Book No. 96 of 2020
This manifesto is a bit of a paradox (not just because the title in itself is paradoxical)—while it could be interpreted as being radical and provocative for daring to state that many productive aspects of modern society are not intrinsically good, there is also a philosophical gentleness to it. While Odell urges the reader to be curious and inquisitive, she does not purport to hold all the answers.
There are a lot of fascinating concepts to wrap your brain around: the connection between local ecology and our hyper-present existence online (Odell makes the case that social media amplifies a sense of being in the present, but not the kind that gives us the context we need); the art of balancing distance from society with our social responsibility; the role that art plays in gently shifting our consciousness; and the awareness of interconnectedness, which ultimately leads to greater awareness of our environment, of marginalized history, of the power that comes from diversity, etc.
I was very surprised by the level of personal connection I felt in this book; in addition to Odell’s musings just being very relevant to everyone and everything, her grounding her narrative in the Bay Area meant that I was ultra-familiar with a lot of the settings she created. She also mentions a radio station that I have been interviewed on, and a leading scholar who interviewed me for an upcoming book, so I had a lot of personal “woahhh” moments.
Similar Reads
Very similar philosophy as David M. Masumoto’s Epitaph for a Peach.
The themes of interconnection reminded me of Rebecca Solnit’s The Faraway Nearby (Solnit is mentioned frequently).
The many critiques of capitalism reminded me of Jia Tolentino’s Trick Mirror.