reibureibu's reviews
75 reviews

Understanding Marx's Capital: A Reader's Guide by Adam Booth, Rob Sewell

challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Unbelievably elucidating and a fantastic voice in-parallel with the material it explains. The worst thing there is in interpreting Marx is attempting to remain 'objective', a rational itself borne from the same roots as capitalism (further alienation of the worker, this time in temperament, but that's for another time). Sewell and Booth do not attempt this because they realize the worthlessness of such; instead they repeatedly lambaste bourgeoisie economists for being apologists to capitalism's atrocities and academic 'Marxists' for being useless standers by. What is the point of any of this if not to change the world? Such requires stance.

Lean on Me: A Politics of Radical Care by Lynne Segal

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

Weaves together a hundred different topics, but even if unable to plumb particular depth from any one of them the ensuing tapestry stands proudly, personal.

Powerbuilding System by Jeff Nippard

informative fast-paced

3.0

A bit bare-bones, but: exactly everything you need and no more. Jeff Nippard is the GOAT so ofc it's good.

Butcher's Crossing by John Williams

adventurous reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What (does) it means to know one's self./?

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The obligatory high school book that changes your life; mine was Kitchen.

Kai-core. Always has been, even when I've forgotten everything within. And even then, would still resolutely recommend it, to anyone and everyone who'd listen. It was, after all, a piece of me.

Reread on account of it being over a decade and unsure if it still held up. I feel foolish. It only meant more.

I've finally (re)found my yearly-reread book.

The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Other Freedoms in Sex and Love by Janet W. Hardy, Dossie Easton

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.5

Basic, gateway intro, but sometimes basic and gateway is what you need. Really helpful in solidifying all my thoughts and feelings in past year or so about myself in relation to others. I feel so much happier.

decolonizing trans/gender 101 by b. binaohan

challenging emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

5.0

"To reach a place where we can be free. Of oppression, of violence, of racism, of cissexism, of transmisogyny, of transphobia, of colonialism.

Just.

Free."

Females by Andrea Long Chu

challenging funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.5

Wow... she is LITERALLY me!

Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else by David Balzer

funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Curacissus. Falling in-love with who we present ourselves to be.

The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation by Michael Matthews

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.0

Initially thought about rating this lower given the overt "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" politics, but I've met far too many people who've complained about their woes for far too long without actually ever doing anything about them that I can't help but feel like the advice in here is actually pretty cogent and exactly what many need. Paradoxically I think the "bootstrap" mentality when the individual's nuances are considered is much more compassionate than it appears: no one can help you if you don't want to help yourself, but when you do we're here to help. That at least is what I've internalized the most when finally coming out of the lowest point of my life, and since then I've been much more able to do the things I want to do and be the person I want to be because ultimately I know that change has to come from within. If this book helps anyone towards that realization then certainly that's all that matters.