Weekly Non-Fiction Reading List 2.12.24
We have three great books on this list, and although they’re great, I’m honest about some criticisms. We have a great collection of essays, a book against the sexual revolution, and a social justice book. Enjoy!
These book reviews are a little longer than I normally write them. Please let me know in the comments if you’d like more in-depth thoughts. I usually write these to be quick and give you an idea of the book, so let me know!
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What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays by Damon Young
I absolutely loved this book. I used to think that I didn’t like collections of essays, but maybe I only like well-written ones. A lot of collections of essays in this memoir format are very basic just telling you what the author thought they found interesting in their life, but it’s the most surface-level grew-up-in-the-suburbs type book. This book from Damon Young is much different, and the summary of the book definitely did it justice.
Damon Young is extremely real in this book discussing his experience growing up as a young Black man and his experiences as an adult and father now. It’s really interesting listening to his experience and how he perceives the world, but on top of that, the dude is funny and has an amazing wit about him. At one point, he went on a rant about a teammate on a bus ride back from a game, and I was in tears laughing.
The book gives a really interesting perspective on racism in America, but Damon also covers topics about his relationships with women, his parents, and himself. This is just an all-around really great book, and I wish more essay books were like this one.
The Case Against the Sexual Revolution by Louise Perry
This is such a phenomenal book, and I really want to emphasize that because I have a slight criticism of it, but in no way do I think that means you shouldn’t read it. I remember hearing about this book when it first came out, but the audio version didn’t come out until much later, so I forgot about it. The other day, I remembered, and it took me a while to figure out the author’s name. Once I found it, I binged the book in about a day.
I’m a pretty progressive leftist/liberal, and I’m all about feminism and women having the right to make their own decisions and choices with their bodies. I’m also a straight white-passing man. But something that’s confused me is the growing sexualization of women and what it all actually means. In this book, Louise Perry argues that the sexual revolution isn’t all it seems to be.
Louise Perry worked in a rape crisis call center, and she discusses all of the issues with liberal women arguing that sex is just a “thing” and nothing special and all of the contradictions that brings up. She tells many stories of porn actresses who have come out to discuss how they’ve been sexually assaulted (sometimes on camera). Perry also makes great points about the relationship between capitalism and the current sex industry. Like, how many women, if they could choose any career in the world would choose to be a sex worker? How many women would have signed up for OnlyFans during the pandemic if it weren’t for needing the money?
One of the best contradictions I think Louise brings up is how a landlord asking for sex in lieu of rent money is assault, but a woman selling her body is somehow OK. She brings this up regularly throughout the book in other ways as well. She also discusses how we need to think about how men evolved and the sexual costs to men are nowhere near what they are for women.
My criticism is that at one point in the book, when discussing male and female differences, she touches on trans people in sports. It really felt like it was just shoved in there to socially signal to specific types of readers in there. I do respect that she didn’t use the fear-mongering talking point of trans women in female prisons though.
Again, although I think that part of the book was unnecessary, overall, this was an excellent book that I think a lot of leftists and feminists should read.
The Wake Up: Closing the Gap Between Good Intentions and Real Change by Michelle MiJung Kim
If you’re looking to go woke, this is the book for you, and I’m not necessarily saying that in a bad way. I’m somewhat torn on this book because I think Michelle MiJung Kim did a great job educating the reader as to why it’s important to be mindful of so many things like privilege, racism, sexism, ableism and many other things. This book is just about everything you need to know about social justice. My only issue is that it’s a lot.
This is purely my opinion, but this is the type of book that makes moderate people start leaning more to the right. It leaves very little grey area for how we talk and interact with others. What’s interesting is Michelle is very self-critical in this book about where she’s messed up, but she discusses how she’s pushed back against people calling her out. The downside is, she always admits fault.
For example, Michelle tells the story about how she used the word “crazy” and someone called her out on that and explained why it’s wrong to use that word due to people with mental illnesses. As I write this, I guess the language policing my only real issue with all of this. I’m a recovering drug addict and diagnosed with multiple mental health issues, and I don’t care what language people use. So, who do you listen to? Them or me?
I’m fairly in-tune with marginalized communities and keep up with the language. I do my best to use terms that are widely accepted, but they’re constantly changing. This is all we can do. I think the issue we run into is that there’s little grace offered from those who are trying to police the language. Many years ago, I was taught that it’s a lot easier to change how I respond to the world than it is to try to change everyone in it. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try, but we can’t let it ruin our day. And I’m not even getting into all of the nuances, which is much more than I care to put in a book review.
As far as everything else like the racism, sexism, inequality and many other issues Michelle brings up, she’s absolutely spot on. She offers some great advice about standing up for yourself and what workplaces can do to be better and how we can all do better as a whole. Despite my criticisms, Michelle’s heart is in the right place, and I’m glad she wrote this book. You can tell she thinks deeply about these issues. And although I don’t always agree with her conclusions, I respect that she’s putting in the work and doing some solid activism.
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