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4.52 AVERAGE
4.52 AVERAGE
I was biased starting this since I already knew I would agree with the books politics but I still felt like I learned a lot
I am a bit skeptical since many of the lower-star reviews are saying that the arguments are cherry picked and pseudo-historical (and I honestly don’t know anything about that) but it was interesting to read anyway
Regardless of the books historical reliability I still think the argument it’s intersectionality is incredibly important
I am a bit skeptical since many of the lower-star reviews are saying that the arguments are cherry picked and pseudo-historical (and I honestly don’t know anything about that) but it was interesting to read anyway
Regardless of the books historical reliability I still think the argument it’s intersectionality is incredibly important
Fascinating and incredibly important book. Covers the history of the end of feudalism, the rise of capitalism, the rise of current patriarchal forms, colonialism, witch hunts and more. Makes it clear that capitalism was founded on the oppression of women and with massive resistance every step of the way. Shows the importance of reproductive control. Talks about the oppressive elements of philosophy from the time. Covers so much that it skips some historical detail but it doesn't matter. An essential book for correcting the male centred perspectives of today as well as linking social rebellion of now to the past. Read this if you're at all interested in feminism or anti-capitalism.
edit: i feel obliged to somewhat temper what i said above 18 months later. I've read fragments about problems with historiography in the book, particularly http://libcom.org/blog/witch-hunts-transition-capitalism-20122011 and reading bits and pieces people who've immersed themselves in the witchhunt literature have said. from what i understand, much of the problem is that a lot more information and research has come out in the last 30-40 years that gives a very different understanding of the political, sociological and legal aspects of it - see http://www.kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/feminist/gibbons_witch.html. the problem is this book focuses on older sources (and has the problem of not always citing properly) which means it uses some inaccurate information and has only a limited perspective simply because the information wasn't widely available or understood at the time the book was written (probably). as someone who's not read other witch hunt stuff i can't comment in detail and I've not seen a more comprehensive criticism, i just think it's important to note and to make sure you don't take all the history as gospel. that's not to smear the book and i still stand by it being a very interesting and important book politically and it's still full of useful history. just wanted to put up some new information
edit: i feel obliged to somewhat temper what i said above 18 months later. I've read fragments about problems with historiography in the book, particularly http://libcom.org/blog/witch-hunts-transition-capitalism-20122011 and reading bits and pieces people who've immersed themselves in the witchhunt literature have said. from what i understand, much of the problem is that a lot more information and research has come out in the last 30-40 years that gives a very different understanding of the political, sociological and legal aspects of it - see http://www.kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/feminist/gibbons_witch.html. the problem is this book focuses on older sources (and has the problem of not always citing properly) which means it uses some inaccurate information and has only a limited perspective simply because the information wasn't widely available or understood at the time the book was written (probably). as someone who's not read other witch hunt stuff i can't comment in detail and I've not seen a more comprehensive criticism, i just think it's important to note and to make sure you don't take all the history as gospel. that's not to smear the book and i still stand by it being a very interesting and important book politically and it's still full of useful history. just wanted to put up some new information
informative
medium-paced
As a feminist perspective on the rise of capitalism in feudal Europe and the decimation and domination of women and indigenous peoples of the colonies, and how it lead to the fanatical witch hunting, really great. But to take this for more than face value on the historical aspects? Ehhhhhh, I don't know.
I've been meaning to read this for years now and finally got around to it. Well worth it but a bit difficult to read at times, Federici gets a bit repetitive in her theories in order to try and strengthen her arguments, but at least they're interesting, and offer a well overlooked view on the evils of capitalism.
I've been meaning to read this for years now and finally got around to it. Well worth it but a bit difficult to read at times, Federici gets a bit repetitive in her theories in order to try and strengthen her arguments, but at least they're interesting, and offer a well overlooked view on the evils of capitalism.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Way too polemical and makes a lot of big statements that just can't be supported by the evidence, but makes for a really interesting and powerful book if you take it as literature rather than research
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
muito interessante, muita informação importante, e acho que cobre uma lacuna que outros historiadores e pensadores não parecem ver tanta importância, a história das bruxas, a história das mulheres e o impacto disso na transição do feudalismo ao capitalismo. Recomendaria pra todo mundo interessado em feminismo ou capitalismo