If you know Blair Imani, you already know that this book does not disappoint! Witty, engaging, and confident, Imani is a singularly engaging voice in a sea of thousands.

Blair Imani's "Read This to Get Smarter: About Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More" is a remarkable book that fearlessly confronts some of society's most pressing issues. True to its promise, it presents complex topics in an engaging and accessible manner that educates readers.

Imani's writing is captivating and insightful, skillfully weaving together intricate issues with remarkable clarity. The book delves into critical issues of race, class, gender, and disability, breaking down entrenched biases and stereotypes to offer a fresh perspective on each subject.

What sets this book apart is its relatable and engaging content. Imani uses anecdotes, current events, and historical context to create compelling narratives that are easy to understand. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of the issues and their relevance in our contemporary world.

But this book is more than just an intellectual exercise; it's a practical guide. Imani provides actionable insights on how readers can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society, empowering readers to turn their understanding into action.

In conclusion, "Read This to Get Smarter" is a masterful work of contemporary social literature that is essential reading for anyone seeking to broaden their understanding of societal issues and contribute to positive change. Its straightforward, compelling approach to complex issues makes it a highly recommended read.

❤ This audiobook was well researched and very well done! It had a academic collegiate feel but folks will learn a great deal as it relates to race, class, disability, the Prison Industrial Complex, redlining and more. The gender/sexuality section had my head spinning! It was indeed an interesting and worthwhile #audiobooking experience. ❤

Yes! Preach! Let's make this part of social studies curriculum for all kiddos! This is a book that educates without arrogance, uplifts without looking down upon those who don't know, informs while sparking curiosity! I loved this!

This is a solid primer on race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, and an array of other topics often covered in a “Diversity 101” or “Sociology 101” course. A great text worthy of a read if you’re new to such topics or are looking for an inexpensive and accessible text to assign with supplemental resources and activities.

Great book four young minds wanting to live a purposeful life amongst people wisely; with awareness of the issues surrounding the books theme.

First, thanks again to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review another fascinating book.

This is a book that should be required reading in every high school and college, and I dare say perhaps certain grades in grade school. If you read this book, you will indeed get smarter about race, class, gender, disability and more, but that is assuming you want to get smarter. If you do not, you will probably not pick this book up, unless you want to advocate its banning, which we are seeing a rise in across the U.S.

The call to ban certain books is increasing across this land as a growing number of parents, educators, and politicians allege that books like George Orwell's 1984, Stamped From the Beginning, by Ibram X. Kendi, The Handmaids's Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Beloved, by Toni Morrison, and countless others may be too divisive, obscene, politically incorrect, harmful, etc.

As they say, knowledge is power and this book is full of knowledge around differences which this world is made up of. We are all different in some way, from the color of our hair and eyes, to the way we walk and talk, to the skin that clothes our bodies. The author paints a compelling picture of these many differences and how we can and should be aware of and treat them.

The book is well written, with definitions and summaries along the way to help you digest and understand the topic.

We need more books like this to help us all, especially the next generation to be more understanding, tolerant and accepting of those who are different, whether it be race, class, gender identification, socio economic status, etc.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so happy this book exists! I've been learning about some of the topics Blair covers in here but it has been haphazard and sometimes falls off my radar. But with this, I was able to read on my commute and really focus my learning. And it covers topics I hadn't reached yet, which was amazing.

As a person who benefits from a lot of our terrible systems, this was enlightening. I was able to learn about communities that I don't belong to and the ways in which I can be a better ally. And as a queer person, I had the chance to learn more about the nuances to my own community.

This book is educational while still being easily understood and I appreciated that. Blair breaks concepts and explanations down into pieces that you can digest without twisting your brain into a pretzel. The bibliography is full of resources for additional learning; I've already bookmarked areas I want to dive into. I loved the reflection questions at the end of every chapter! As soon as I found out about those, I made it a point to stop and reflect on each one. They really help you think and learn more about yourself.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is essential reading for everyone.

Read This to Get Smarter should be required reading for everyone 12 and up. Blair Imani did a great job of approaching and explaining each topic. She didn't shy away from anything, but she also presented the information in a clear, concise, and non-confrontational way - which is EXTREMELY difficult to achieve. I love how each chapter began with the bare bones of the "taboo" subject being discussed before becoming more complex and nuanced by the end of the chapter. I plan to purchase multiple copies of this book to stock up Little Free Libraries and I highly recommend that anyone living in certain places in the US do the same (here's looking at you Florida, Texas, and friends). Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my wish and gifting me a digital copy. Read This to Get Smarter is available now!

I definitely did get smarter after reading this book! Brilliantly accessible essays on topics of race, gender, sexuality, and disability. I really enjoy Blair's work overall, but this was wonderful guide to spark meaningful conversations and hopefully cultivate change.

This is a nice primer, but really not much of substance here unless you're REALLY going off nothing which almost no one is. VERY much a case of lost potential.

The author provides practical and concise information on a variety of topics, including gender, race, and class, among other topics. This is a book from which everyone will be able to learn something. I'll be encouraging our students to check this out! Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review.

What an impressive book by Blair Imani! Though you will know about the one or other topic, I´m sure there´s always something new to learn. At least for me it was so. Some topics are extensively theorized, but they all come with helpful lists of what (not) to say or do and reflective questions. What I like most about this book is that the author - also throwing in her own experiences - sees every person as an individual and able to learn something new every day and situation.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful quick read and explanation of the new terms in our current world. This author gives great instruction on the current vocabulary and explanations of how this fits into our lives. They cover the whats, whys and hows!

Could Blair Imani get any cooler? Seriously. Imani somehow perfectly transfers “Smarter in Seconds” into book format and I devoured this. I need to get a physical copy to annotate, because there are countless words of wisdom and nuggets of information I really don’t want to forget. Imani covers just about everything in Read This to Get Smarter. It’s the perfect introduction to a lot of crucially important issues, including gender, race, ableism, and so much more. It’ll make you realize where your OWN trigger points are, and will also provide somewhat of a blueprint for engaging in conversations around these topics.

I’m really grateful I got to read this e-arc. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley!

If you have so many questions about so many things, or if you have a basic understanding of a lot of the things mentioned in this book title, or you are anywhere in between those two, you should read this book! Imani put together an accessible, informative book that covers a lot of topics that are widely misunderstood in today's society, like racism and disability. Each chapter is broken into small sections to explain parts of the whole. If you are consistently trying to learn and grow, or know someone who wants to learn but just hasn't fid the right resources, then I highly recommend this book. It covers so much and yet it isn't overwhelming at all.
Thanks to Netgalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed apress for the e-ARC.

I appreciate what the author is doing but unfortunately dont think her bubbly personality and charisma that we see in smarter in seconds translated onto the page.

Read This to Get Smarter About Race, Class, Gender, Disability and More by Blair Imani is aptly titled and delivers on this promise. I finished the book and did feel smarter. Imani has written a comprehensive guidebook that would be a helpful tool for any equity, diversity and inclusion team or any individual looking to grow their understanding of the human experience. The reflection questions at the end of each chapter will help the reader uncover their belief system and incorporate the new information into their daily lives. I finished the book only days ago, and I’ve already found myself using new terminology and thinking in new ways.

Imani is an educator, and complex concepts were explained clearly and supported by evidence. Imani also brings deep personal experience to the work. If I have any criticism to offer about Read This to Get Smarter, it would be that I would have liked a little more storytelling and less direct instruction.

I continue to be impressed with the work of Blair Imani! I first encountered Blair on instagram, with her Smarter in Seconds videos since she tackles pretty tough concepts in a really succinct and accessible way. Read This To Get Smarter really takes that same approach - taking on large concepts such as racism, identify, and even capitalism in short, manageable, and honest sections. After each section the author provides reflection questions for the reader to asses their own familiarity with the concepts and to potentially determine where more work may need to be done. However, for me this book was a little too short as someone familiar with most of the topics and information the author was presenting, especially since a large number of pages are dedicated to the bibliography at the end. I loved the bibliography and this helps to serve as a self-directed way to learn more about the topics which, to be fair, is something that Blair Imani poses as a necessity to getting smarter about these topics. It is not always on those who are affected by these topics to education everyone around them, that is simply unrealistic and unsustainable. To be smarter about the world and people around us we must individually choose to do better and fill in our knowledge gaps with thorough research. So while I would have loved a more from Read This to Get Smarter, I fully believe that Imani accomplished what she set out to do with this book. It would be the perfect gift for teenagers and new adults who are grappling with the world around them. It presents the concepts and allows room for growth and further exploration.

This is a great book if you're looking to be a more respectful, thoughtful, and caring ally and human. If you've done research on disability, race, class, etc. already, you'll find explanations you're familiar with, and probably some history and statistics that are new to you as well. If you're just beginning your learning, this is an excellent place to start.

As I read this, I kept thinking how this should be required reading in today's high schools. Understanding each other and working to be more considerate and compassionate regarding the things that make us unique and special couldn't be more pertinent in today's climate. Place this into the hands of your teenage kids or friends and family who are searching for ways to do the tough work of unlearning old beliefs and looking to be more inclusive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.