A review by happyeverabigail
Never Silent: ACT UP and My Life in Activism by Peter Staley

5.0

This might be the best memoir I’ve ever read. I learned a lot, was definitely entertained, and also found myself in tears. The political moves and explanations of activism were explained clearly and succinctly but also Peter weaved in his life story in a way that felt like the best gossip. This author knows we want the tea and this just had such a good balance of the overarching history of the AIDS epidemic along with personal details of an individual going through it, the good and the bad parts of anyone’s interesting life unfolding through the years can always fascinate especially with great storytelling. 

I caught myself mentally trying to calculate Peter’s age because his voice in storytelling felt so youthful and accessible to like a 20 year old reader and yet so wise and reflective at the same time.

This book is inspiring on a good day and validation on how history (and government) frustratingly repeats itself on a bad one. I just appreciate its existence for that duality so much, this book is important.