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francescaastraea's review
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Antisemitism
liesbethvv's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This book is so important. As someone who considers themselves progressive and mostly leaning left politically, the proofs of anti-semitism in that demographic are shocking and then again… not really. It’s very motivating to be shown with which arguments and ideologies the left-progressive spectrum thinks themselves above anti-semitism whilst duly promoting it, or at least not fighting it. Very insightful, I’ll definitely be able to talk about this subject with more knowledge and more fighting spirit from now on, a good kick up the ass to continue actively and attentively speak up against anti-semitism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
jessfr08_'s review
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and War
chione23's review
challenging
informative
fast-paced
4.5
This book is a must read for people who consider themselves woke and have not placed antisemitism in their activism yet. The author knows how to describe the nuances of current day antisemitism and its failure to be considered in the same vein as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, classism and other bigotry in the public discourse in an easily digestible way that invites a long sit-down. The whole book feels like a single essay packed with evidence and examples or a friend sitting you down to explain their experience to you concisely and with so much Impact.
I had not thought about modern day antisemitism as a pattern, system or tangible entity I could describe and understand and therefore fight against before reading "Jews Don't Count". To me, hearing news about hate crimes against synagogues or people posting antisemitic statements online seemed like isolated incidents so far on the bigotry spectrum that they couldn't possibly be a part of a widespread issue. Widespread antisemitism to me sounded like a thing of the past our societies had moved past, the same false assumption people make about sexism sometimes. Talks about Jewish people and their culture felt distant and mostly focused on history, not present day coexistence.
The first time I heard about this book, it was on Hannah Witton's YouTube channel. I didn't buy and read it though until months later when I realised just how little I knew about living Jewish culture and even terminology. To be fair, neither of those things were covered by Baddiel, but that was not his intention. He assumes a basic knowledge that I have yet to obtain and feel better prepared for now, understanding some of the intricacies and pitfalls I might face on the way.
The book includes comments on American and British attitudes and how they are the same and also different. He also highlights the double standard of oppression and marginalisation
where Jewish people are seen as extra white by the left because of their perceived additional (monetary) privilege while being perceived as non white by white supremacists (a phenomenon he labels Schrödinger's Whites).
The author explores how woke anti capitalistic and anti religious attitudes can mold into disregarding and sometimes encouraging antisemitism and describes statements by popular figures and random bystanders that show a complete ignorance and discomfort around the topic of antisemitism and Jewish identity. He opens a discussion about what terms are acceptable and their connotations as well as highlighting media portrayals both online and in traditional media.
Baddiel compellingly shows that the rich white cis het man cannot always function as the villain of the story and has the same right to point out racism towards his ethnicity as any member of a minority group.
The text flows by in what feels like a single stream of thought. In a lot of moments, my first instinct was to deny and to resist the statements, but I did realise upon further investigation that I had no basis to, just preconceived notions about what is bad and what isn't. Some statements are also phrased as absolutes in a way that makes you think of the one opposite example. This ultimately ensures readability and the author definitely does not shy away from nuance or self-criticism. Another thing that made me lose the reading flow for a bit were the industry and pop culture references outside of my radar as well as Jewish specific terminology I couldn't place and would have to research independently to fully grasp, but the points always came across. I also really appreciated the matter of fact descriptions of current media discourse and its mechanisms.
While over the course of reading "Jews Don't Count" your anger and disgust at yet another incident that isn't taken seriously or stereotype that is shared unreflected grows and grows, the book doesn't start with the shocking figures, hate crimes and violent attacks. It eases the reader into its topic. It does so without avoiding meaningful points or just biding time, starting on more theoretical, almost thought experiment levels. Topics covered are authentic media representation and casting, victim blaming, Jesus's ethnicity, the history between Black and Jewish activists, the Israel Palestine conflict, Nazi fatigue and being seen as the right wing's minority.
In its conclusion, it points to the need for safe spaces that Jewish people on the left fighting for others and feeling erased and dismissed do not feel like they have. Self-loathing is another common thread in this essay.
You don't have to agree with every single statement to learn that the big picture is true. He wants to start a discussion and I believe he has. David Baddiel draws a clear distinction between overt, aggressive antisemitism and the antisemitism that disregards the first in the pursuit of wokeness. He also clearly puts the label racism, not religious persecution, on antisemitism and forces a discussion with a blinding amount of evidence.
I had not thought about modern day antisemitism as a pattern, system or tangible entity I could describe and understand and therefore fight against before reading "Jews Don't Count". To me, hearing news about hate crimes against synagogues or people posting antisemitic statements online seemed like isolated incidents so far on the bigotry spectrum that they couldn't possibly be a part of a widespread issue. Widespread antisemitism to me sounded like a thing of the past our societies had moved past, the same false assumption people make about sexism sometimes. Talks about Jewish people and their culture felt distant and mostly focused on history, not present day coexistence.
The first time I heard about this book, it was on Hannah Witton's YouTube channel. I didn't buy and read it though until months later when I realised just how little I knew about living Jewish culture and even terminology. To be fair, neither of those things were covered by Baddiel, but that was not his intention. He assumes a basic knowledge that I have yet to obtain and feel better prepared for now, understanding some of the intricacies and pitfalls I might face on the way.
The book includes comments on American and British attitudes and how they are the same and also different. He also highlights the double standard of oppression and marginalisation
where Jewish people are seen as extra white by the left because of their perceived additional (monetary) privilege while being perceived as non white by white supremacists (a phenomenon he labels Schrödinger's Whites).
The author explores how woke anti capitalistic and anti religious attitudes can mold into disregarding and sometimes encouraging antisemitism and describes statements by popular figures and random bystanders that show a complete ignorance and discomfort around the topic of antisemitism and Jewish identity. He opens a discussion about what terms are acceptable and their connotations as well as highlighting media portrayals both online and in traditional media.
Baddiel compellingly shows that the rich white cis het man cannot always function as the villain of the story and has the same right to point out racism towards his ethnicity as any member of a minority group.
The text flows by in what feels like a single stream of thought. In a lot of moments, my first instinct was to deny and to resist the statements, but I did realise upon further investigation that I had no basis to, just preconceived notions about what is bad and what isn't. Some statements are also phrased as absolutes in a way that makes you think of the one opposite example. This ultimately ensures readability and the author definitely does not shy away from nuance or self-criticism. Another thing that made me lose the reading flow for a bit were the industry and pop culture references outside of my radar as well as Jewish specific terminology I couldn't place and would have to research independently to fully grasp, but the points always came across. I also really appreciated the matter of fact descriptions of current media discourse and its mechanisms.
While over the course of reading "Jews Don't Count" your anger and disgust at yet another incident that isn't taken seriously or stereotype that is shared unreflected grows and grows, the book doesn't start with the shocking figures, hate crimes and violent attacks. It eases the reader into its topic. It does so without avoiding meaningful points or just biding time, starting on more theoretical, almost thought experiment levels. Topics covered are authentic media representation and casting, victim blaming, Jesus's ethnicity, the history between Black and Jewish activists, the Israel Palestine conflict, Nazi fatigue and being seen as the right wing's minority.
In its conclusion, it points to the need for safe spaces that Jewish people on the left fighting for others and feeling erased and dismissed do not feel like they have. Self-loathing is another common thread in this essay.
You don't have to agree with every single statement to learn that the big picture is true. He wants to start a discussion and I believe he has. David Baddiel draws a clear distinction between overt, aggressive antisemitism and the antisemitism that disregards the first in the pursuit of wokeness. He also clearly puts the label racism, not religious persecution, on antisemitism and forces a discussion with a blinding amount of evidence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Deadnaming, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Islamophobia, and Cultural appropriation
itsbeanefun's review
challenging
informative
fast-paced
4.0
I would encourage anyone who labels themselves as anti-racist to read this book. Once you set aside Baddiel's... Questionable tone when discussing the trans debate, the content of this book is incredibly important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Antisemitism
agirlnamedellie's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
An excellent and easily digestible book that highlights how anti-jewish behaviour is diminished by both sides of the political spectrum. It includes several recent examples and it's definitely a book worth reading that I will be recommending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Genocide and Hate crime
Minor: War
ollie_again's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Antisemitism
Moderate: Genocide, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and War
braggsy's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Ableism, Genocide, Mass/school shootings, and War
Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Slavery, Islamophobia, and Classism
lucyeanderson's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
this is an incredibly insightful book, and one i’m really glad i read. baddiel brings up a lot of really important points, particularly about racism in left wing spaces. it felt like it jumped from one point to another a lot, but overall i think its a very important book for everyone to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence, Colonisation, and War
maink's review against another edition
challenging
informative
fast-paced
4.5
A really insightful and nuanced reflection into the nature of anti Semitism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Antisemitism