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labyrinth_witch's review
5.0
Jack D. Forbes asserts a premise that the wetiko disease (cannibalism) is defined as “the violent consuming of another’s life” and is a disease that is spreading- has been spreading for centuries. He traces the disease as an epidemiologist would- first outlining the symptoms, the rate of spread, and the destruction caused by the disease. He believes that this disease is inherent to colonial/imperialist/European/Christian societies and that they infect whomever they come in contact with.
The 11 symptoms of the wetiko disease include:
1. Greed
2. Lust
3. Inordinate Ambition
4. Materialism
5. Lack of a “true” face (lying)
6. Schizoid (split) personality
7. Arrogance
8. Sadism/cruelty
9. Subjugation of Women
10. Overpopulation
11. Control
If you think, “that doesn’t describe me” you’ll think again after reading this small volume. Forbes does an excellent job of demonstrating how these symptoms play out in our every day lives on a subtle level. You’ll come to realize just how...white you are, how entirely you’ve bought into the wetiko disease.
He asserts that you can’t listen to people who say “this is just how the world works” as if this violent consumption is an axiom. Because they are diseased and you can’t believe the disease.
My take-away? I don’t know how to raise disciplined human beings without coercion. Read any modern, white parenting book and you’ll find a plethora of chapters on rewards and punishments- all part of the wetiko framework.
We are encouraged to reproduce because the system demands “cheap labor and cannon fodder.” A phrase I don’t think I will ever get out of my head. As someone deeply entrenched in reproductive justice, this makes the most sense for the “worldview” of anti-choice advocates.
It is so good, I bought a copy so I can read it again.
Read it and listen.
The 11 symptoms of the wetiko disease include:
1. Greed
2. Lust
3. Inordinate Ambition
4. Materialism
5. Lack of a “true” face (lying)
6. Schizoid (split) personality
7. Arrogance
8. Sadism/cruelty
9. Subjugation of Women
10. Overpopulation
11. Control
If you think, “that doesn’t describe me” you’ll think again after reading this small volume. Forbes does an excellent job of demonstrating how these symptoms play out in our every day lives on a subtle level. You’ll come to realize just how...white you are, how entirely you’ve bought into the wetiko disease.
He asserts that you can’t listen to people who say “this is just how the world works” as if this violent consumption is an axiom. Because they are diseased and you can’t believe the disease.
My take-away? I don’t know how to raise disciplined human beings without coercion. Read any modern, white parenting book and you’ll find a plethora of chapters on rewards and punishments- all part of the wetiko framework.
We are encouraged to reproduce because the system demands “cheap labor and cannon fodder.” A phrase I don’t think I will ever get out of my head. As someone deeply entrenched in reproductive justice, this makes the most sense for the “worldview” of anti-choice advocates.
It is so good, I bought a copy so I can read it again.
Read it and listen.
copdisrespecter's review
5.0
This book is written simplistically and beautifully. Forbes caught onto a lot of the tendencies of the dominant culture, and I found myself taking in new information despite the general ideas being familiar with me. The Wetiko metaphor is extremely effective, to the point that I believe I'll use it in reference.
sonicdonutflour's review
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Jack Forbes was primarily a history writer but switches to philosophy with this gloves-off assault on western culture and their cannibal disease that is engulfing the planet.
stephanieridiculous's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This a bit of a whirlwind of a book, so here are some thoughts in list form.
Before reading know,
-Forbes doesn't care about being palatable. If you are palm colored, it's quite likely at least one thing in here will offend you. Try to work past that and see the bigger picture.
-There's a lot of frank discussion of some terrible topics, and a few quotes shared from truly disturbing works. TW's for sexual assault, general violence, torture, genocide, racism, et. all that comes with colonialism. It kicks off really early in the book, so make sure you're ready to be uncomfortable from the getgo.
General thoughts,
-A lot of Forbes' general point very much resonates with me. I think it's very reasonable to call a people who commit genocide proverbially for breakfast "insane" and unwell. I think Forbes is really quick to throw out his personal opinion about the specifics, though, and I wish there was more supporting material to go with it. Not because I necessarily thing he's wrong, but I'd like to know what helped him see it the way that he does. But, also, I suppose to an extent it's because I don't 100% agree with him and want to know more.
-There's a pretty big implied emphasis on the power of language, demonstrated by Forbes using Indigenous terms where possible instead of the ones colonizers use - except when it comes to the Romani people? I'm super confused on that oversight. I also think he throws around some terms in general that mean something to him that I'm not really sure are common usages, like the word "pimp." In general there was a lowkey consistent theme of calling something out as problematic/harmful, but doing it kind of sloppily, such that it frequently came off more as his personal musings rather than a well thought out argument. (Maybe that's his goal, though, I don't know.)
-I think this is really really good material for white folks and particularly Christians to grapple with. The legacy of harm that exists in our communities needs to be faced, and even if you disagree with Forbes on a lot, reading this and grappling with his statements would be a good exercise in self evaluation.
Before reading know,
-Forbes doesn't care about being palatable. If you are palm colored, it's quite likely at least one thing in here will offend you. Try to work past that and see the bigger picture.
-There's a lot of frank discussion of some terrible topics, and a few quotes shared from truly disturbing works. TW's for sexual assault, general violence, torture, genocide, racism, et. all that comes with colonialism. It kicks off really early in the book, so make sure you're ready to be uncomfortable from the getgo.
General thoughts,
-A lot of Forbes' general point very much resonates with me. I think it's very reasonable to call a people who commit genocide proverbially for breakfast "insane" and unwell. I think Forbes is really quick to throw out his personal opinion about the specifics, though, and I wish there was more supporting material to go with it. Not because I necessarily thing he's wrong, but I'd like to know what helped him see it the way that he does. But, also, I suppose to an extent it's because I don't 100% agree with him and want to know more.
-There's a pretty big implied emphasis on the power of language, demonstrated by Forbes using Indigenous terms where possible instead of the ones colonizers use - except when it comes to the Romani people? I'm super confused on that oversight. I also think he throws around some terms in general that mean something to him that I'm not really sure are common usages, like the word "pimp." In general there was a lowkey consistent theme of calling something out as problematic/harmful, but doing it kind of sloppily, such that it frequently came off more as his personal musings rather than a well thought out argument. (Maybe that's his goal, though, I don't know.)
-I think this is really really good material for white folks and particularly Christians to grapple with. The legacy of harm that exists in our communities needs to be faced, and even if you disagree with Forbes on a lot, reading this and grappling with his statements would be a good exercise in self evaluation.
tojobee's review
reflective
slow-paced
I have to be honest - this book contained a lot of stuff that I couldn’t comprehend. I’m not faulting the author for that. It’s me, not them. It did give me a lot to think about - about becoming more in love with the earth and all the creatures in it, about evangelizing to indigenous groups of people, about organized religion, and about comparing colonialism to an extremely contagious psychosis-based cannibalism
feiya's review
5.0
I will mark this book as read, but I will return to it and read a portion of the book later on, but why I will not continue reading it for now is the same reason as "Lake like a mirror" it had been far too emotionally draining, to discover all of that terrible terrible reality, which IS sadly a reality and is for thw most part inevitable. For days I were to have the thoughts and ideas sprout in my brain and turn into forests of confusion, irritation and helplessness, but I want to be hopeful. Hopeful for a better reality and a better future. But I am not saying that I will ignore the truth and reality, just I prefer to dowse off for a little bit more, for a few more minutes, until maybe reality changes or I am strong enough to accept it as is. Thanks you Jack Forbes. This has been my most favorite non-fiction book of 2020, as it has shown me so much and has made me fall in love with non-fiction work, which I hope to read more of in 2021.
omnibozo22's review
4.0
Interesting native American perspective on the cannibalistic nature of European capitalism. Repetitive, so it needed an editor, and cites Castañeda a bit too often. This ties in nicely with Loaded's message about American gun culture: It's all about killing natives to facilitate stealing their possessions, while keeping white males in charge.