The first five chapters do a really great job of explaining the magnitude of the problem of incarceration in the US. I expected more from the conclusiThe first five chapters do a really great job of explaining the magnitude of the problem of incarceration in the US. I expected more from the conclusion than the solution to be to simply change everything about how American society works, especially after Davis makes comments early in the book about how prison reformers contribute to the continuation of the carceral complex through their works to reimagine the prison instead of getting rid of the prison. For a book that was so thought out and clearly important to the author, the conclusion had a bit of pie in the sky characteristic that seemed out of place for the critical lens the topic had been viewed through to that point. The current system needs to have every board ripped out to get to justice, but in a society that continues to insist on being punitive above everything else in its courts, opposing needed reforms to the current system that will help millions now for the sake of moral purity in holding out for a politician seems beyond foolish.
Davis spends the first five chapters laying the foundation for why our prison system needs to be abolished, but then skips building any supports and jumps straight to putting on the roof of the argument, giving the conclusion no real legs to stand on as to how prisons would be replaced beyond concepts that, as well meaning as they may be, have no real substance outside of an academic, hypothetical standpoint. Making schools a place where children want to be and redistributing all the power and wealth in society a) are not serious solutions to a carceral problem impacting millions directly and tens and hundreds of millions through loved ones and b) even if they were solutions that could be enacted, still don’t actually provide an alternative to what to in place of prisons.
I think for people without much knowledge of just how big the problems of incarceration are in America, this book holds up as being an eye opener to the problem itself which is what the four stars are for. I was just disappointed by the lackluster conclusion that didn’t meaningfully move the needle like I had hoped and expected it to. ...more
For the author “not having a dog in the fight,” the book seemed pretty heavily slanted towards Marvel. I am firmly in the bag for DC, though, so that For the author “not having a dog in the fight,” the book seemed pretty heavily slanted towards Marvel. I am firmly in the bag for DC, though, so that could have been more my bias than the authors. Even with the slant, I came out disliking Marvel even more.
The content of the book, though, was good. The writing at certain points felt a bit too representative of the snark and edge of a certain segment of comics fans, but I’m sure that humor really lands for a lot of other readers. I’ve always loved superheroes and this book did a great job of making accessible the whole history between the two powerhouses of the genre.
If you like superheroes or comics, I’d definitely recommend this but would also remind the recomendee that DC is still categorically better than Marvel in every way that truly matters. ...more
Excellent addition to the fantastic World’s Finest run. Disappointed it was a limited series and we don’t get to see the group continue to evolve, butExcellent addition to the fantastic World’s Finest run. Disappointed it was a limited series and we don’t get to see the group continue to evolve, but it got the most important thing right: Dick > Roy. ...more
Super informative book about how D3 players and coaches went from being “nobodies” in the NBA world, to being represented throughout the modern game. Super informative book about how D3 players and coaches went from being “nobodies” in the NBA world, to being represented throughout the modern game. Had no idea so many prominent execs and coaches got their start in the lower levels of college basketball. Loved reading about how important diversity of background, experience, and perspective was to so many of the league’s most successful franchises and that they’re actively looking for ways to increase that diversity. If you love the NBA or just basketball in general, this is a great book to pick up to understand one under the radar reason for how the current league got to this point!...more
Continue to love every part of Taylor’s Nightwing run. This is a better Titans book than either of the two I’ve read in the current run. Know the end Continue to love every part of Taylor’s Nightwing run. This is a better Titans book than either of the two I’ve read in the current run. Know the end is coming for Taylor’s time on Nightwing and know I’ll have to see things go bad for Dick before it ends, but Taylor has treated the character with such respect and gets the heart of Dick Grayson better than any other writer I’ve read so far, that I can’t help but think that even when we see Dick fall to the depths, it’ll be done in a way that still feels hopeful. ...more