Opinions : a decade of arguments, criticism, and minding other people's business

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Title:

Author:

Gay, Roxane, author.

ISBN:

9780063341463

Personal Author:

Gay, Roxane, author.

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

xxv, 286 pages ; 24 cm

General Note:

Source of cataloging data: WCP

Abstract:

"From beloved and bestselling author Roxane Gay comes an exhilarating collection of her essays on culture, politics, and everything in between. Since the publication of the groundbreaking "Bad Feminist and Hunger," Roxane Gay has continued to tackle big issues embroiling society--state-sponsored violence and mass shootings, womens rights post-Dobbs, online disinformation, and the limits of empathy--alongside more individually personalized matters: Can I tell my co-worker her perfume makes me sneeze? Is it acceptable to schedule a daily 8 am meeting? In her role as a New York Times opinion section contributor and the publications "Work Friend" columnist, she reaches millions of readers with her wise voice and sharp insights. "Opinions" is a collection of Roxane's best nonfiction pieces from the past ten years. Covering a wide range of topics--politics, feminism, the culture wars, civil rights, and much more--with an all-new introduction in which she reflects on the past decade in America, this sharp, thought-provoking anthology will delight Roxane Gay's devotees and draw new readers to this inimitable talent."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Tragedy plays on an infinite loop -- Am I a bad person if je ne suis pas Charlie? -- Seduction of safety, on campus and beyond -- White crime -- Case against hope -- Cops don't belong at pride -- Why people are so awful online -- Why I've decided to take my podcast off Spotify -- It's time to rage -- Don't talk to me about civility on Tuesday morning, those children were alive -- Why I can't forgive Dylann Roof -- On the death of Sandra Bland and our vulnerable bodies -- Of lions and men: mourning Samuel DuBose and Cecil the Lion -- Where are Black children safe? -- Alton Sterling and when Black Lives stop mattering -- How to build a monument -- World expects Black men to make themselves smaller. My brother never did -- Making people uncomfortable can get you killed -- Who gets to be angry? -- Voting with my head and heart -- Hate that doesn't hide (on Trump's presidency) -- No one is coming to save us from Trump's racism -- You're disillusioned. That's fine. Vote anyway -- How we save ourselves -- I am shattered but ready to fight -- So fast, so damn furious -- Nickel and dimed (Mitchell Jackson's The residue years) -- Why the beach is a bummer -- Discomfort zone (The unspeakable by Meghan Daum) -- Bridled vows (Jenny Offill's Dept. of speculation) -- Food TV's sadistic glee -- Marriage plot -- Warning signs (The sacrifice by Joyce Carol Oates) -- Wise crack (Delicious foods by James Hannaham) -- Oscars and Hollywood's race problem -- Black Lives imagined (Jodi Picoult's Small great things) -- I don't want to watch slavery fan fiction -- Mockingbird reconsidered -- Can I enjoy art but denounce the artist? -- Roseanne is gone, but the culture that gave her a show isn't -- Insatiable is lazy, insulting from start to finish -- Legacy of Toni Morrison -- After Chadwick Boseman's iconic Black Panther, should King T'Challa be recast? -- How to collect art -- Why are most Father's day gifts so terrible? -- Nate Parker and the limits of empathy -- Dear men: It's you too -- Louis C.K. and the men who think justice takes as long as they want it to -- I thought men might do better than this -- Dave Chappelle's brittle ego -- Jada Pinkett Smith shouldn't have to take a joke. Neither should you -- Madonna's spring awakening -- Charlie, come in -- Nicki Minaj, always in control -- Melina Matsoukas's fearless vision -- Janelle Monáe's Afrofuture -- Sarah Paulson has no fear -- Talented Tessa Thompson -- Where Jordan Casteel sees herself going -- This is Pamela, finally -- Yes, your job is important. But it's not all important -- Ask Roxane: Is it too late to follow my dreams? -- Ask Roxane: I'm outraged but failing at activism. Why? -- Ask Roxane: Where the hell is the love of my life?

Subject Term:

Feminism.

Culture.

Civil rights.

Politics and culture.

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
Searching... Sugar Grove - Todd Library	Book	PS3607 .A985725 A6 2023	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

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Summary

From beloved and bestselling author Roxane Gay, "a strikingly fresh cultural critic" (Washington Post) comes an exhilarating collection of her essays on culture, politics, and everything in between.

Since the publication of the groundbreaking Bad Feminist and Hunger, Roxane Gay has continued to tackle big issues embroiling society--state-sponsored violence and mass shootings, women's rights post-Dobbs, online disinformation, and the limits of empathy--alongside more individually personalized matters: can I tell my co-worker her perfume makes me sneeze? Is it acceptable to schedule a daily 8 am meeting? In her role as a New York Times opinion section contributor and the publication's "Work Friend" columnist, she reaches millions of readers with her wise voice and sharp insights.

Opinions is a collection of Roxane Gay's best nonfiction pieces from the past ten years. Covering a wide range of topics--politics, feminism, the culture wars, civil rights, and much more--with an all-new introduction in which she reflects on the past decade in America, this sharp, thought-provoking anthology will delight Roxane Gay's devotees and draw new readers to this inimitable talent.

Reviews (2)

Kirkus Review

Essays, op-eds, and pop-culture pieces from the acclaimed novelist and memoirist. The decision by the New York Times to hire Gay as an opinion writer in 2014 was a no-brainer: She has a gift for clean, well-ordered prose, and strong feelings on matters of race, gender, and sexuality. Most important, she possesses a fearlessness essential to doing the job right; though she can observe an issue from various angles, she never wrings her hands or delivers milquetoast commentaries. As she writes in the introduction, "On the page, I get to be the boldest, most audacious version of myself." According to the author, police officers shouldn't march in pride parades, and Louis C.K. isn't owed a second chance. To Kill a Mockingbird is overrated, and Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who killed nine black churchgoers in 2015, doesn't deserve the forgiveness the victims' families gave him. Planted firmly on the left, Gay's thoughts on Trump, #metoo, and Black Lives Matter are predictable, but they are engaging in their ferocity all the same. That's partly because she comes to her opinions more out of empathy than ideology, which is why she's also served well as an advice columnist for the Times (a few examples of her columns are included). Like any op-ed writer, she sometimes contradicts herself. For example, a piece explaining her refusal to sign a petition condemning a TV show because "creators are allowed to make bad, irresponsible, problematic art" follows a piece arguing the Roseanne reboot shouldn't have been made. Mostly, however, Gay is consistent, and the squishiness is relegated to puff pieces profiling Madonna, Janelle Monáe, Tessa Thompson, and others. The author may spit fire in her essays, but even she can't penetrate the PR armor in which Nicki Minaj has encased herself. Fierce and informed riffs on current events and enduring challenges. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Renowned essayist and cultural critic Gay has penned insightful and thought-provoking essays for numerous publications throughout the years and this latest collection of her work highlights the best from the past decade. In her engaging introduction, Gay writes about how she was inspired to openly express her opinions by her mother's confidence, wit, and intellect. She also parses out her enlightening and sometimes fraught experiences as an opinionated and widely read writer in a time of social and cultural upheaval. The essays that follow touch on a breadth of topics and are grouped by subjects, including identity and politics, cultural commentary, and some of her advice columns written for the New York Times. The sections are largely arranged chronologically by publication date, a format that offers a holistic experience of Gay's work and evolution as a writer. The profiles, though the author admits that celebrity profiles are not a "favorite genre of writing," are standouts and enjoyable to read. This is a must-read for not only fans of Gay's work, but for everyone interested in reading intellectual, accessible, and important takes on timely topics.

Introduction	xvii
Identity/Politics
Tragedy Plays on an Infinite Loop	3
Am I a Bad Person If Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie?	6
The Seduction of Safety, on Campus and Beyond	9
White Crime	13
The Case Against Hope	17
Cops Don't Belong at Pride	21
Why People Are So Awful Online	25
Why I've Decided to Take My Podcast Off Spotify	28
It's Time to Rage	31
Don't Talk to Me About Civility. On Tuesday Morning, Those Children Were Alive	35
The Matter of Black Lives
Why I Can't Forgive Dylann Roof	41
On the Death of Sandra Bland and Our Vulnerable Bodies	44
Of Lions and Men: Mourning Samuel DuBose and Cecil the Lion	47
Where Are Black Children Safe?	50
Alton Sterling and When Black Lives Stop Mattering	53
How to Build a Monument	56
The World Expects Black Men to Make Themselves Smaller. My Brother Never Did	61
Making People Uncomfortable Can Get You Killed	64
Civic Responsibilities
Who Gets to Be Angry?	71
Voting with My Head and Heart	75
Hate That Doesn't Hide (on Trump's Presidency)	78
No One Is Coming to Save Us from Trump's Racism	82
You're Disillusioned. That's Fine. Vote Anyway.	85
Remember, No One Is Coming to Save Us	89
How We Save Ourselves	93
I Am Shattered but Ready to Fight	97
For the Culture
So Fast, So Damn Furious	103
Nickel and Dimed (Mitchell Jackson's The Residue Years)	109
Why the Beach Is a Bummer	112
Discomfort Zone (The Unspeakable by Meghan Daum)	115
Bridled Vows (Jenny Offill's Dept. of Speculation)	118
Food TV's Sadistic Glee	121
The Marriage Plot	127
Warning Signs (The Sacrifice by Joyce Carol Oates)	131
Wise Crack (Delicious Foods by James Hannaham)	135
The Oscars and Hollywood's Race Problem	138
Black Lives Imagined (Jodi Picoult's Small Great Things)	142
I Don't Want to Watch Slavery Fan Fiction	146
Mockingbird Reconsidered	150
Can I Enjoy Art but Denounce the Artist?	154
The Roseanne Reboot Is Funny. I'm Not Going to Keep Watching	156
Roseanne Is Gone, but the Culture That Gave Her a Show Isn't	160
Insatiable Is Lazy, Insulting from Start to Finish	164
The Legacy of Toni Morrison	169
After Chadwick Boseman's Iconic Black Panther, Should King T'Challa Be Recast?	173
How to Collect Art	177
Man Problems
Why Are Most Father's Day Gifts So Terrible?	183
Nate Parker and the Limits of Empathy	186
Dear Men: It's You Too	190
Louis C.K. and the Men Who Think Justice Takes as Long as They Want It To	194
I Thought Men Might Do Better Than This	198
Dave Chappelle's Brittle Ego	201
Jada Pinkett Smith Shouldn't Have to Take a Joke. Neither Should You	204
Minding Other Folks' Business
Madonna's Spring Awakening	211
Charlie, Come In	217
Nicki Minaj, Always in Control	221
Melina Matsoukas's Fearless Vision	227
Janelle Monáe's Afrofuture	235
Sarah Paulson Has No Fear	243
The Talented Tessa Thompson	250
Where Jordan Casteel Sees Herself Going	256
This Is Pamela, Finally	262
Solicited Advice
Yes, Your Job Is Important. But It's Not All Important	269
Ask Roxane: Is It Too Late to Follow My Dreams?	272
Ask Roxane: I'm Outraged but Failing at Activism. Why?	276
Ask Roxane: Where the Hell Is the Love of My Life?	280
Acknowledgments	285

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Reviews (2)

Kirkus Review

Booklist Review

Table of Contents