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taylorheaney's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
Some of the ideas within this book are radical even by 2023 standards, so I was surprised to read them in a book published in 2005. "The Heart of Whiteness" was definitely ahead of its time for a lot of the ideas within. Much of the thoughts presented are a part of normal everyday understanding today. I can't say I loved the book, but I'm able to appreciate some of the points that were made. It was a short read so it's worth the time if you find yourself interested.
charlieavocado's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars most likely. Quite good, and unfortunately for it ahead of its "time." Unfortunate for all of us, really. Took multiple pages of notes. Will be recommending it to others.
moody_gobling's review against another edition
2.0
Just OK. For when it was published, this book was ahead of it’s time. Jensen talks about a lot of things that have gained momentum in mainstream discussions about race, so reading this work nearly 20 years post publication is not very insightful or eye-opening. In addition to that, most of the book is a self examination of his own internalized racism and misogynistic thoughts. He *says* he isn’t looking for forgiveness, or assuaging pats on the back for coming to his own conclusions about his behavior, but I took the tone of the book to suggest otherwise.
The reason for my review being two stars instead of one is that I was alive and developing my own thought about this subject matter during the time of publication, yet no one in my immediate life was speaking with the language Jensen was using in this book. So, he gets a star from me for at least being ahead of his time.
The reason for my review being two stars instead of one is that I was alive and developing my own thought about this subject matter during the time of publication, yet no one in my immediate life was speaking with the language Jensen was using in this book. So, he gets a star from me for at least being ahead of his time.
jtisreading's review against another edition
4.0
I had heard of Robert Jensen from a few other authors I read this year, most notably Bell Hooks. So when I stumbled in Half Price and found this book I had to pick it up. I read it in two sittings and it is clear, thoughtful, and provoking. Jensen is an intelligent critic and academic who cares about the world and his work. I enjoyed this introduction to Jensen and the plethora of ideas contained within. Though far from perfect the book really is a catalyst to survey some larger issues with Whiteness and White Supremacy that still affects everyone in America.
Using personal experience Jensen creates a disarming dialogue with his readers about the political and cultural landscape of race. The book is short and should definitely be read.
Using personal experience Jensen creates a disarming dialogue with his readers about the political and cultural landscape of race. The book is short and should definitely be read.
horr5's review against another edition
4.0
This was not an easy read. It's never easy to confront what may be wrong with our thinking. There was so much truth here, and it hit upon conversations and situations that were all to familiar.
sarahlaleshire's review against another edition
A quick read - too slight in some ways - that asks good questions.
enyanyo's review against another edition
4.0
It is possible to not be racist (in the individual sense of not perpetrating overtly racist acts) and yet at the same time fail to be anti-racist (in the political sense of resisting a racist system). Being not-racist is not enough.
I do not think I am the target audience of this book, but I still enjoyed reading it! The Heart of Whiteness is a discussion starter on race, racism and white privilege. It was not a long book (less than 100 pages) but still took me a few days to go through because every now and again I would put it down to just think about the points he raises.
Robert Jensen is brutally honest with himself and that a lot of the time he is confronting his own deep-rooted racism. He is quite observant in his commentary of himself and American society in general. I found the chapter on guilt, fear and anger particularly eye-opening.
erikostrom's review against another edition
4.0
This is a good, short primer on what white people can and should do about living in a white supremacist society. The word that will stick with me is "uncomfortable." Twelve years later you might have picked up a lot of the same concepts in blog posts, but maybe not, I don't know, depends on what blogs you read.