Read This to Get Smarter

Read This to Get Smarter: About Race, Class, Gender, Disability & More by Blair Imani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My rating - 4/5
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This book is a great introduction to modern-day social issues, especially for teens! As a teenager myself, I know about a hundred people that need to read this book. However, luckily for me, this book was a required summer reading for my upcoming English course.

Disclaimer: This does not influence my rating in any way.

With a personal interest in studying social issues, I already knew quite a lot of the information this book had to offer. However, Imani does a great job at providing examples and evidence for every single argument she makes, providing readers like myself with the maximum amount of information one can fit in a book so short. One thing I am yet to study is the impacts of capitalism. Thanks to "Read This to Get Smarter," I now have a basic understanding.

I did dock a star for a good reason my friend brought up when reading the same text. She mentioned that in parts of the book, much of Imani's advice seemed like a set of rules rather than encouraging readers to change their mindset and value respect. For example, in her chapter about trans identities and deadnaming, there were comprehensive instructions on how to apologize when misgendering somebody. I do think that Imani's approach was perfect, however, a choreographed apology is never more sincere than a real one. I would love for readers to take the book's instructions as a solid suggestion, or a point in the right direction, even. But the most important part of an apology in sincerity.

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