A review by barnstormingbooks
How to Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir by Shayla Lawson

challenging emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Shayla Lawson’s memoir of essays is special. That seems like such a simple way to describe this book, but it is accurate. Much like the beautiful and vulnerable photo Lawson chooses for the cover, the essays unfold in ways that are inviting, thoughtful, and yet remind the reader of where they stand in space. The organization flows, bucking the linear model many memoirist choose, moving instead through themes. Lawson both invites readers that are like and unlike her to listen and engage, but without teaching or orating. Instead it is just through existing and building intricate and interesting spirals of emotion, experience and thought. 

This was a slow read for me. After every essay I needed time to think, to dig into what I had read and what those subtle implications were floating just below the surface. Everytime I gave myself space to explore I was satisfied. 

Highly recommend this lovely and challenging book.