This is one of those times when I regret saying I’d review every book I read for various Book Bingo challenges, because Imagination by Ruha Benjamin was so mid that I just don’t have much to say about it.
It’s not really that this book is bad, it’s just that it feels like a Ted Talk. Also, it has the same problem as so many social justice books, which is that before we can discuss how we might solve the world’s problems, we first have to convince everyone in the audience that those problems exist. Look, I’ve already read at least half a dozen non-fiction books about racism, and a lot more where racism is a contributing factor, you don’t have to describe racism to me. Let’s move on to talk about imagining a better world.
For a book that is about imagination, it just spends so much time talking about how things already are. It’s not until the end that she begins to really talk about methods for imagining a better world — and there’s pretty much nothing about moving from imagination to action.
I absolutely think that imagination is a powerful tool, and that the first step to making change is believing that change is possible. But it’s only the first step. What next? How do we turn imagination into action? How do we get others on-board? How do we learn to know what is doable, what needs a few interim steps, and what is a nice daydream that probably can’t happen in our lifetimes?
Just as I took a couple days off from reading this book when I saw there was a chapter called “Imagining Eugenics”, I keep stalling out on writing this review. There are some interesting ideas. There are some creative people and programs profiled. But I didn’t feel inspired or enlightened by what I read. I felt like I had been bamboozled by a great title and a gorgeous cover. What more can I say?
CWs and TWs: This book discusses racism, mass incarceration, and other societal woes in an academic fashion.
Source and Format: I purchased a paperback at Brick & Mortar Books.
Reading Challenge Prompts
Nook & Cranny (Card 1): Artistic Minds & Creative Hearts. I was hoping this would give me inspiration to put my own mind and heart to work, but alas, it just left me feeling weary.
Reading Challenge Progress
Nook & Cranny (Card 1): 19 of 25, 3 bingos.
Nook & Cranny (Card 2): 23 of 25, 6 bingos.
Book Riot: 20 of 24.
Physical TBR: 11 of 12.
World of Whimm: 23 of 24, 8 bingos.