Savala Nolan is admittedly "in-between." She's been an insider and an outsider at the same time. It's understandable that Nolan wanted to explore her multiple sides, which she does in the essays included in her first book, "Don't Let It Get You Down: Essays on Race, Gender and the Body," which was published this summer. Nolan's writing, which has appeared in Bust, Time and Vogue, is closely related to the work she does as the executive director of the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at UC Berkeley School of Law, addressing issues related to belonging, subordination, privilege, power, resources and safety. Her book has earned praise for its honesty and willingness to explore the contradictions in her life, offering a model for others to do the same.