Scan barcode
mtesterman's review against another edition
4.0
The section on 'Constantinian Christians' get this book 5 stars, but the chapter on West's showdown with Harvard drops it back down to four.
West narrates the audio book.
West narrates the audio book.
suspendedinair's review against another edition
2.0
between touching on the growth of deadening nihilism and calling on americans to energize themselves in preparation for a democratic awakening, west manages to throw out an insane amount of superlatives (hollllla @ emerson, morrison, baldwin, outkast// hate on: free-market fundamentalism, bling, abscence of accountability, etc) along with a few pages that seem to be randomly shoved into the book.
there's a lot in here: exclusives from the beef with summers at harvard (!), a lot of questions about israel and palestine, talks of the importance of blues and hip-hop in democracy, an attack on materialism, surely you get the point...
i'm gonna buy his album, but this book was really a reminder that we need to hear from a black secularist.
there's a lot in here: exclusives from the beef with summers at harvard (!), a lot of questions about israel and palestine, talks of the importance of blues and hip-hop in democracy, an attack on materialism, surely you get the point...
i'm gonna buy his album, but this book was really a reminder that we need to hear from a black secularist.
bfordham's review against another edition
5.0
Got a ton out of this.
In my opinion this is the best type of book: Well researched and argued, with plenty to think about whether you agree or disagree with each point.
I already had a ton of respect for Dr. West, and this work confirmed and deepened that sentiment.
The section about an argument at Harvard in the next-to-last chapter seemed out of place, and it's the only blemish on my opinion.
4.5 stars, rounded up on the tradition of the Calvinist Batman.
In my opinion this is the best type of book: Well researched and argued, with plenty to think about whether you agree or disagree with each point.
I already had a ton of respect for Dr. West, and this work confirmed and deepened that sentiment.
The section about an argument at Harvard in the next-to-last chapter seemed out of place, and it's the only blemish on my opinion.
4.5 stars, rounded up on the tradition of the Calvinist Batman.
dawsonthehughes's review against another edition
4.0
It’s almost like it was written yesterday. Still incredibly relevant, if not more so than when it was written.
escalators's review against another edition
2.0
Weirdly fun read, but it’s a lil too religious for me
shiradest's review against another edition
4.0
p. 15 Cornel West makes vitally important points on our need to empower and inspire a democratic way of thinking and behaving,
p. 16 Socratic? Tikkun Olam, Hope
p. 19 I must read Checkhov after I finish el Quixote
p. 22 Nice citation of Walt Whitman qnd Modern Jim Crow ... "the way we fight"
p. 16 Socratic? Tikkun Olam, Hope
p. 19 I must read Checkhov after I finish el Quixote
p. 22 Nice citation of Walt Whitman qnd Modern Jim Crow ... "the way we fight"
casualblasphemy's review against another edition
3.0
West has a strong thesis--that American democracy is failing due to corporate/gov't collusion and an apathetic populace--and backs it up convincingly, but I feel like his editors asked him to pad the book a little. He hammers many of his points home far more than seems necessary. He also throws in an occasional strong opinion without backing it up. One example of this is when he berates Thomas Friedman--of NYTimes and The World is Flatfame--for having no clue what he's talking about when it comes to the Middle East (I'd quote him, but I don't have the book in front of me at the moment).
doruga's review against another edition
4.0
Ugh I love Cornel so much. Honestly this book was meant for the general public, so the bare bones of what he says in this book were nothing new to me, though his way of saying it and his perspective and observations on certain things are far more eloquent than I could ever be. In this sense Cornel is great giver of language and insight, someone who can put into words what you already know (if youre already a lover of democracy in the truest sense of the word like he is). I also found myself disagreeing with Cornel in this one, particularly on his explanation for the lethargy of the younger (my) generation. While I agree with his observations and even some of his analysis, I think he fell a little into the paternalistic trap of underestimating young people's abilities. For one though I enjoyed disagreeing with him because it made me see that i am evolving a little in my intellectual and political opinions, and am not just dogmatically following hero figures like I used to. In any case, where Cornel truly shines for me in this work (and all his works really) is in how much knowledge of other people's work he brings to the table. Its very rare to read a paragraph written by Cornel where he doesn't reference someone. This acknowledgement of those who came before him and shaped his mind is not only a great showcase of humility and a key democratization of knowledge, it also is very useful for those among us who are unfamiliar with key figures from the intellectual left both within the academia and from the ground. I have after reading this book (i listened to it really but same effect) a very long list of authors and books to read next that I either had never heard of or forgotten about. It was also super fun to see Cornel mention a columbia professor that I had the honor of learning from this semester in this book, Dr Farah Griffin. She teaches an incredible class on african american literature and to know that cornel mentored her just solidifies my love for both even further. Couldnt recommend this book more.