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A powerful read. Oluo digs deep into history to explain how we got where we are and the dangerous path we‘re still on.

Roll 76 for #Roll100

Oluo‘s “So You Want To Talk About Race” is a book I recommend often, so I was pretty excited for Mediocre. But ultimately what made So You Want To so great was largely missing from Mediocre. Oluo leans heavily on history both long past (think Roosevelt and the national parks) and recent (Bernie Bros) without much of her critical analysis that breathed so much life and made her other book not only accessible but a pleasure to read and learn from.

Oluo writes about the ways white supremacy has us always deferring to white men, even those that are mediocre, rather than embracing women and people of color. This is such an interesting read. Among other things, she explains a politician I‘ve always looked at a bit askance and articulates my feelings about him so well.

As for the audio book, it was read by the author herself and she did a great job; it held my interest. As with many anti-racist books, there are some things that are hard to hear and (as a white woman), it‘s sometimes hard to wrap my head around some of the horrible experiences of people of colour. I think I‘m also lucky that I work in a female-dominated profession

Ijeoma Oluo is a journalist and best-selling author. This book draws on US history to provide a devastating examination of the USA‘s systems which created and reinforce white, male mediocrity as a means of retaining white power. It is clearly written and makes a lot of interesting points but is very US-centric and although it discusses intersectionality at length, I wondered how much of this is grounded in patriarchy more than in race.

Audio read by the author. Think this was a Litsy rec from awhile ago. At first, I wasn‘t sure I was in the mood for this, but by the time she started in on Biden, I was enjoying it (even though I lean left). She even goes after my beloved Bernie, but I appreciate that she pointed out how politicians on both sides have chosen white male privilege over people of color and women. Some chapters engaged me more than others, a good read though.

This was pretty compelling.

She does a great job of describing the history and systems that have been put in place that have lead us to where we are today.

As I was finishing up this #audio this article popped into my notifications: https://apple.news/TTiTSd5oTQ9qMujWUJFZIZg
Timely… and sad that this is so common place right now.

Right now, white men are the biggest domestic terror threats in this country. They are shooting up schools, shopping malls, and casinos. Seventy percent of school shooters are white males.In the years since the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, white male terrorists have killed more Americans than Jihadi terrorists.

This is grievance literature that can earn the author some money by appealing to those aggrieved. I have read interesting books on white peoples that are very critical but added important information that isn‘t common knowledge. This isn‘t one of them. Is it ethical to cash in on grievance like this? Carlson, hannity and numerous others do that on a regular basis and in my opinion it‘s unethical.

I wasn't as blown away by this as So You Want to Talk About Race, but it was thought provoking. This didnt have as clear of a plan - it meandered & some chapters didn't seem as tight thematically. I also was left questioning what she hoped would be gained by the book. I feel SYWTTAR had some clear, actionable steps to move forward. This felt more like complaining than a call to action. Still, it forced some discomfort & was worth the read.

Oh boy! Very good but frightening!

Book #28 of the year, and my final book of 2021: “Mediocre” by Ijeoma Oluo

What an amazing book. It‘s extremely well researched and detailed (y‘all know I‘m a sucker for some citations) but not dry. I recommend it for everyone, and I thank Parable for making this autographed copy possible 😍

“...many NFL teams started as company teams as a way to pacify & control workers... developed to keep workers busy... & to foster company loyalty during times of union upheaval... encouraged “as something for workers to do after work to keep them away from union meetings, political meetings, to give them a social space that doesn‘t involve rebellion... football leadership now uses race to distract the public from labor grievances of the players.”

Really enjoying and learning a lot from this. I appreciate her acknowledgment of the role meritocracy can play in the advancement of women and people of color on her reluctant defense of higher education.

I‘m a big fan of this author—loved So You want to Talk About Race. And her writing for Seattle‘s The Stranger. I did the audio of this one. I liked it, but not as much as her previous book. Her anger is out front and I appreciated how many personal stories she includes. I read this right after reading Caste. Same themes but cast differently. I liked Caste more and its deep dive. But this one is a quicker read for sure.

I felt embarrassed to be learning about some of these stories and events and how they have been retold in popular culture for the first time while reading this. I felt at times this book veered off its intended message, but I appreciated how she often recapped or connected at the end of chapters to try to bring us back to the impact of mediocre white men in our world.

This book has some very interesting history of America that is not taught in schools. It also has some very hard truths.

Exactly as advertised

Listened to this weeks ago and still thinking about it.

When you go on a walk on a chilly evening after a long day so you can finish your audiobook you know it‘s a good one! Although it was infuriating and upsetting at times, Oluo‘s latest is well researched, fair and necessary. I highly recommend this to everyone who wants to do better for our black and brown neighbors. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#currentlisten

Thoroughly researched. Enjoying it so far.

https://wellreadneck.wordpress.com/2021/03/05/mediocre-the-dangerous-legacy-of-w...

This book is super informative and interesting in some parts, but lacked focus in others. I didn't find it as compelling or well-done as Oluo's other book, So You Want to Talk About Race, but I am still glad I read it. 3.5⭐️

I thought So You Want to Talk About Race was excellent so of course I had to pick up Ijeoma Oluo's latest. This was a well-researched and well-written book about a tough subject - the negative consequences of white male supremacy in this country. Oluo has a great accessible and authoritative writing voice and while the subject matter makes this no easy read, she made it very readable.

A very fitting book for today...

I loved Oluo's previous book (So You Want To Talk About Race) and this book was also great. I kept nodding throughout.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nowhere near the caliber of Oluo‘s brilliant So You Want to Talk About Race (which if you haven‘t read yet, def pick it up). Mediocre meanders, and at times, lacks a clear purpose. Maybe after four years of Trump, I‘m just exhausted. Idk. Maybe I should‘ve waited a couple of years to pick this up.

Still moving slower than I‘v gotten used to with audiobooks thanks to shifting work responsibilities but I think I have finally figured out my sweet spot is back in the nonfiction arena.

This book is a great sociopolitical analysis on the corrupt power structures that continue to uplift mediocre white men and hold them as heroes despite the harm perpetuated by them through policy. The complacency of accepting mediocre white men as saviors of the people is more relevant than ever considering the current political climate. From Trump and Biden, to Bernie Sanders, no mediocre white man is excluded from the conversation.