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saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
The Disordered Cosmos is at its most fascinating when it discusses the ways that colonialism and bigotry intersect with and stunt science. Specifically in how these impact what gets studied and how, who gets to study it, and how we talk about history. At times the book feels like a memoir as the authors brings up her own background and personal anecdotes a lot.
Mileage may vary with how much you get out of the book. I’ve taken some college level introductory astronomy courses and was able to keep up with the science pretty well and didn’t learn much. I got more out of the history and social issues section and would love to look for more advanced science with this Black feminist perspective. Though there are times when the arguments are too broad or too surface level like “racism in science exists.” I also wish the ending offered more tangible, less vague solutions.
Overall, this is a pretty good argument for why people in science need more humanities and understanding of colonialism.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Rape, and Colonisation
murve's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Colonisation, and Classism
alsoapples's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Sexism
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Slavery, Car accident, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Alcohol, and Deportation
kk_gotit_goinon's review against another edition
5.0
Dr. Prescod-Weinstein lays everything out so well but without talking down to you or coming off like she is right and you are wrong. She doesn't claim to have all the answers or to know how to solve everything while still pointing out the very real issues that have to be addressed.
Oh and the physics is pretty interesting but easy to understand (for a neuroscientist at least haha!)
A must read for a academics and folks who want to try to make the world a better place.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Rape
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Racial slurs, and Suicide
Colorism. Eugenics, mentions of forced sterilization. Climate change. Rape and assault are discussed and frankly but not graphically described; a chapter centered around rape includes a content warning in the preface and is able to be skipped.collins1129's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Transphobia, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
sarah984's review against another edition
4.0
(I did dock a star because I found the chapter on gender a bit reductive - I hate the narrative that nonbinary people exist because they are the only ones who object to traditional gender roles and this chapter skirts pretty close to that. Overall though a great read.)
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Transphobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
rorikae's review against another edition
4.5
Prescod-Weinstein weaves her own experience as an agender Black person into her explanations of physics and how she views science. She provides both an interesting look into physics for those of us who are less familiar with it as well as exploring how her identity has affected her study of science and view of the science field. As the book goes on, Prescod-Weinstein unpacks the racism, misogyny, and colonialism that are at the heart of modern day science and proposes new ways that we can approach science that opens up access and moves away from white supremacy.
This book is fascinating in the way that it weaves together different genres into one book to be part memoir, part science textbook, and part critique on the current approach to science. I wouldn't have necessarily thought that all of those pieces could work together but the progression with which Prescod-Weinstein works through these pieces build upon one another so that each part that came before supports what comes after.
The only part I found difficult was near the beginning when Prescod-Weinstein introduces us to different aspects of physics. I personally have a very hard time understanding physics and though I think Prescod-Weinstein made this far more accessible than most physics textbooks, there were still some aspects that went over my head. I do think this is in part due to listening to the audiobook and that returning to these sections in physical form, I would be able to understand more.
My favorite thing about this book is how all of the pieces come together. The end of the book, where Prescod-Weinstein weaves her own experiences and understanding of physics into a new view of how we can do science that removes harm and is more inclusive, was strengthened by each piece that came before. I have not read many books like this that meld genres to create something new and enlightening. I hope that she will write more in the future and I think this is a crucial read for anyone who is interested in or works in scientific fields.
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Colonisation
qqjj's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Colonisation
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual harassment
mmtshali's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Colonisation