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A review by savvylit
Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
"You were not just born to center your entire existence on work and labor. You were born to heal, to grow, to be of service to yourself and community, to practice, to experiment, to create, to have space, to dream, and to connect."
Rest is Resistance is an enlightening manifesto that reveals the myriad ways in which modern capitalist society keeps us all from resting. And why, as a result, we all absolutely must carve space for rest in our lives. Throughout each section of this work, Hersey demonstrates to readers each of the healing benefits of rest. Rest, she says, allows us to dream and connect with ourselves and each other in ways we can just barely imagine. As I read, I felt empowered and delighted by the possibilities that Hersey lays out.
The reason that I'm ultimately rating Rest is Resistance at three and a half stars comes down to my personal preference. Again, I loved this book's primary call to (in)action! I firmly believe that our work is not our worth and that we should all resist by resting. That being said, I am uncomfortable with a lot of discussion of spirituality through the lens of Christianity. Hersey has a theological graduate degree and it is evident. There's nothing wrong with that - I just don't like it much myself.
Additionally, I found the repetitive nature of some of the topics in this manifesto to be grating. I understand that Rest is Resistance was written to be intentionally repetitive, as Hersey herself writes herself: "Repetition is a powerful concept for deprogramming..." However, instead of feeling like a meditative or prayer-like series of repetitions, some of the repeat info gave me deja vu. Hadn't I read that part already? I also found myself increasingly irritated by the constant use of the phrase "grind culture."
I would definitely still recommend Rest is Resistance - particularly to people who are too invested in their work. I also think that this book would really serve well as a reference. Perhaps if it weren't read all in one go, the repetition would be easier to digest.
Rest is Resistance is an enlightening manifesto that reveals the myriad ways in which modern capitalist society keeps us all from resting. And why, as a result, we all absolutely must carve space for rest in our lives. Throughout each section of this work, Hersey demonstrates to readers each of the healing benefits of rest. Rest, she says, allows us to dream and connect with ourselves and each other in ways we can just barely imagine. As I read, I felt empowered and delighted by the possibilities that Hersey lays out.
The reason that I'm ultimately rating Rest is Resistance at three and a half stars comes down to my personal preference. Again, I loved this book's primary call to (in)action! I firmly believe that our work is not our worth and that we should all resist by resting. That being said, I am uncomfortable with a lot of discussion of spirituality through the lens of Christianity. Hersey has a theological graduate degree and it is evident. There's nothing wrong with that - I just don't like it much myself.
Additionally, I found the repetitive nature of some of the topics in this manifesto to be grating. I understand that Rest is Resistance was written to be intentionally repetitive, as Hersey herself writes herself: "Repetition is a powerful concept for deprogramming..." However, instead of feeling like a meditative or prayer-like series of repetitions, some of the repeat info gave me deja vu. Hadn't I read that part already? I also found myself increasingly irritated by the constant use of the phrase "grind culture."
I would definitely still recommend Rest is Resistance - particularly to people who are too invested in their work. I also think that this book would really serve well as a reference. Perhaps if it weren't read all in one go, the repetition would be easier to digest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism