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aeturnum's review against another edition
4.0
Bitch Doctrine is the buttoned-down, tie wearing version of 2014's Unspeakable Things. Instead of a small number of long, deeply personal essays Bitch Doctrine offers up a larger collection of short pieces. Where Unspeakable Things left you with a vivid sense of Penny's felt experience, Bitch Doctrine leaves you with a vivid sense of what policy papers she would write. Each essay is a tightly done up pointed discussion of one of the books' themes (anger, gender, backlash being some of them). They are witty, evocative, entertaining and endearing. If you're looking for some fuel to throw on the feminist fire burning in your heart, this is good stuff.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
Essays for Dissenting Adults is a good subtitle and Laurie Penny is very much writing for those of us who are dissenting. I had read some of these essays before in other outlets but it was good to revisit them and read some new ones too. Laurie Penny has a great way of writing the ideas down and reporting on how they are panning out in the wild, and it is good to have these words around.
gbatts's review against another edition
1.0
This book is very much an exercise in preaching to the converted, which, to be fair, Laurie established as the scope in the opening essay. There were too many holes for me to be able to find this book enjoyable - both in the arguments and the breadth of the types on feminism that were covered. As Laurie is an English anti-capitalist, a perspective on the intersection between feminism and colonialism would have been interesting to read. There was plenty of room to bring more to the book as the essays that were included got quite repetitive.
stella94's review against another edition
3.0
Agree with quite a bit, got my blood pressure rising a few times but definitely a slow read. Not a direct page turner but very important
veecaswell's review against another edition
5.0
Review to come.A collection of essays from Laurie Penny, Bitch Doctrine for me is a collection of her highlights that I have through reading this googled and sent to people, thinking this is very relevant.
Penny’s writing style is one of my favourites, a sharp wit that delivers hard truths and pauses for thought, Bitch Doctrine for me brings together some of the best of those moments where the author shares personal moments with her politics - The personal is political, and books such as this highlight that.
A breadth of topics are covered from agency to culture, that make poignant and important reads. A book that relishes in it’s fury at how the world works, it attacks these issues in the right ways - particularly American Politics which Laurie Penny is immersed in during this book.
A great and comprehensive collection of essays from a perspective on the left that is difficult to stop reading.
Penny’s writing style is one of my favourites, a sharp wit that delivers hard truths and pauses for thought, Bitch Doctrine for me brings together some of the best of those moments where the author shares personal moments with her politics - The personal is political, and books such as this highlight that.
A breadth of topics are covered from agency to culture, that make poignant and important reads. A book that relishes in it’s fury at how the world works, it attacks these issues in the right ways - particularly American Politics which Laurie Penny is immersed in during this book.
A great and comprehensive collection of essays from a perspective on the left that is difficult to stop reading.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
I don't read nearly enough feminist non fiction that I would like to do but I'm slowly and surely on my way. I picked it up in one of the more neglected book shelf sections for me in the library and I'm eager to adventure on more. This was such good essays and while I don't enjoy short stories a lot. I think essays is more my thing? Was afraid I would have same outcome. She writes very well and has a lot of interesting and good things to say and I'm intrigued to see if I can find more by her
fossen's review against another edition
5.0
Easily my favorite book of 2018, and one of the most exciting and inspiring books I have read in recent memory. It not only opened my eyes and mind, but it's savage and hilarious. Penny's basis in materialist and Marxist thought brings a depth to the analysis that really connected a lot of dots for me. Many, many lightbulb moments in here. I'd like to buy a case and just start handing out copies.
It took me a long time to read, but that's a testament to the power of the book. It's like drinking from a firehose of brilliance and language and passion and thought and I needed to dip in and out.
It took me a long time to read, but that's a testament to the power of the book. It's like drinking from a firehose of brilliance and language and passion and thought and I needed to dip in and out.
xanthea's review against another edition
Anyone who is even midly inderested in gender and feminism needs to read this book.