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4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
slow-paced
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
First book of 2021, and quite possibly the best. An absolute must read. If I didn’t have to work I would have read this in one sitting. Powerful stuff happens in these pages.
So the author has a dream about Bernie Sanders, and decides to write a chapter disparaging the most progressive candidate we had in the last 2 election cycles because........ I don't know. "Bernie Bros" and their desire for single payer healthcare and a livable wage, I guess. Mediocre is a better description of this book.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I did not stop talking about this book for the time it took me to listen to the audio. I loved it. I was taught by majority-white school systems that didn't go into detail about much black history. And if it wasn't "relevant," rarely spoke on the racism of important historical figures. So I learned a lot from Mediocre. I appreciated Oluo's writing and tone (in the audiobook). She's an incredible writer. I appreciated her honesty and fear and her empathy despite it all. Sometimes I struggle to see things fully without changing my POV. It's important to read books like this in order to better see the magnitude of what we're facing. I hope we CAN do better.
I think this book is SO BRILLIANT. I loved the diversity of topics and how Oluo connected past to present. How she'd start with a relatable recent event and go back into the past then slowly bring it forward again. I especially enjoyed chapters which I didn't have much knowledge of: I didn't know much about Buffalo Bill or football before this book, being a fan of neither Westerns or... football. Those chapters were just informational frenzies for me and I parroted them daily to my boyfriend as I read.
In reading and recommending this book, I encountered a lot of defensiveness from others, which was frustrating. It's easy to be defensive. It's a natural instinct. But as Oluo said repeatedly, why do we get defensive? It's important to investigate these feelings and consider fully opening our minds; listening without our guard up. Oluo is a phenomenal writer. Please read this. Please recommend this. Please talk about this with your white friends and loved ones.
I think this book is SO BRILLIANT. I loved the diversity of topics and how Oluo connected past to present. How she'd start with a relatable recent event and go back into the past then slowly bring it forward again. I especially enjoyed chapters which I didn't have much knowledge of: I didn't know much about Buffalo Bill or football before this book, being a fan of neither Westerns or... football. Those chapters were just informational frenzies for me and I parroted them daily to my boyfriend as I read.
In reading and recommending this book, I encountered a lot of defensiveness from others, which was frustrating. It's easy to be defensive. It's a natural instinct. But as Oluo said repeatedly, why do we get defensive? It's important to investigate these feelings and consider fully opening our minds; listening without our guard up. Oluo is a phenomenal writer. Please read this. Please recommend this. Please talk about this with your white friends and loved ones.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Racial slurs
This book is anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-classism. It's about how white supremacy has created a hateful and harmful system for minorities, especially people of color, in America. The trigger warnings I mention exist within the book but the author and the book is clearly AGAINST these acts. It does in no way promote them.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced