4.3 AVERAGE


Didn’t quite live up to its incredible set of epigraphs. Last two essays were amazing, a few duds along the way.

A thoughtful, thought-provoking, expertly researched book about what it means to inhabit a body written in a time when so many bodies and the related freedoms and rights are under assault. Laing uses the difficult life of psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich, who studied under Freud but had a falling out, to explore gay rights, civil rights, feminism, and racism. Well-written, powerful, and insightful.

Brilliant. A history of modern oppression and protest told through fascinating accounts of famous people like you never knew them before (and some whom I met for the first time and thought how did I not know) and through the lens of the body in relation to freedom. I really think she captured the feeling of freedom in more than one vignette which is quite difficult. Freedom!
challenging informative slow-paced

tapsisbuchblog's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 22%

Olivia Laings Werk "Everybody" hat mich aufgrund des Sub-Titels "Warum unsere Körper politisch sind" angezogen. Das Buch versprach eine neue Betrachtung der Protestbewegungen des 20. Jahrhunderts und sollte den Körper in den Mittelpunkt stellen.

Ich hatte Aufklärung und neue Sichtweisen auf unseren Körper und wie unsere Gesellschaft unser Bild über unseren Körper formt erwartet. Ich freute mich auf eine neue, leidenschaftliche Stimme. 

Leider kam das Buch nicht an meine Erwartungen heran. Denn Olivia Lang reicht Sprachrohr an historische Stimme, erwähnt historische Ereignisse. Eines tut sie meiner Ansicht aber nicht: den Körper in den Mittelpunkt stellen. Die Politisierung unserer Erscheinung kritisch betrachten. 

Ihr Stil ist poetisch und ausschweifend. Das machte es mir schwer, ihr zu folgen. Zum Punkt kam sie für mich nie. Daher bleibt diese Lektüre unvollendet.

Took this book while travelling and have tagged it to reread, lots of ideas for further reflection,
challenging informative slow-paced

In parts it feels a bit like a historical account on how the body navigates policy and the lack of protections politically but then also in other parts it makes me wonder if the author is writing fiction. There’s a high level of detail that unless she read their diaries I’m not sure how she got access to that information 

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mikeahoy's review

3.75
hopeful informative reflective medium-paced
challenging reflective slow-paced

Olivia Laing is a gem.
hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

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