Archive for the ‘Non Fiction Reviews’ Category
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.
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.