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maestro_cerrotorcido's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.5
I originally got into Ruth Wilson Gilmore after watching a video of her discussing, in part, the history of racism and slavery in Europe and what that tells us about today. I loved what she had to say and that really peaked my interest in her. I now know she doesn't primarily research that. It is more of a contemporary and U.S. focus which isn't bad, but not as engaging to me at this time in my life. I wasn't getting a whole lot out of these essays. Perhaps it is due to what I already mentioned, but it may also be the case that I need to study more philosophy or introductory materials into prison abolition. Perhaps it could also be my personal ADHD or my need to get more accustomed to her writing, etc. Either way, I think this is a great book, and I think she has a lot of incredible knowledge to spread but I simply couldn't get a lot out of it at this time. I do want to revisit it. I am also currently reading her book Golden Gulag which I am having a lot better time with.
notesquotesscarletmotes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
This collection has a lot of important information and I learned a lot but I felt that the potential impact it could have had was handicapped by the amount of scholarly language present. These concepts should be more accessible to people from a wider array of backgrounds and levels of education.
"Skin, our largest organ, vulnerable to all ambient toxins, at the end is all we have to hold us together, no matter how much it seems to keep us apart."
kshertz's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
This was so much information! I think it’s meant for scholars and scholars only. Which is hard for me because I think these ideas of abolition take everyone and this leaves out the majority of the population. But I learned a ton and I hope to use this knowledge to help others understand abolition and the need to take down the institutions to build something better
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Colonisation, and Forced institutionalization
bonkstrats's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
adrianlarose's review against another edition
5.0
some combo of intellectual and accessible. the writing is...somehow both academic *and* clear? it's such a rare combo. this is a collected book of her essays, so as you read through, you will see some repeated phrases, explanations, concepts that she was working on and developing at the time. The book is organized so that ideas and time (from what I can tell; not every essay has its publication date prominently noted...maybe it's hidden somewhere, but that'd be great on the first title page of each essay!) progress as you read through. I was reading this alongside Octavia's Brood (sci-fi by bipoc folk) and saw so many thru-lines.
francisco909's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
courtums's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0