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hale7's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
Important information, but it could have been an essay. Black Americans in the United States who are the descendants of people who were enslaved have been given significantly less ability to rest than white Americans. The descendants of people who were treated as property are likely going to have complex relationships with owning property (i.e., a business), to say nothing of the difficulty under capitalism for Black people to acquire a business. That means they are disproportionately impacted by the work requirements that prohibit/restrict rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Racism, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Slavery, and Misogyny
Moderate: Ableism, Classism, and Police brutality
mads_jpg's review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
2.5
I really liked the message of the book and definitely took away some good tactics from it (I've already limited my screen time and social media usage) but the writing itself just didn't land with me. Which is surprising given that it came at the perfect time in my life, as I've been overworked for weeks staying up past midnight ever night. I even fell asleep reading this on the tram at one point.
I found it incredibly repetitive (if I have to see the word "bamboozled" or "portal" one more time) and it frequently referenced other books to the point where I felt like I was reading them instead (Octavia Butler especially). The writing read more like a mantra or wishy-washy meditation, and that might work for some people but I just didn't connect with it. Even though the book has distinct chapters I felt like I was just rereading the last one each time. I think this would've worked better if it was either edited heavily or written as more of a memoir. That being said, I still think people should read it or at least look into the Nap Ministry.
I found it incredibly repetitive (if I have to see the word "bamboozled" or "portal" one more time) and it frequently referenced other books to the point where I felt like I was reading them instead (Octavia Butler especially). The writing read more like a mantra or wishy-washy meditation, and that might work for some people but I just didn't connect with it. Even though the book has distinct chapters I felt like I was just rereading the last one each time. I think this would've worked better if it was either edited heavily or written as more of a memoir. That being said, I still think people should read it or at least look into the Nap Ministry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, Classism, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Death, Racial slurs, Violence, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
softgalaxy's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read in my life. Absolutely life-changing. “Rest is resistance” is a simple phrase that I’ll carry with me for all my days.
This book has confirmed what I’ve felt all my life - that life and people are going too fast. What has changed for me is that I shouldn’t feel ashamed at resting. As a disabled person, rest is how I manage my illnesses, but even medical professionals have told me that I need to “keep going and push forward”.
The answer to my queries is in fact: capitalism is the problem. Always has been.
To refuse capitalism and to rest is what our bodies need to do. We need to dream.
This book has confirmed what I’ve felt all my life - that life and people are going too fast. What has changed for me is that I shouldn’t feel ashamed at resting. As a disabled person, rest is how I manage my illnesses, but even medical professionals have told me that I need to “keep going and push forward”.
The answer to my queries is in fact: capitalism is the problem. Always has been.
To refuse capitalism and to rest is what our bodies need to do. We need to dream.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Classism, and Racism
Minor: Slavery and Death of parent
jayisreading's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
I think Hersey could have written an essay for the point she wanted to make and come out of it with a stronger case than writing a book/manifesto. At its core, the concept of rest being a form of resistance is a great one. I really enjoyed how Hersey broke down the importance of rest in the introduction, especially to show that this is more than a matter of physical health.
After the introduction, though, Hersey started to lose me, and I felt that she was just repeating her points. I also feel that there are words that she used such as capitalism that required a little more contextualizing. She threw a lot of these words around to the point that they started to lose meaning. In addition, I felt that Hersey made some claims that weren't supported by evidence.
The book also ended up being far more spiritual than I expected. I didn't particularly enjoy the spiritual aspects, though this is absolutely a matter of personal taste. It didn't negatively impact the overall points Hersey was making.
Again, I think this manifesto could have been an essay and would have been far more compelling to read. I felt that the book started dragging a lot because it was so repetitive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Colonisation and Violence
leweylibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Before even finishing this book, I posted on my Instagram story that "not to be dramatic, but this book is life changing" and it really is. Like the book says, no one has ever given me permission to rest. No one has told me that I deserve to rest, that I am already doing enough or even too much.
Definitely do not go into this book expecting quick, easy tips and tricks, but do go into it ready to have your entire way of thinking and going about life altered for the better. Making the change in a world that's so against rest will be immensely difficult, but the author is living proof that it's worth it. Now, brb while I go buy a nap mat of some sort for my office ✌️
Definitely do not go into this book expecting quick, easy tips and tricks, but do go into it ready to have your entire way of thinking and going about life altered for the better. Making the change in a world that's so against rest will be immensely difficult, but the author is living proof that it's worth it. Now, brb while I go buy a nap mat of some sort for my office ✌️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Slavery, Classism, Racism, Colonisation, Violence, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Addiction
Minor: Police brutality
zombiezami's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
This book wasn’t quite what I expected. I’ve followed the Nap Ministry blog for a while, and I really love the insights, audacity, and creativity of the author. However, because I’m familiar with her blog, it was easy to see the parts that were lifted almost wholesale and placed into the book.
This book was at its best when the author was sharing her personal experiences and examples of events she’s hosted. She definitely touched on community care in name, but I wish she had drawn a deeper connection to how community care facilitates rest. I also thought the connections to slavery and maroon communities were excellent.
A lot of this book felt repetitive. When the repetition was used well, I could tell it was to help a particular message sink in. Other times it was like, “how much do I have to be reminded that we work at a machine-like pace?? I get it!!”
Listening to the audiobook, I loved listening to the author’s voice.
This book was at its best when the author was sharing her personal experiences and examples of events she’s hosted. She definitely touched on community care in name, but I wish she had drawn a deeper connection to how community care facilitates rest. I also thought the connections to slavery and maroon communities were excellent.
A lot of this book felt repetitive. When the repetition was used well, I could tell it was to help a particular message sink in. Other times it was like, “how much do I have to be reminded that we work at a machine-like pace?? I get it!!”
Listening to the audiobook, I loved listening to the author’s voice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Racism, Medical content, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Chronic illness, Colonisation, and Violence
kshertz's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
3.75
I will preface by saying self help nonfiction is not my jam. But I love the idea of Nap Ministries and find the Instagram inspirational and fantastic. Everything this woman says is magical and true. I definitely think it’s a message worth taking the time to understand and take actionable steps towards. I feel the book is an extension of the Instagram that I didn’t necessarily need and at times it got repetitive but I know that was purposeful. In the end if you love self-help and are on an anti-racist community journey or any person of color, this is a must read. At the very least you have to follow the Instagram!
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Classism, Colonisation, Racism, Gaslighting, and Ableism
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