OVERVIEW
First, I started following Blair Imani on Instagram for her amazing "Smarter in Seconds" reels. Then through her podcast,
"Thoughts About Feelings" with Mychal Threets, I learned about this amazing book.
I must admit that each of the chapters on "Identity", "Relationships", "Class", "Disability", "Race and Racism", and "Sex, Gender, and Sexual Orientation" taught me something new. The chapter on Sex, Gender, and Sexual Orientation educated me the most. Thank you, Blair, for making me smarter!
As much as I enjoyed listening to Blair's narration, I would have retained so much more with a physical or digital copy. So there will be a digital copy to reread in my future!
Finally, as an aside, Blair grew up in San Marino, a town a few miles away from where I grew up. So proud of this local making it big!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
The writing was not the most important part of this book. But it was strong, but not great literature (thank goodness).
This book was written in an easy-to-understand style with so much passion and matter-of-factness.
Narration: 5.0 stars
Blair narrated this audiobook in a personal, emotional, and real manner. As an educator, she made it so easy to follow and understand everything she was teaching (even if you didn't realize you were getting smarter).
Character development: 5.0 stars
There really weren't characters per se, but Blair shared about herself, her family, and her friends. These personal and beautiful stories made this book so very special.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
This audiobook taught me so much, even though I think of myself as an open-minded liberal mom who loves learning.
Entertaining/Educational: 5.0 stars
This book dovetailed beautifully with These Heathens by Mia McKenzie, which I finished yesterday. It was about the race, class, gender, and LGBT+ intersectionality in 1960s Atlanta.
Blair did a deep dive into the topics I had recently read about, and it made me even smarter! The bottom line is treating everyone with respect and dignity.
Finally, I loved the Reflection Questions at the end of every chapter. It made me think and ponder these issues, which isn't always easy or pretty.
Book cover: 4.5 stars
Pretty!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Excellent.
HIGHLY recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
Read This To Get Smarter by Blair Imani
5 hours, 27 minutes
Random House Audio
Release date: 10/26/2021
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Minor negative references to all of the topics covered in the noted chapters above
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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