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liia's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
incredibly researched, thorough and detailed. i struggled to keep up at certain points, but this is dense non-fiction so that makes sense. i learned So much. i didn't always know where manne was going, but i knew when we'd arrived. the information is a must for everyone to know even if i wouldn't recommend the book to everyone.
if i ever have to hear about elliot rodger again i will lose it.
if i ever have to hear about elliot rodger again i will lose it.
juliasilge's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a LONG time to finish this book, partly because it is pretty grim subject matter (intimate partner violence, etc) and partly because it is a dense, fairly academic text; I don't tend to read a lot of analytic philosophy. Manne is a rigorous thinker and a brilliant writer. In this book, she distinguishes between sexism (an ideology about gender roles) and her main subject, misogyny (social, historical systems that enforce patriarchy). This book was published in 2017 and reflects on the election of Donald Trump, the trial of Brock Turner, the Isla Vista killings from 2014, and more; it is pretty interesting to read this book with just barely a few years of distance from some of these examples. If anything, the bit of distance makes Manne look more precise and persuasive.
Be prepared for the entirely pessimistic ending.
Be prepared for the entirely pessimistic ending.
taylordnelson's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25
A really interesting and extensively researched look at the philosophical roots of misogyny. This book is dense and technical but thinking of it as an academic text, the chapters reinforce the main messages again and again so I feel like I grasped her main thesis, that misogyny is not born out of dehumanization as much as it is born from entitlement to women's caregiving and attention. I plan to return to this book often; it's a wealth of further reading and materials to look into! Overall, I recommend for those interested.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
mj_almquist's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
This book was super informative and has an amazing conversation around it. I read this for a class and enjoyed our conversation about the book.
There was a lot of information in here for sure, but I would have loved to see more of how misogyny connected to race and class among other things. I completely understand needing to have a more narrow field of subject of a novel.
Although I really enjoyed a lot of the content of this book, as someone with a Political science background, reading a book where the author has a philosophy background was honestly a little hard because the writing style is very different than what I am more used to reading.
Overall, enjoyed the message on this book and will be recommending to others!
There was a lot of information in here for sure, but I would have loved to see more of how misogyny connected to race and class among other things. I completely understand needing to have a more narrow field of subject of a novel.
Although I really enjoyed a lot of the content of this book, as someone with a Political science background, reading a book where the author has a philosophy background was honestly a little hard because the writing style is very different than what I am more used to reading.
Overall, enjoyed the message on this book and will be recommending to others!
drillvoice's review against another edition
5.0
I got a lot out of this book. It's a great exercise in conceptualizing misogyny and its social role in a patriarchal society. Then it goes further to shine a light on how misogyny shows up and the behaviours and attitudes it can lead to. I think it's very powerful to gain a greater insight into understanding our world.
However, the book seems torn between being written for academics and written for lay readers. At times this is a distraction. It feels like the author is addressing a community of philosopher academics instead of you, the reader. There is also philosophical jargon which I partly like because I learnt new words. But in the other hand if I ever say "sui generis" in public I think I'll be laughed out of town.
That said, while this book could do what it does better, no other book does what this book does better.
However, the book seems torn between being written for academics and written for lay readers. At times this is a distraction. It feels like the author is addressing a community of philosopher academics instead of you, the reader. There is also philosophical jargon which I partly like because I learnt new words. But in the other hand if I ever say "sui generis" in public I think I'll be laughed out of town.
That said, while this book could do what it does better, no other book does what this book does better.
klibera6's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t know how to describe this book other than brilliant, thought-challenging, thoughtful, refreshing, thorough, and brave! I will be thinking about this book for the rest of my life. Thank you for writing it, Kate!
annappleton's review against another edition
4.0
Heavy read, but very interesting and insightful points.
la5's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
5.0
Everyone should read this book. It is not an easy read and offers no solutions, but it explains the problem comprehensively. Understanding the problem is a necessary step in developing a response.
I found the author's definitions of sexism (the justifying belief in female inferiority) and misogyny (the enforcing action to defend the patriarchy) to be very helpful in understanding how women could be so misogynistic. The section that explains how people can be misogynists without being sexist (ala Trump) was also extremely helpful.
I also found the description of what women provide (for free) that men feel entitled to as a valuable and limited resource to be illuminating -- the care work that is so financially devalued, but is the only thing that makes life worth living -- the only real deathbed regret people have is related to care and community with loved ones. Women are only "good" when they provide this valuable good earnestly, selflessly and without any demand on the socially superior men in her circle. Men feel entitled to this good & when it fails to manifest, they become enraged (and shamed at the same time). This is a toxic combination.
I found the author's definitions of sexism (the justifying belief in female inferiority) and misogyny (the enforcing action to defend the patriarchy) to be very helpful in understanding how women could be so misogynistic. The section that explains how people can be misogynists without being sexist (ala Trump) was also extremely helpful.
I also found the description of what women provide (for free) that men feel entitled to as a valuable and limited resource to be illuminating -- the care work that is so financially devalued, but is the only thing that makes life worth living -- the only real deathbed regret people have is related to care and community with loved ones. Women are only "good" when they provide this valuable good earnestly, selflessly and without any demand on the socially superior men in her circle. Men feel entitled to this good & when it fails to manifest, they become enraged (and shamed at the same time). This is a toxic combination.