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skitch41's review
3.0
In the wake of the 2016 election there has been a feeling of hopeless that has bedeviled liberals and anti-Trump people, something that has even been noted The Atlantic recently (https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/03/strangers-in-their-own-land/518733/). This book attempts to buck them up by collecting a series of speeches and op-eds from leading figures in politics. Does it succeed? Meh.
This book is divided into 11 chapters, which cover one specific topic and features two to four essays or speeches. The topics are a grab bag of liberal subjects, so anti-Trump folks who don't lean in that direction may not find this book helpful.
However, like all collections of essays, speeches, and short articles from multiple authors, the book depends largely on the strength of each individual author. This can be a rocky ride and this book is no exception. There are some chapters and essays that are very good. The coda at the very end, which is written Dave Eggers, is a particularly good one to end on. However, others are just terrible. The last two chapters, which deal with the media, is particularly bad as it deals with a lot of navel gazing and gives no practical advice to the reader. In fact, this is one of the books biggest faults. Unlike [b:The Trump Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Living Through What You Hoped Would Never Happen|33154794|The Trump Survival Guide Everything You Need to Know About Living Through What You Hoped Would Never Happen|Gene Stone|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481123829s/33154794.jpg|53847711], very few of the essays written in the book offer any kind of practical advice on how to resist the Trump agenda. Thus, the usefulness and longevity of this book is limited. It may help some people get out of their post-election funk, but it will not tell you what to do next. There are a few good chapters in here, but I would recommend reading The Trump Survival Guide for a more practical approach to resistance for the next few years.
This book is divided into 11 chapters, which cover one specific topic and features two to four essays or speeches. The topics are a grab bag of liberal subjects, so anti-Trump folks who don't lean in that direction may not find this book helpful.
However, like all collections of essays, speeches, and short articles from multiple authors, the book depends largely on the strength of each individual author. This can be a rocky ride and this book is no exception. There are some chapters and essays that are very good. The coda at the very end, which is written Dave Eggers, is a particularly good one to end on. However, others are just terrible. The last two chapters, which deal with the media, is particularly bad as it deals with a lot of navel gazing and gives no practical advice to the reader. In fact, this is one of the books biggest faults. Unlike [b:The Trump Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Living Through What You Hoped Would Never Happen|33154794|The Trump Survival Guide Everything You Need to Know About Living Through What You Hoped Would Never Happen|Gene Stone|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481123829s/33154794.jpg|53847711], very few of the essays written in the book offer any kind of practical advice on how to resist the Trump agenda. Thus, the usefulness and longevity of this book is limited. It may help some people get out of their post-election funk, but it will not tell you what to do next. There are a few good chapters in here, but I would recommend reading The Trump Survival Guide for a more practical approach to resistance for the next few years.
cindyp's review
5.0
The 2016 presidential election is in the books. How will the majority of people who did not vote for the incoming president move beyond the rhetoric of the campaign? This compilation of essays, a speedy response to that question, brings together activists, politicians, philosophers and literary figures to offer a wide range of passionate answers. With urgency, optimism, and thoughtful reflection, these writers and thinkers challenge readers to redouble efforts toward equality and compassion with principled action. As Gloria Steinem says, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
jackobotts's review
4.0
A call to action with a dose of group therapy. Our feelings are very real. Our concerns are valid. Our collective voice is stronger & more powerful than that of a single person, group, community. What do we do now? We come together; we push ourselves outside our comfort zones; we challenge one another; we respect each other; we help lift one another.
youngsupernovas's review
4.0
You may not find much in this book that you haven't already read in some form or other in The Guardian or Washington Post, but you will hear from a vast and varied cast of highly educated an influential voices. Worth the read especially for the final chapter by David Eggers.
debshelf's review
4.0
Sometimes it's good to remember you're not alone. The essays in this collection that I liked the best were the ones that provided concrete examples of resistance and community building; it's not enough for Elizabeth Warren to say stuff like "we will fight him at every turn;" I need clear actions to undertake. How. How are we doing to do it, Senator Warren, Senator Sanders? How. Give me direction. I'm ready to take it. This is why remaking the country must come from the ground up and why I only really have faith in grassroots community organizers.
surefinewhatever_'s review
2.0
There were maybe 3 really good essays in this book, and the rest felt useless. Not only was this book made for a very niche time in our culture, but many of the essays felt like they were either recapping the same thing, or vain self-congratulatory about their own place in the resitance. There was hardly any solid advice and the book overall felt irrelevant. Huge bummer.
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