanks to the leader-turned-dictator, Napoleon.

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Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage is a compilation of on-the-spot reports on the First Quarter Storm—a period of widespread civil unrest in the Philippines in the 1970s. During this time, students and activists clashed with the government head-on, and news reports through mass media were the only way people were updated on what was happening. It's a timely read in a time when it seems as though history is repeating itself with the added flavor of disinformation and media malign. Here's to hoping these reports demonstrate the power of the written word and how speaking the truth never goes out of style.

In 2021, Maria Ressa was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her "fearless reporting of the corruption and brutality of the Duterte government." This book is what many have called Ressa's "memoir and manifesto," tracing her humble beginnings as a journalist and her rise as a figure in the defense of the free press and democracy.

How to Stand Up to a Dictator is a rallying cry to "hold the line" and fight the massive network of disinformation that is killing our freedoms and the Truth.

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Corruptible is a collection of 500 interviews with some of the world's top leaders, "from the noblest to the dirtiest." It deals with the psychology and social science that goes into how we pick our leaders, and how money and power corrupt. If you've ever wondered, "Does power corrupt, or are corrupt people drawn to power? Are tyrants made or born? If you were suddenly thrust into a position of power, would you be able to resist the temptation to line your pockets or seek revenge against your enemies?," then this is the read for you.

Get yours on Amazon.

It was only a few years ago when the news was filled with stories of dead bodies labeled as "nanlaban," and yet it seems some are already forgetting. In Some People Need Killing, we follow along with journalist Patricia Evangelista as she covers the tumultuous time of the Philippines' drug war.

In this searing memoir—hailed as TIME’s #1 Nonfiction Book of 2023 and one of The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of the year—Evangelista delivers devastating, unflinching prose that recalls the lives lost and truths buried when those elected in power operate unchecked and above the law.

Get yours at Fully Booked online and in-store.

Smaller and Smaller Circles follows two Jesuit priests investigating the murders of young boys in Payatas, but what they’re really up against isn’t just a killer. It’s the wall of bureaucracy, corruption, and institutional apathy that makes catching the suspect nearly impossible. While this is a work of fiction, it's still a must-read not only for crime junkies everywhere but also for anyone who longs for a justice system that actually works.

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Filipino medical anthropologist Gideon Lasco has spent years studying and traveling across the country, gaining a deep appreciation for the Philippines as a land of beauty, diversity, and untapped potential. But alongside that optimism comes the more complicated question: why, despite all this, do we remain poor and underdeveloped (read: flood-deep)?

In this collection of essays, Lasco blends anthropology, history, and pop culture to take a closer, more critical look at who we are—and who we could be.

Get yours through the Ateneo Press online shop.

Gun Dealers' Daughter is a nonlinear thriller novel set in Marcos-era Philippines. We follow Sol, the "nepo-baby" of a wealthy arms merchant who breaks her family's expectations by joining the communist movement. During her time with the rebels, Sol gets caught in a conspiracy that spirals out of control. Years later, she confesses the truth, and what unfolds is a confusing, often unreliable narration of her memories dealing with the complexities of revolution, the consequences of class disparities, and the trauma of the times.

Get yours on Amazon.

Guy Fawkes' Mask has become synonymous with vigilante justice, and it's all thanks to this graphic novel-turned-movie.

V for Vendetta is about fighting against a fascist regime and asking what people are willing to sacrifice for justice. While we don't condone the use of terrorist tactics and violence to topple the hierarchy, the novel is filled with powerful lines and quotable quotes, such as "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people," that emphasize the true power of the masses and their individual freedoms in the fight against oppressive governments.

Get yours at Fully Booked online and in-store.

As if it needs an introduction, The Hunger Games follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who becomes the reluctant face of a rebellion against the Capitol after volunteering to take her sister’s place in a brutal fight-to-the-death between the districts. While not the first YA dystopian series, Suzanne Collins’ trilogy catapulted the genre into the mainstream in the 2010s—and left us with lines like “remember who the real enemy is,” now echoed in real-world movements urging people to fight the system, not each other. Despite being marketed as teen fiction—with a lot of focus on the central love triangle—the series digs into deeper themes of survival, sacrifice, and defiance in the face of oppressive power.

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These aren’t the only books that tackle corruption and inequality—other classics include Dekada ’70, Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, Les Misérables, and many more. After all, corruption and inequality have existed since the beginning of time. But if there’s one thing both fiction and history teach us, it’s this: as long as people are willing to stand up and fight for the truth, darkness will never fully prevail.

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