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stelhan's review against another edition
3.0
I’m very conflicted, because on one hand 80% of this book is excellent, well researched and engaging. On the other, the conclusions aren’t there and I feel like the authors commitment to liberal capitalism let her down in this area.
camsreadingdock's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
howtobebooks's review against another edition
5.0
There is a wealth of insight crammed into this book about race and identity in Britain, describing how important it is to have a cohesive self by accepting that you may have other identities alongside being a UK citizen.
What hinders this process is the apparent racism that plagues British society, from being 'colour-blind' and thus ignoring the issue, to the awkward and troubled relationship with Britain's history and its origins. The author, Afua Hirsch, also discovers her own Ghanaian roots throughout her journey of self-awareness, making this book both a memoir and social commentary. Hirsch checks her privilege immediately, which makes a refreshing change.
While I can completely relate to her opinions on the racist structures in place and the microagressions that have become normalised, the historical and anthropological elements were the most fascinating parts for me. Learning about the racist views upheld by leading western thinkers such as Immanuel Kant and David Huhne, as well as how the 1919 race riots ensued over the perception of 'white cleansing' was deeply concerning.
Hirsch's call for change on Britain's selective amnesia is not new but it has a contemporary angle following the country's move to leave the EU. Incredibly engaging.
What hinders this process is the apparent racism that plagues British society, from being 'colour-blind' and thus ignoring the issue, to the awkward and troubled relationship with Britain's history and its origins. The author, Afua Hirsch, also discovers her own Ghanaian roots throughout her journey of self-awareness, making this book both a memoir and social commentary. Hirsch checks her privilege immediately, which makes a refreshing change.
While I can completely relate to her opinions on the racist structures in place and the microagressions that have become normalised, the historical and anthropological elements were the most fascinating parts for me. Learning about the racist views upheld by leading western thinkers such as Immanuel Kant and David Huhne, as well as how the 1919 race riots ensued over the perception of 'white cleansing' was deeply concerning.
Hirsch's call for change on Britain's selective amnesia is not new but it has a contemporary angle following the country's move to leave the EU. Incredibly engaging.
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up. So very interesting. As well as being a valuable read from the perspective of educating myself about others experience, I found myself really really valuing some of the ways Hirsch succinctly put into words conflictions about British identity that chime with my own experience of it (even though my own background/point of approach to the topic is very different to hers).
rhalfie29's review against another edition
5.0
A powerful read that stuck with me long after reading - one of the essential books in the modern British body of work on race, class and culture. She makes the challenges and battles feel very human and relatable, the stories brought to life really landed her points. I would say critical reading for anyone interested in equipping themselves on this topic.
habibaa20's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
3.0
i personally don’t like non fiction books so it took me a while to read it
rachaelprest's review against another edition
4.0
A brilliantly written, thoughtful and insightful book about race, history and identity in Britain. A must read.
vickywong710's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
This was an interesting book that’s part-memoir and part-history book, although I must admit I did find it a bit muddled and messy at times.
I found the first half to be quite strong, especially the section about bodies, but then after that the rest of the book just felt like a slog just to get through (which is surprising given that it’s just 384 pages). I think Hirsch’s section on class was quite shallow and at times failed to properly address the intersection between class and racism.
The memoir sections were strong and powerful, and as a British-born Chinese Hongkonger there were elements struggling with your identity that I could relate to, but I do think mixing memoir with history at times made it repetitive and muddled.
It’s hard to not compare this book to Reni Eddo-Lodge’s “Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race” which was published a year earlier, and on many counts I feel like Eddo-Lodge’s book is the better one. I feel like Hirsch’s book while fascinating, it doesn’t add too much that is new to the conversation about racism and identity in the UK.
I found the first half to be quite strong, especially the section about bodies, but then after that the rest of the book just felt like a slog just to get through (which is surprising given that it’s just 384 pages). I think Hirsch’s section on class was quite shallow and at times failed to properly address the intersection between class and racism.
The memoir sections were strong and powerful, and as a British-born Chinese Hongkonger there were elements struggling with your identity that I could relate to, but I do think mixing memoir with history at times made it repetitive and muddled.
It’s hard to not compare this book to Reni Eddo-Lodge’s “Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race” which was published a year earlier, and on many counts I feel like Eddo-Lodge’s book is the better one. I feel like Hirsch’s book while fascinating, it doesn’t add too much that is new to the conversation about racism and identity in the UK.