This book should be necessary reading for everybody. Kendi has masterfully explained here exactly what anti-racism is and how it differs from simply 'not racist'. The style of the book was more memoir based than I was expecting the first time I picked it up, but this is actually very useful. Kendi weaves specific examples in through each section, clearly illustrating how we can all do better, no matter how much we already may think we're doing. So much of modern racism is unintentional, implicit, small microaggressions etc and this is a useful guide for understanding and addressing many biases that unfortunately live within all of us.

Ibram X. Kendi delivers in this book what should be everyone's Biblel. It is not a book that you open and forget. On the contrary, it is a book that we must assimilate and apply, to make known so that all together, we can advance and truly transform our society. It is a book that makes us humble and that moves us because it reflects a universal will; peace because ultimately, if there is no more racism, peace can finally take place.

In 'How To Be an Antiracist', Ibram X. Kendi attempts to provide a meaningful guide and exposition of his position on race and racism which reconsiders the idea that one can be "not racist". There are so many interesting and important ideas explored throughout this book, ranging from the question of Anti-White racism to intersection of sexism and homophobia with racism (and conversely, antiracism.) However, his exploration is at times convoluted and self-contradictory, and his writing style is very repetitive.

A significant issue that I ran into with this book was the definitions, something which he spends a large portion of the book on. The definitions used are moreso to frame the perspective of a given chapter and provide further perspective on an issue, which means that they don't always follow the way the word is practically used. His definition of racism, for example, unites both policy and idea as necessary to its action. This is an argument he uses to support initiatives of positive discrimination. In essence, to treat equally is not to treat the same, a base of “antiracist policies”. However, the one I've always used is "prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group" (Oxford Dictionary), which specifically does include discrimination. Kendi also includes multiple ‘definitions’ for the same word which are generally complementary but are not semantically indifferent. For example, antiracism is described both as “one who is supporting an antiracist policy through their actions or expressing an antiracist idea” and “one who is expressing the idea that racial groups are equals and none needs developing, and is supporting policy that reduces racial inequity.” While both essentially describe being against policies and ideas which are racist, the latter narrows an “antiracist idea” to one which reduces “racial inequity.”

The use of statistics throughout this book illustrates the stark racial inequity between African-Americans and other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. While I found that these were useful and clearly demonstrated inequality, his use of statistics in general lacked nuanced contextualisation and the reader is left to assume that everything is down to racism which I believe oversimplifies the issues. Kendi also notes towards the end of the book that this is intentional - that to be antiracist one must view all racial inequity as the result of racist policy and not individual or generalised behaviours. Kendi here criticises the assimilationist belief that one should expect all racial groups to meet a certain standard or idealised pattern of behaviour. However, his own argument on racial inequity is contradictory to this as he measures equity using socioeconomic outcomes which are undoubtedly influenced by patterns of behaviour. If one is to expect and strive towards ensuring equality in rates of poverty and higher education between racial groups then you must also acknowledge that to achieve the same outcomes within the same society similar behaviour must be exhibited.

The repetitive sentence structures and formulaic chapters made this book hard to read for me, with Kendi often repeating 'to be', 'to understand', 'to believe' etc. at the start of each sentence in a paragraph. This would have been effective in a speech but after 10 chapters of it it got really boring. However, I found the writing became less repetitive and far more interesting from Gender and Queer racism onwards. 'Failure' and 'Success' were also some of my favourite chapters, because they focused on antiracist activism more practically, although still failing to specify actual policies which must be removed or introduced. Antiracist policy is a necessary goal for an antiracist movement, but his assertion that policy is the only way to make meaningful change takes power away from the individual. The vague idea of racist and antiracist policy isn’t even given actionable goals and actual proposals are sorely lacking. This combined to make it read more like ministry than politics.

The most useful takeaway from this book is that there is no in-between racism and antiracism - that one cannot claim to be a ‘not racist’ bystander. But you could get that from google. Among others, I did really enjoy the breakdown of systemic racism as a notion and the effects of using it in discussion because it's often a concept which people assume to be understood and proven without it ever being explained. So, if you’d like to understand some of the vocabulary and ideology of the current conversation around race, this is certainly a useful read, Above all, this book always encouraged self-reflection on the racist or antiracist ideas we have held or continue to hold and this self-reflection is the main reason I'm giving it 3 stars - we could all do with a little introspection.

I would like to thank Ibram X. Kendi, NetGalley and Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

as many people are turning to books to educate themselves on issues that have been happening for far too long, how to be an antiracist is one that will be a great resource and extremely helpful to many people. that's not to say ibram x kendi sugarcoats anything, it's not a comfortable read, and it covers a huge range to perspectives and areas that i hadn't considered before, so i feel like i learned a lot

kendi weaves his personal life story as a black man in america along with a history of racism, starting from henry the navigator creating the trans-atlantic slave trade from portugal in the 14th century, through the centuries to the civil rights movements in the 20th century, and into present day. there are also a number of statistics that really hammer the points being made home. the inclusion of his own experiences at school, at college, in the workplace, add a layer to the book that i really appreciated it, particularly the ending

i would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a comprehensive history of racism with a focus on america as well as an interesting look at a man's life

As someone who is trying to broaden their knowledge on the black lives matter movement I felt this book was a little more academic rather than an introductory book about racism. The first few chapters were really good in trying to establish what an anti-racist is but I did feel like I lost my way with this book later on.

This book was also a lot more memoir based than I had expected as well. I do feel like maybe the book would have been better presented as a long essay rather than a full length book so as to not lose impact and clarity.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've always thought of myself as a non-racist, but after reading this book I can only hope that the whole world reads it too and that we all strive to be anti-racist. In the beginning many facts are discussed, but the story becomes more and more personal and interesting to read. This book is important to everyone, regardless of origin, and I will recommend it as much as possible.

As a Black, British woman I have always known what racism looks like, and how to be 'not racist' but anti-racism hadn't really entered my thinking.
This is very much a personal, intellectual analysis of what we ALL need to do to make significant change in our society. This is not a lecture for White people; Black people need to read it too, so that we remember to challenge societal norms and redefine them, so that we do not exempt ourselves simply because we are Black.
The book highlights the fact that we are, at present, only treating the symptoms of a society built on racism and, to be truly anti-racist, our society needs an anti-racist foundation.
A full 5 stars from me and a strong recommendation, again, that Black people read this too.

This book is 110% necessary reading for anyone who's striving to be an Antiracist (which should be all of us). It sets out what antiracism means and how it differs from the racism vs non-racism binary, all with some autobiographical element which gives it some entertainment value.

I particularly appreciated the chapters towards the end about gender and sexuality as part of the Antiracist movement. But, the first few chapters are also absolutely key for an understanding of antiracism.

All that being said, there were some bits which felt slightly overwritten/theoretical/maybe a bit academic. But this book has taught me so much and is such an important piece of writing.

This was a fantastic book. Kendi spends a lot of this book reflecting on his own actions which makes the book so human and relatable, rather than generic non-fiction that states the facts. It also focuses on a topic that is highly important and, in all honesty, not talked about enough: racism, both individual and of policies. The definitions between racist and antiracist ideals at the start of each chapter was cleverly done, and really focused the chapters on what we as people should be doing to address these issues, rather than just passively taking them in.

Overall, this is an incredibly important read and very well-written. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to educate themselves on the topic of race, especially if you've had the privilege of not having to think about it before now.

An important, insightful read that clearly lays out issues of structural racism at the heart of society, and their impact.

A very informative book gives brief on what racism is and how it can be tackled in today's world. This is is a must read.

Everyone should read this book!!

“The opposite of racist isn't 'not racist.' It is 'anti-racist.' What's the difference? One endorses either the idea of a racial hierarchy as a racist, or racial equality as an anti-racist. One either believes problems are rooted in groups of people, as a racist, or locates the roots of problems in power and policies, as an anti-racist. One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no in-between safe space of 'not racist.”


The author uses the story of his own life to debate for the necessity of being ANTI racist..
He is very open about it. The story follows chronologically author's life and describes racismn in United States. It is a book I read in one sitting. I recommend it to everyone.

Fantastic writing. Powerful and thought provoking.

I learned a lot. Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this book!!!

A compelling read, with an amalgamation of personal experience and suggestions of how we, as a whole community, can really get behind becoming anti-racists. It gives a good background into the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and why current events may have escalated in the way they have.
Educate to change.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a copy of this book.

Like many people, the recent events in America made me want to educate myself more and really look at my own attitudes towards racism. This book was the perfect choice - I loved the way Kendi used his own personal experiences to get points across and how even his own views on racism have developed and changed. It is an open and honest account and I have really learned a lot from reading it. I can't really review this in the same way as other books because I can't say that it is a book that you will 'enjoy' reading, but I think this is a book that everyone would benefit from it in some way.

I would recommend this book unreservedly. Combining personal memoir and history, this considered book provides a nuanced history of racism and types of racism. It was balanced and highly informative. I would suggest it is essential reading for these troubled times. I did not, however, think the implications of the title were addressed in this book, I would have liked more ideas on how I, in my own life, can address systemic racism.

This book covered pretty much everything youd want to know if you're interested in the Black Lives Matter movement and want to educate yourself or others, and was written in an engaging manner that has me itching to do my own research on how to be a better ally.

I'm glad that this book is back on NetGalley, given the current events of the world. I'm not glad that it's still so relevant and Necessary, but that it exists and that Kendi as a writer is so talented is worth praising.

‘How To Be An Antiracist’ is part autobiography, part history, and part social commentary. Kendi uses his experience of growing up as an African American to explore racism – how his ideas about what racism is evolved throughout his life, and similarly, how he discovered the concepts of not-racist and anti-racist and what those mean. Each chapter is prefaced with a type of racism – behavioural racism, space racism, colourism – and starts with a time in Kendi’s life where he encountered it, segueing into the history, modern social perspectives, and what his experiences have taught him. The mix of personal, historical, and modern factual works well, providing a touchstone and backing every point up with strong evidence.

Many of the points Kendi makes I had heard before, although not being Black or American I found his personal insight into them fascinating. Kendi is exceptionally honest about problematic beliefs he himself has held in the past – as we all will have held – and how he still grapples with them today. He articulates the impact of racism very well, as well as the impacts of various movements which have sought to end it. I particularly enjoyed his take on the work of the Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, a man who I was taught about at school but only in very basic terms. Kendi’s viewpoint is nuanced and well worth listening to.

One of the strongest parts of the book covers the concept of integration – a controversial issue, especially here in the UK where we like to think people are more integrated than they perhaps are in the US. His points are logical but might not occur to those who are not themselves Black or another ethnic minority. I thought he did an excellent job of framing it in a non-judgemental but understandable way. I came away from that section feeling educated and reframing several ideas that I had previously held. As Kendi says, anti-racism is a constant learning process, and we have to open to changing our beliefs as we learn more about them.

The later chapters of the book were more personal – Kendi and his family were going through significant personal difficulties with enormous impact on their lives. I have enormous respect for Kendi for managing to write such an excellent book in such a trying time. That being said, I felt those later chapters weren’t quite as strong or impactful as some of the earlier points. His metaphors for racism were interesting, and in many ways accurate, but for me they didn’t add anything. The strength of the book was the interweaving of the story of growing up Black in America with the statistics around racism and its impact.

Overall, this is an excellent book that I’d highly recommend to everyone. Go in with an open mind and be prepared to learn. The points that Kendi makes are not radical, but they may be new to you. Listen to what he has to say, read his sources – he cites plenty, and includes a further reading list for those interested in the topic – and you might find yourself reframing what racism, and anti-racism, really is.

This book comes at just the right time for me when I am trying to educate myself. Very timely and very educational. Should be required reading for everyone.

How To Be an Antiracist is a book that will have a profound and lasting impact on anyone who reads it. Thought provoking, honest and unflinching it's part memoir from the author that authors further insight to back up the words. Absolutely essential reading for everyone, as it will change the way you think.