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A review by peachani
Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
3.75
I was halfway through this book before I realized it was not and would not be a typical self help book with suggestions in every section—so I started over. It is indeed a manifesto. To that end, it is repetitive so the point gets across. Unfortunately, that meant I skimmed through the last pages. It's probably best to read 3-4 pages at a time and reflect.
Rest as resistance is revolutionary. It is counterculture. You will meet with resistance should you choose to embrace this philosophy (and you – we – should). The author successfully lays down the foundation and it's up to us to implement it.
Sticking points for me were religion and social media. I was exposed to Christianity through an extremely white, colonialist lens. Reading this made me wonder aloud what my relationship with God would be like had I experienced Christianity through the lens of Black liberation. As for social media, the author believes it is mostly negative. I don't necessarily disagree, but I strongly believe that it can also be a force for good, for truth-telling, for community. After all, I heard about The Nap Ministry on X, formerly known as Twitter. However, it is possible those opportunities dwindle as social media platforms become ever more entwined with capitalism. The "need" for dollars strongly interferes with our behavior, turning these opportunities for connection into a desperate chase for virality, which can translate into dollars (e.g., the worst people saying inflammatory things to get money from Twitter Blue).
Overall, I found this a difficult read, despite already being in the process of embracing rest as a method of decolonization and self care. This will challenge you and your beliefs, but it's for the best.
Rest as resistance is revolutionary. It is counterculture. You will meet with resistance should you choose to embrace this philosophy (and you – we – should). The author successfully lays down the foundation and it's up to us to implement it.
Sticking points for me were religion and social media. I was exposed to Christianity through an extremely white, colonialist lens. Reading this made me wonder aloud what my relationship with God would be like had I experienced Christianity through the lens of Black liberation. As for social media, the author believes it is mostly negative. I don't necessarily disagree, but I strongly believe that it can also be a force for good, for truth-telling, for community. After all, I heard about The Nap Ministry on X, formerly known as Twitter. However, it is possible those opportunities dwindle as social media platforms become ever more entwined with capitalism. The "need" for dollars strongly interferes with our behavior, turning these opportunities for connection into a desperate chase for virality, which can translate into dollars (e.g., the worst people saying inflammatory things to get money from Twitter Blue).
Overall, I found this a difficult read, despite already being in the process of embracing rest as a method of decolonization and self care. This will challenge you and your beliefs, but it's for the best.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Slavery, Death of parent, and Racism
Minor: Medical content and Racial slurs