Scan barcode
emilyseebold's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Slavery and Police brutality
Minor: Rape
carojust's review
3.75
Naomi Klein centers this book around the strange occurrence of being mistaken as Naomi Wolf, a fellow writer and feminist whose beliefs she deems harmful and flat-out wrong. But she quickly expands this idea of doppelgangers toward the two selves of a person, a religion, a country. Then brings it back to say, rather persuasively albeit incongruously, that our answer to making the world better lies in abandoning individualism and engaging in a care-based, communal society.
Throughout the book, this idea of relating the world to "doubling" felt like a reach, and overdone. I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't need the constant packaging of mirrors and shadow worlds. Yin and yang, I get it.
Also, this is a call to socialism, essentially. You'll be disappointed if you go into this expecting more of a memoir with a "Black Mirror" angle. But it's a great read for your social consciousness, and how to approach our increasingly hostile, diametrically opposed world.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Hate crime, Rape, Violence, and War
nreyno's review
4.0
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Gun violence, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
This was such a fascinating read and not what I was expecting (I don't read premises, so idk what I was expecting actually....).
I am a tiny bookstagrammer who shares a username with other "bookish millennial"s whose "brands" are much different than mine; they focus on SJM, Fourth Wing, etc. while I ..... do not - no shade, we are just different! I found the premise of this so relatable and compelling. I'm no one, but Naomi Klein's career and brand is deeply impacted by having this author doppelganger. Absolutely wild.
I also heavily related to this because I too, have lost loved ones to the "mirrorworld," who dove deep into the covid, 5G, and other endless political conspiracies that have spread like wildfire since the pandemic shutdown in 2020. It's painful, exhausting, and leaves you in a bit of despair wondering why they can't be pulled back from the dudebro podcasts or vile Trump camp. I appreciated that Klein weaved in so much context about how these ran rampant and gained such strong traction, because it ironically made me feel less alone in my own grief of the people I love changing right in front of me.
The way we think about our online selves, and how performative activism has become a thing was something that I think anyone on Instagram or who is perpetually online can feel connected to. It is something I ruminate about often, as I believe to be seen is to be loved. However, to be perceived incorrectly (sometimes poeple really do intentionally misunderstand you) is viscerally painful and sometimes infuriating. And in other times, you don't want to be perceived at all. This cultural zeitgeist is such a mindfuck sometimes.
I don't particularly think there was anything absolutely novel in this, and though it could feel dense at times, I am really glad I read it and felt really comforted that it's something we are all navigating (to different extents) in this "brave new world" lol.
Graphic: Genocide, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Rape, Violence, and War
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
madisus's review
5.0
Minor: Genocide, Rape, Xenophobia, 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
oworthyfool's review
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation