literatehedgehog's review against another edition
3.0
A solid collection of essays and revised blog posts that are often good, occasionally great, and always thought provoking. As many of them are edited versions of blog posts, they can be short and conclude before she really gets into some nitty gritty thinking, but they are great jumping off points for thought and conversation.
elnatnal's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most straight forward, no bullshit, cathartic books I’ve reads in a long while. No matter if you identify as geek, feminist, or otherwise, you should read this. Easily one of the top books on my, “I’m interested in leadership, what should I read?” lists.
amberunmasked's review against another edition
5.0
My complete review including quotes is posted at http://www.amberunmasked.com/geek-feminist-rev-hurley/
I’ll be upfront that I have never read any fiction by Kameron Hurley. I follow her on Twitter and love her blog, http://www.kameronhurley.com/. I’ve always loved how honest she is about life, business, and emotions. Her newest book, The Geek Feminist Revolution, is all about that. She calls out the bullshit of how women/NB are expected to earn less, get offered worse deals, and suffer with harassment.
She is brutally honest about how hard she has worked since a teenager to become a writer, a full-time job which still requires her to maintain a full-time day job. Professional rejections and abusive personal relationships are exposed in raw detail.
Pain is not something she avoids discussing. If you expect a book from a self-help shelf filled with vapid, cheerleading cliches, this is not the book for you. Hurley tells you that you will fail, but more specifically, that if you don’t learn from failure, writing (or creative life) is not your passion because failure is part of the dream.
One of the subjects Hurley addresses throughout the book is body image and beauty standards. She’s absolutely done with heroes being defined as white, male, muscular saviors. But Hurley doesn’t stop there. She’s a woman who speaks at conventions and has a reputable internet footprint. One section of The Geek Feminist Revolution is even titled “Public Speaking While Fat.”
It’s with no surprise that when I was only a quarter way through the book, I had already recommended it on Instagram, Twitter, and to a close personal friend. De-program yourself from your insecurities, from society’s bullshit standards, and sit your ass in the chair to get your work done when you’re healthy enough to do it because no one else can tell your story.
She does into specific geek media and references throughout the book if you were curious why "geek" is in the title.
I’ll be upfront that I have never read any fiction by Kameron Hurley. I follow her on Twitter and love her blog, http://www.kameronhurley.com/. I’ve always loved how honest she is about life, business, and emotions. Her newest book, The Geek Feminist Revolution, is all about that. She calls out the bullshit of how women/NB are expected to earn less, get offered worse deals, and suffer with harassment.
She is brutally honest about how hard she has worked since a teenager to become a writer, a full-time job which still requires her to maintain a full-time day job. Professional rejections and abusive personal relationships are exposed in raw detail.
Pain is not something she avoids discussing. If you expect a book from a self-help shelf filled with vapid, cheerleading cliches, this is not the book for you. Hurley tells you that you will fail, but more specifically, that if you don’t learn from failure, writing (or creative life) is not your passion because failure is part of the dream.
One of the subjects Hurley addresses throughout the book is body image and beauty standards. She’s absolutely done with heroes being defined as white, male, muscular saviors. But Hurley doesn’t stop there. She’s a woman who speaks at conventions and has a reputable internet footprint. One section of The Geek Feminist Revolution is even titled “Public Speaking While Fat.”
It’s with no surprise that when I was only a quarter way through the book, I had already recommended it on Instagram, Twitter, and to a close personal friend. De-program yourself from your insecurities, from society’s bullshit standards, and sit your ass in the chair to get your work done when you’re healthy enough to do it because no one else can tell your story.
She does into specific geek media and references throughout the book if you were curious why "geek" is in the title.
antigonus's review against another edition
5.0
This book of essays have been selected very well. They cover various issues raging in the mainstream media as well as modern society. As I am a complete newbie to the author's work, the shortage of new essays was not a problem.
I did find that some points were repeated too often in certain essays. For example, instead of following a format, a point was peppered to 3-4 times throughout an essay. This might be a structural problem common in essays maybe. Anyway, the views and opinions the author puts forth are fascinating.
This might just be a book of 'only' essays. But it serves as an excellent call to action. Additionally, it sheds light on biases inherent to human beings since the dawn of time.
I did find that some points were repeated too often in certain essays. For example, instead of following a format, a point was peppered to 3-4 times throughout an essay. This might be a structural problem common in essays maybe. Anyway, the views and opinions the author puts forth are fascinating.
This might just be a book of 'only' essays. But it serves as an excellent call to action. Additionally, it sheds light on biases inherent to human beings since the dawn of time.
fa_biene's review against another edition
2.0
I wholeheartedly agree with everything she says! Hurley is angry (rightly so) and has this sarcastic, fierce writing style, calling out sexist bullshit narratives.
she has two main points:
1) writing matters, narrative matters, because it tells a story, and through that can change how people see the world, what they see and think can be possible/is "legitimate". It has immense power, because it influences what can be seen as possible or even " normal". (female heroines, bisexual characters, transgender characters etc)
2) we are not victims, we have agency and can fight for our voices. each and everyone of us can make this world a better, fairer, more inclusive place.
Amazing, and I love how she uses her voice, asserts agency, admits to her own limits and prejudices and refuses to be a silenced victim.
However...
I felt that she repeats herself quite often and treats many topics rather superficially. Also, the essays don't really build up on each other, there is no increase in complexity. As a person who is a feminist and heard and read and thought about these issues, I did not gather a lot of new knowledge and insight into what she talks about. I would have wished for a more extensive, in-dephth analysis of her topics, and more interlinking between the essays.
But then again: sexist bullshit can't be called out often enough, and we cannot be angry enough, and we have to continue to fight for our rights. We have to change the narrative, and Hurley does a great job at showing her anger and channelling it into something productive.
she has two main points:
1) writing matters, narrative matters, because it tells a story, and through that can change how people see the world, what they see and think can be possible/is "legitimate". It has immense power, because it influences what can be seen as possible or even " normal". (female heroines, bisexual characters, transgender characters etc)
2) we are not victims, we have agency and can fight for our voices. each and everyone of us can make this world a better, fairer, more inclusive place.
Amazing, and I love how she uses her voice, asserts agency, admits to her own limits and prejudices and refuses to be a silenced victim.
However...
I felt that she repeats herself quite often and treats many topics rather superficially. Also, the essays don't really build up on each other, there is no increase in complexity. As a person who is a feminist and heard and read and thought about these issues, I did not gather a lot of new knowledge and insight into what she talks about. I would have wished for a more extensive, in-dephth analysis of her topics, and more interlinking between the essays.
But then again: sexist bullshit can't be called out often enough, and we cannot be angry enough, and we have to continue to fight for our rights. We have to change the narrative, and Hurley does a great job at showing her anger and channelling it into something productive.
abitofmoxie's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually did like it.
tehani's review against another edition
5.0
I think I’ve read more non-fiction for pleasure in the past two years than I have in my entire life up to that point. I’m not sure if it’s my reading habits evolving or just whether I finally found things I want to read about, but honestly, The Geek Feminist Revolution could not be more up my alley.
This is intelligent, informed and at heart completely geeky feminist writing, informative and entertaining at every turn. Highly recommended.
Read the rest of my review here.
This is intelligent, informed and at heart completely geeky feminist writing, informative and entertaining at every turn. Highly recommended.
Read the rest of my review here.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
4.0
This was really well-written and interesting. Even some of the older essays still seemed very relevant. I learned some things about the publishing industry, got some book recommendations, and thought about some things I already knew in a different way.