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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
Mychel Denzel Smith explains why the American dream is dead. There is a lot of information I can agree with, but there are things I don’t. He and I have had different life experiences. Smith does a great job explaining his stance and makes it very relatable.
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. It is beautifully written, and really made me stop and think about my life privileges. I found myself reading slower than I usually do, in order to fully absorb the material. Highly, highly recommended. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Through no fault of its own, this book was just not what I was looking for. The "after" of the title made me think it was going to focus more on imagining and creating new futures as justice work, but the author really focuses mostly on breaking down the flaws of Americanism and only gets to the future in the last quarter or so. The critical bulk was accessible and sometimes eloquent, but I didn't feel like I gained a lot of new ideas from it since I read a lot of work on this topic. Good for an intro to the American dream as oppressive construct, not so much for deeper dive.
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
It's light, but not lighthearted. It's also thought-provoking.
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Well my reading streak pulling me out of a slump continues. This is utter brilliance. From his prose to his ruminations on society. I so badly want to give this to everyone I know.
reflective
medium-paced
"Stakes is High: Life After the American Dream" is a timely and succinct reminder of the struggles black citizens live through every day and how the choices made by our government in favor of profit over humanity are a threat to us all. Smith's prose is as intellectual as it is heart-wrenching as he goes through each chapter, chronicling the rise of white nationalism during the 2016 election and its roots in America's racist, bloody history. Smith urges us to look forward and seize the opportunity for change, even though it will not be easy. In these times especially, when people refuse to believe that racism and structural oppression still exist, Smith's book is a must-read for everyone.
Advanced digital copy from Edelweiss.
Advanced digital copy from Edelweiss.
challenging
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced