Book Review: Feminism Is For Everybody (2000) by bell hooks

Book Summary: Feminist, writer,and social activist bell hooks gives a tangible definition of feminism and explains how feminism intersects with different aspects of life.

My Review: One of the positive aspects of this work is that it is a good introduction to feminism. If you are completely clueless or confused about what feminism is really about, this book is perfect for you. In fact, bell hooks states in the introduction to the book that she wanted to write something that will enable people to understand feminism better and why she is a feminist.

Besides being a good introduction to feminism, the book examines how feminism connects to different areas of life for men and women. She discusses romantic and sexual relationships, beauty, sexuality, work, and more. It made her thoughts on feminism much more relatable.

Another positive aspect of the book is how bell hooks put some of her personal experience into the book to support her ideas. In certain chapters, she shares how she became a feminist and the women who influenced and supported her. It made the book more engaging.

A negative aspect of the book is that she doesn’t provide enough examples to support certain ideas. For instance, she states in the beginning of the chapter titled “Feminist Parenting” that women can raise children with a sexist upbringing. However, she doesn’t exactly state how women can raise children with a sexist upbringing.

Another negative aspect of the book is the fact that while there is a chapter devoted to how feminism related to lesbianism and bisexuality, there is no mention of transgender people. However,  this may be because hooks lacked experience with transgender people at the time of publication.

Overall, this book was an enlightening read about feminism. While it could definitely be updated and improved, it is a great way for anybody to understand feminism better.

 

 

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Book Review: Chicken Soup For the African American Soul

For those of you not familiar with the Chicken Soup for The Soul series, it is a book series designed to inspire and encourage people with true stories. These stories have been submitted from everyday people as well as famous people. Each book targets different people from women to cancer survivors to teens.

One of the most amazing things about this book is the past meeting the present. There are stories about ordinary and famous people involved in the Civil Rights Movement and stories about people giving back to the community. Another notable thing about this book is the wide audience appeal. There are stories written for the young and old as well as black, bi-racial, or multi-racial.

A useful thing in the book besides the inspiration is the contributor’s section at the back of it. If you really enjoy a story, then you can use this section to find out more about who wrote it.

If you are a black person who wants to celebrate your history and community, this book is for you. If you are someone who wants to learn more about black history and black culture, this book is for you. If you are a person who appreciates different cultures and backgrounds, this book is for you.

8 Things to Save a Life Part 2

In honor of Jonah Mowry as well as all the victims of bullycide, I have created a two-part post featuring songs and books that can be used to comfort any suicidal or bullied person. However, these posts are especially for children and teens.

Since part one featured the songs, this second part will feature the books.

The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth by Alexandra Robbins

Many teens are bullied because they are different from most of their classmates. Some of them resort to suicide because they believe they will suffer the same treatment all throughout their life. With this non-fiction book, the author presents what she calls “the quirk theory”, which states that the things that cause them to be bullied in high school will be the things that people appreciate later in life. To support this theory, the author follows several real characters that are ostracized for being different and issues them a challenge to change their situation without changing who they are. In addition, the author features celebrities that were outcasts in high school before they were famous.

On the Fringe edited by Donald R. Gallo

This book features several stories by many prominent young adult authors. These stories tell what it is like to be an outcast, to be excluded for being different. Some of these stories are hopeful, while others are shocking, but all of them have a lesson to be learned.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Leviathan

This fiction book tells the story of one gay teen and one straight teen who share the same name and what happens when they meet. A humorous yet serious story featuring love and friendship, this is a great book for anyone.

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

Another thing that teens may resort to when bullied is self-injury. Jonah Mowry did it and so does the main character in this book. After a humiliating bullying incident, Melissa Miller accidentally creates a fatal wound while cutting herself with a razor. However, when Death comes he offers her the chance to become War, a Rider of the Apocalypse. When Melissa Miller takes the job, she slowly learns something that helps her conquer her pain: control.

Best Book of 2011

For the first time ever, here is my pick for the best book of the year: The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins. It is a non-fiction book about popularity and outcasthood in high school as well as what the author calls “the quirk theory”. We’ve all heard of mean-girls, jocks, nerds, and teen angst so often that it has become the norm. Recently, a new phrase is giving these terms more meaning: bullycide, suicide due to bullying. These days, most people seem to think it is only gay teens that are being bullied or worse, that any kid being bullied should just ignore it because “kids will be kids”.  As a person who has experienced bullying, I know that the only way to “ignore” bullies is surrounding yourself with supportive friends. In the case of gay and straight teens being bullied, bullycide has occurred because they either feel that they are alone or they actually are alone in what they are going through. This feeling of loneliness can be the result of being excluded at school or feeling alienated because they are different from other classmates.

Taken from the author’s site:

The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth follows several real teens who are different from their classmates:

• Danielle, The Loner, who has withdrawn from classmates since they persuaded her to unwittingly join her own hate club
• Whitney, The Popular Bitch, a cheerleading captain both seduced by and trapped within her clique’s perceived prestige
• Eli, The Nerd, whose differences cause students to laugh at him and his mother to needle him fornot being “normal”
• Joy, The New Girl, determined to stay positive as classmates harass her for her mannerisms and target her because of her race
• Mark, The Gamer, an underachiever in danger of not graduating, despite his intellect and his yearning to connect with other students
• Regan, The Weird Girl, who battles discrimination and gossipy politics in school but leads a joyous life outside of it
• Noah, The Band Geek , who is alternately branded too serious and too emo, yet annually runs for class president.

 

All these teens are given a challenge in the middle of the school year to change their circumstances without changing who they are. By doing this, they will prove the quirk theory, which states that the qualities that cause them to be ostracized in high school will be the qualities that people admire in college and beyond. While the reader follows the characters, they will also be given a look at the science behind popularity and outcasthood as well as famous people who demonstrate the quirk theory. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or a student, anyone who is involved with teens should read this book.