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julialoupratt's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Spent my time with this to really dig in, understand, think, and reflect. There are some parts of this that hit so hard I found myself shouting out, highlighting like mad, and monologuing to nobody in particular. hooks is popular for a reason and there are some great takes in here, specifically those surrounding race and whiteness. Several sections made me put the book down and just stare into space in deep thought, which is fantastic and needed.
On the other hand, there were some truly unhinged and ridiculous bits, specifically some of those regarding sex and sexuality. I felt like hooks sometimes overcorrected against “men-as-enemy-no-exceptions” into a “need-for-men” place, which often led to really reductive takes about community and family. There was lots of language around media and sex that was certainly a product of its time, now reading as liberal pseudo hot takes rather than anything revolutionary. In general, there was such a dualist emphasis on biological sex (with no room for trans identity) and gay/straight binaries, that the last quarter or so of the book fell pretty flat.
The thing that makes this book great is that it emphasizes the need to constantly unlearn and rebuild - break down the parts of feminist thinking that don’t work and create new theory and praxis that does. At the very end hooks says “while we must recognize, acknowledge, and appreciate the significance of feminist rebellion and the women (and men) who made it happen, we must be willing to criticize, re-examine, and begin feminist work anew.” This book is the ultimate exercise of that concept. Take the parts that still ring true and tear up the bits that no longer serve the movement to end oppression in its various forms. We must engage in the parts that make us uneasy because we feel called out, the parts that annoy us because they’re outdated, AND the parts that spark joy because they’re affirming. Those that take this at face value and smile and nod through the whole thing have missed the point entirely.
If you’re not willing to critique this, rip it up, scratch out and circle, question, and passionately disagree with certain parts - reread immediately.
On the other hand, there were some truly unhinged and ridiculous bits, specifically some of those regarding sex and sexuality. I felt like hooks sometimes overcorrected against “men-as-enemy-no-exceptions” into a “need-for-men” place, which often led to really reductive takes about community and family. There was lots of language around media and sex that was certainly a product of its time, now reading as liberal pseudo hot takes rather than anything revolutionary. In general, there was such a dualist emphasis on biological sex (with no room for trans identity) and gay/straight binaries, that the last quarter or so of the book fell pretty flat.
The thing that makes this book great is that it emphasizes the need to constantly unlearn and rebuild - break down the parts of feminist thinking that don’t work and create new theory and praxis that does. At the very end hooks says “while we must recognize, acknowledge, and appreciate the significance of feminist rebellion and the women (and men) who made it happen, we must be willing to criticize, re-examine, and begin feminist work anew.” This book is the ultimate exercise of that concept. Take the parts that still ring true and tear up the bits that no longer serve the movement to end oppression in its various forms. We must engage in the parts that make us uneasy because we feel called out, the parts that annoy us because they’re outdated, AND the parts that spark joy because they’re affirming. Those that take this at face value and smile and nod through the whole thing have missed the point entirely.
If you’re not willing to critique this, rip it up, scratch out and circle, question, and passionately disagree with certain parts - reread immediately.
sydthebeesknee's review against another edition
5.0
This is, in my opinion, essential reading. hook's ability to express ideas with clarity and accessible language is excellent. I also admire how hook critiques popularly held ideas of feminists. I recommend this book especially because she covers an impressive width of bases in this short book.
I will say, when she gets into heterosexism, heterosexuality, and lesbianism in the chapter about ending sexual oppression, it definitely reads of its time (the 80s).
I will say, when she gets into heterosexism, heterosexuality, and lesbianism in the chapter about ending sexual oppression, it definitely reads of its time (the 80s).
tani's review
3.0
I find nonfiction incredibly hard to review, so I think I'm going to keep this short and sweet. bell hooks has been on my to-read list for quite some time, and I'm glad that I finally read something by her. I do have to admit, though, I didn't find this particularly ground-breaking. Since it was published before I was born, I suppose I should have expected that. And yet, I still think it's a relevant book. She addresses a lot of issues of race and socioeconomic status that remain very relevant today. At times, it was an uncomfortable read for me, because I am white and middle-class. It's not that hooks was overtly aggressive or accusatory. It was just that she was raising issues that grate along the edges of my white privilege. It's just a sign that I need to keep raising my awareness of these issues, because they do still make me uncomfortable and aren't always along the most natural line of thought for me. So, although this book didn't cover a lot of new ground for me, it did make me think about what I already know, which is always welcome, and I recommend it for anyone looking for a greater awareness of the intersections of civil rights with feminism.
pink_distro's review
4.0
classic feminist text where hooks makes all kinds of strong interventions on the broader feminist movement of the late 70s. she makes lots of powerful critiques of the movement for its bourgeois class character, its whiteness, factions that accept biological essentialism or other sexist premises, individualism, un-strategic reformism / giving up on revolutionary change, and many other things.
she also makes a lot of proposals on how to remedy these issues, outlining new visions for popular feminist political education, collective parenting, and new cultures around work, men, sexuality, sisterhood and power in the movement.
i really appreciate hooks' focus on actually organizing to build a mass movement, it shows up all throughout this book and it means her proposals and criticisms are very grounded as well as deeply radical.
she also makes a lot of proposals on how to remedy these issues, outlining new visions for popular feminist political education, collective parenting, and new cultures around work, men, sexuality, sisterhood and power in the movement.
i really appreciate hooks' focus on actually organizing to build a mass movement, it shows up all throughout this book and it means her proposals and criticisms are very grounded as well as deeply radical.
kenzibir's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting read, felt more like reading a long scholarly article than a book though. Took me weeks to get through. Had a lot of interesting points but definitely felt the book could have been way shorter.