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bookshelfmystic's review
4.5
It's a book about doubles, in the literal sense and in myriad metaphorical ways. This is the uniting theme across the broad sociopolitical landscape Klein writes about, from QAnon to wellness influencers (and the surprising alliances between them found in the "diagonalist" movement). The framing concept is the author's persistent confusion with Naomi Wolf, and through exploring this uncanny doppelganger she's found herself saddled with, she dives into the rabbit hole of what she calls the Mirror World.
I'm not going to do her arguments justice by explaining them further here, but I found a lot of value in Klein's exploration of the motivations of Steve Bannon and his ilk, the pitfalls of the modern internet left and social justice movements, internet privacy, the history of Nazism and antisemitism, Zionism, diagonalism, and more.
Having read This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate several years ago, I already trust that Klein knows what she's talking about, and her careful excavation of the cause and effect of so many destabilizing cultural forces in Doppelganger adds to her leftist cred. I really appreciated her well-argued, non-performative writing--she knows her stuff, has spent decades living it and writing about it, and doesn't come off as preachy. In my notes I said this book feels like "coming home to the left". It's such a refreshing change from most of the internet discourse you get about these topics.
I think the biggest aha moment for me was Klein's differentiation between understanding the forces that cause social issues vs. conspiracy theories blaming some super-powerful bad actor. Incentive structures in capitalism (e.g.) cause all sorts of social ills, but it's easy to see these effects and blame them on some evil intelligent force instead. Again, I'm not going to do her argument justice, but this point is a really powerful one.
Doppelganger is not a light read, but it's well worth it. I'm glad I finished it now, while I'm pregnant, instead of trying to listen to it while taking care of a newborn. I don't think that would have worked too well. It deserves the time spent chewing on its contents.
Moderate: Racism and Antisemitism
peckreadsbooks's review
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
vikycolour's review
4.5
Minor: Racism and War
katharina90's review against another edition
4.5
The book is well written, covers a lot of ground and offers much food for thought.
Trying to tie all of these topics back to the doppelganger motif at times feels like a stretch? I definitely lost the thread a few times but was captivated by Klein's meandering narrative nonetheless.
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Dementia and War
amachonis's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Classism
Minor: Rape
rissryann's review
5.0
Moderate: Ableism, Genocide, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Colonisation, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Rape and Violence
ka_cam's review
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Antisemitism, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic
cerysl's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
aqtbenz's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
errie's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Genocide, Racism, Antisemitism, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic