The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
pennym_'s review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
great info both in the history of how the us has become such a fear-based and punitive state, and data-driven policies for change and healing. i really appreciated the human stories included, even though they were difficult to read. i had to take my time with this because of that, but it is 100 percent worth doing so.
mx_ash's review against another edition
5.0
We Keep Us Safe lives up to the promise of providing a blueprint for holding people accountable while still holding them in community.
First off, I really liked the design of this book. I appreciated the way Zach Norris used time-vignettes and narratives when beginning his chapters. That emphasized the humanity-of-it-all before getting into the more analytical pieces of a chapterâs argument. The ideas offered are complex but he wrote them in an accessible and attention-keeping way. The content touches on a wide range of topics that together form a comprehensive map for the path forward.
Some reviewers have mentioned that they think some of the ideas for change offered in this book arenât obtainable enough. However, nearly every one of these ideas has been tested either in some part of the U.S. or in other nations that are similarly economically situated. Every major improvement in this nation was at first considered outlandish. The best piece of advice on activism I ever received (from an accomplished activist elder) was that when you write your list of demands you absolutely MUST include demands that will likely be considered âtoo much.â Not only does this make the other demands look more âreasonableâ (and thus more likely to be fulfilled) it also sets a long-term vision. If we donât set the bar high, we never even make it up the first few rungs.
I recommend this book to anyone who knows something isnât right with our nationâs approach to harm, who wishes for a vision for the future, and who wants real solutions for getting there.
Below is a succinct summary of what youâll find if you read this book. If for some reason you donât want spoilers for this work of nonfiction, this is your spoilers warning.
.
.
.
In the Introduction Zach Norris defines and details the ideas of safety & security, accountability, and what he means by a Culture of Care.
The first section, The Unsafe World, outlines the state of things as they are now and makes a strong argument for why we need change. Chapter One outlines what harm is and why Zach focuses on harm, not âcrimeâ. It also calls on readers to recognize the Architects of Anxiety that keep our current fear-based model of safety churning. Chapter Two describes The Framework of Fear and itâs four key elements.
The second section, A Vision of Safety, builds the foundation for the creation of a real safety, and sets the stage for the additional detailed solutions that come later in the book. In Chapter Three Zach contrasts punishment and accountability and then takes a deep dive into the method of Restorative Justice. In Chapter Four he shares with readers a real life example of criminal-legal change, the Richmond Model, and describes other ways we can move from the Framework of Fear to a Culture of Care.
As others have mentioned, the third section, Reimagined Realities, is arguably the most emotionally difficult part of the book. In each chapter (5-7), Zach shares the personal story of those mentioned in the title and then (as the section title suggests) reimagines how their path could have been different were we living in a culture of care. He doesnât just point out what went wrong and how it went wrong, he weaves in concrete solutions that would make change (succinctly summarized as recommendations at the end of each of this sectionâs chapters). Iâm not going to dissect these chapters because I think part of their power lies in the reader processing their content for themselves.
If youâre looking for real ideas for real change, you wonât be disappointed.
First off, I really liked the design of this book. I appreciated the way Zach Norris used time-vignettes and narratives when beginning his chapters. That emphasized the humanity-of-it-all before getting into the more analytical pieces of a chapterâs argument. The ideas offered are complex but he wrote them in an accessible and attention-keeping way. The content touches on a wide range of topics that together form a comprehensive map for the path forward.
Some reviewers have mentioned that they think some of the ideas for change offered in this book arenât obtainable enough. However, nearly every one of these ideas has been tested either in some part of the U.S. or in other nations that are similarly economically situated. Every major improvement in this nation was at first considered outlandish. The best piece of advice on activism I ever received (from an accomplished activist elder) was that when you write your list of demands you absolutely MUST include demands that will likely be considered âtoo much.â Not only does this make the other demands look more âreasonableâ (and thus more likely to be fulfilled) it also sets a long-term vision. If we donât set the bar high, we never even make it up the first few rungs.
I recommend this book to anyone who knows something isnât right with our nationâs approach to harm, who wishes for a vision for the future, and who wants real solutions for getting there.
Below is a succinct summary of what youâll find if you read this book. If for some reason you donât want spoilers for this work of nonfiction, this is your spoilers warning.
.
.
.
In the Introduction Zach Norris defines and details the ideas of safety & security, accountability, and what he means by a Culture of Care.
The first section, The Unsafe World, outlines the state of things as they are now and makes a strong argument for why we need change. Chapter One outlines what harm is and why Zach focuses on harm, not âcrimeâ. It also calls on readers to recognize the Architects of Anxiety that keep our current fear-based model of safety churning. Chapter Two describes The Framework of Fear and itâs four key elements.
The second section, A Vision of Safety, builds the foundation for the creation of a real safety, and sets the stage for the additional detailed solutions that come later in the book. In Chapter Three Zach contrasts punishment and accountability and then takes a deep dive into the method of Restorative Justice. In Chapter Four he shares with readers a real life example of criminal-legal change, the Richmond Model, and describes other ways we can move from the Framework of Fear to a Culture of Care.
As others have mentioned, the third section, Reimagined Realities, is arguably the most emotionally difficult part of the book. In each chapter (5-7), Zach shares the personal story of those mentioned in the title and then (as the section title suggests) reimagines how their path could have been different were we living in a culture of care. He doesnât just point out what went wrong and how it went wrong, he weaves in concrete solutions that would make change (succinctly summarized as recommendations at the end of each of this sectionâs chapters). Iâm not going to dissect these chapters because I think part of their power lies in the reader processing their content for themselves.
If youâre looking for real ideas for real change, you wonât be disappointed.
applesaucecreachur's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
I originally bought this book to participate in a community reading group, and while I wasn't able to read it on that schedule, I appreciated being able to read and absorb Norris' compiled stories and recommendations on my own timeline. Defund Fear did the work by both identifying where our society errs and how to halt and reverse many of the harms done in this society. Norris went the extra mile by fleshing out his recommendations with real-life examples of community care. By divesting from the "framework of fear" and transitioning into a "culture of care", we can approach true democracy and invest in the power of the collective. I plan to give this book away now that I have finished reading it so that others can hear his words; I may just need to buy a second copy for myself.Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Racism, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Sexism, Police brutality, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Murder, Mental illness, and Hate crime
rapunzel711's review against another edition
Interesting book, just wasnât what I thought it would be and expected.Â
rebadee's review against another edition
5.0
Zach Norris shares stories from experience organizing with the Ella Baker Center to clarify what it means to demand systems and communities of care as opposed to the current system of punishment and criminalization. Norris's clarity and conviction make for a compelling read and a call to action to create change.
rebadee's review
5.0
Zach Norris shares stories from experience organizing with the Ella Baker Center to clarify what it means to demand systems and communities of care as opposed to the current system of punishment and criminalization. Norris's clarity and conviction make for a compelling read and a call to action to create change.