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crybabybea's review against another edition
4.5
I went into this being mildly informed on the prison industrial complex, but Stevenson helped open my eyes to how truly harrowing the experiences of the most underserved prisoners can be. He explores not only the systemic biases that cause unfair and wrongful convictions, but also the devastating after-effects of mass incarceration and lazy, biased legal proceedings. There is a deep-rooted corruption within our legal system that stems from slavery, fed by racism, ableism, classism, and sexism, and Bryan Stevenson is not afraid to call the corruption out for what it is. I also liked how he touched upon sensationalization of crimes in the media, which I think has become even more of an issue with true crime becoming one of the most popular forms of media in recent years.
The anecdotes in this book are absolutely sobering and told with a degree of compassion that is rarely given to prisoners, let alone the "worst of the worst". I believe this compassion and empathy make this book an accessible entry into abolition and understanding the prison industrial complex, even for those who may be on the other side of the political spectrum. The phrase "Just Mercy" is a plea from the author to practice empathy, compassion, and a call to action to focus on helping the people who need it the most, rather than calling for their deaths.
Highly recommend.
Also ACAB.
Graphic: Classism, Mental illness, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Stalking, Drug abuse, Confinement, Violence, Police brutality, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Dementia, Addiction, Sexism, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, and Gun violence
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Classism, Police brutality, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Murder, Ableism, Rape, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Racism, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Medical content, Sexual assault, Hate crime, Pregnancy, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
ballew's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Death, Violence, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexism, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape, Confinement, and Gun violence
Minor: Terminal illness
julybunny's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Biphobia, Child death, Confinement, Death, Classism, Drug use, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, Toxic friendship, and Suicide
nicolesbookreviews's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Police brutality, Confinement, Torture, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Classism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Ableism, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Grief, and Gun violence
brinnet's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Child death, Confinement, Racism, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, Violence, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Confinement, and Addiction
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Dementia, War, Terminal illness, and Infertility
zamreads's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Rape, Murder, Mental illness, Violence, Classism, Child abuse, Ableism, Sexual assault, Racism, and Police brutality
hot_water's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence