Reviews with content warning for Colonisation - The Disordered Cosmos

Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The Disordered Cosmos by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

21 reviews

mar's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

a much heavier read than i anticipated, but it does an incredible job unpacking the racism (as well as the sexism, transphobia, ableism) within science & the scientific community - both historically and presently - and the profound damage it continues to cause; i think anyone with an interest in science would benefit from reading this book

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saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

”The universe always turns out to be more complicated and queer than we think.”

The Disordered Cosmos is at its most fascinating when it discusses the ways that colonialism and bigotry intersect with and stunt science. Specifically in how these impact what gets studied and how, who gets to study it, and how we talk about history. At times the book feels like a memoir as the authors brings up her own background and personal anecdotes a lot.

Mileage may vary with how much you get out of the book. I’ve taken some college level introductory astronomy courses and was able to keep up with the science pretty well and didn’t learn much. I got more out of the history and social issues section and would love to look for more advanced science with this Black feminist perspective. Though there are times when the arguments are too broad or too surface level like “racism in science exists.” I also wish the ending offered more tangible, less vague solutions.

Overall, this is a pretty good argument for why people in science need more humanities and understanding of colonialism.

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murve's review against another edition

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informative reflective

4.5

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vincci's review against another edition

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challenging informative medium-paced

3.5

While the book starts off with a bang (no pun intended), I almost DNF'd in the first section as I just felt lost in all the physics talk. Once I pushed through, I found Prescod-Weinstein's commentary on how science is not objective, neutral or inclusive biting and important. This is a must-read!

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alsoapples's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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kk_gotit_goinon's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Everyone in academia should read this book. It calls out the experience of so many of us that most people refuse to acknowledge: racism, classism, ableism. All of these are still extremely prominent even in places that claim to be "committed to DEI" even in California where I live and work.

Dr. Prescod-Weinstein lays everything out so well but without talking down to you or coming off like she is right and you are wrong. She doesn't claim to have all the answers or to know how to solve everything while still pointing out the very real issues that have to be addressed.

Oh and the physics is pretty interesting but easy to understand (for a neuroscientist at least haha!)

A must read for a academics and folks who want to try to make the world a better place.

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