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allytron3000's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a pretty harrowing look at the devastation austerity policies have caused, particularly for disabled people. The details are horrifying, made me feel very grateful that I’ve had the luck not to be in the receiving end of this hardship, and angry that anyone should be enduring this. I wanted to hear more about the alternatives to austerity, but that wasn’t really the purpose of this book. There’s a covid update at the end that felt particularly powerful. Recommended, easy to read.
majasmine02's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
An incredibly well research, super informative and amazing impactful book about what it’s like for disabled people living in Britain. It focuses on what is simple matters of survival for people in the country and does so fully supported by studies and hard facts. This all comes to an end with a hopeful conclusion about what we need to do going forwards. There are a few elements where the author repeated themselves a little unnecessary but other than that, amazing.
sincerelyalioth's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
there is this trend in society to blame individuals for not fitting in, instead of critising society for not being inclusive of everyone. this terrible mindset is also how discussions of prenatal diagnosis (who has the right to live and who doesn't) come to be. it's so normalized to live in this uninclusive society, people just accept that there are individuals who are "naturally" not a part of it because they simply don't fit in. BUT YOU SHOULD BE CRITISING THE SYSTEM NOT THE PEOPLE FOR THIS ISSUE
still, there is this equality myth which is really interesting to me since it's applicable to any minority in society, really. it's like "of course, everyone is important and everyone is included because everyone is the same!" but you only get treated as such if you "behave" the same as everyone. and of course, some people are different and can't behave "the same" or rather (a term that society loves to use) "normal". that goes for disabled people but also for queer people and sometimes also ethnic minorities. so this "unnormal" behaviour apparently justifies being cast out of society, since you don't fit in. but the whole point of equality is to include people who are different and to support them in this system. but atm equality means being supported only if you act "normal" which is horrible for the outcasts but great for the state because that way they don't actually have to do anything but blame individuals themselves for not trying hard enough to be normal and accepted.
this book was really interesting to read and opened my eyes to many issues of our system.
but it also took me 9 months to finish because i'm not used to reading non-fiction books xD
still, there is this equality myth which is really interesting to me since it's applicable to any minority in society, really. it's like "of course, everyone is important and everyone is included because everyone is the same!" but you only get treated as such if you "behave" the same as everyone. and of course, some people are different and can't behave "the same" or rather (a term that society loves to use) "normal". that goes for disabled people but also for queer people and sometimes also ethnic minorities. so this "unnormal" behaviour apparently justifies being cast out of society, since you don't fit in. but the whole point of equality is to include people who are different and to support them in this system. but atm equality means being supported only if you act "normal" which is horrible for the outcasts but great for the state because that way they don't actually have to do anything but blame individuals themselves for not trying hard enough to be normal and accepted.
this book was really interesting to read and opened my eyes to many issues of our system.
but it also took me 9 months to finish because i'm not used to reading non-fiction books xD
vickvickvick's review against another edition
4.75
Genuinely the most abject book I have ever read and every person who lives in Britain should read this
11corvus11's review against another edition
DNF through no fault of the author. Like any proper USAmerican, I'm woefully ignorant of the systems of other countries including the disability system and healthcare system in Britain. Since this is focused there, I think it will be better for me to come back to this when I have better foundational knowledge to go with it.
sofia_brizio's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
paigesnextchapter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25