As Patrisse Cullors asks at the conclusion of this book: How are you getting free?

While anyone can pick this book up and find something useful, I believe it would most benefit a reader who has already subscribed to abolition and is interested in understanding, showing up for, and taking care of themselves and others in better ways.

The 12 steps are practical and accessible for even young readers:
1. Courageous conversations
2. Respond vs. react
3. Nothing is fixed
4. Say yes to imagination
5. Forgive actively not passively
6. Allow yourself to feel
7. Commit to not harming or abusing others
8. Practice accountability
9. Embrace non-reformist reform
10. Build community
11. Value interpersonal relationships
12. Fight the US state rather than make it stronger

Patrisse Cullors brings 20+ years of organizing to this book. Her becoming a high profile activist also colors this framework. She mentions being scrutinized by people within and outside her former organization, and she includes several tips for practicing accountability and conflict resolution (healing work), especially internal conflicts.

At the conclusion of the reading of this audiobook, there is an interview between Patrisse Cullors and fellow Black feminist abolitionist, adrienne maree brown which I enjoyed. brown is one of several fellow activists highlighted throughout these pages, demonstrating that abolition is only done through being in community with others.

Big thank you to Macmillan Audio, Patrisse Cullors, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Although I'm glad this exists on audio, I really feel like the listener should be provided with a workbook of sorts as well. perhaps a printable PDF? I was really glad overall to get this info from Patrisse Cullors though. I LOVED her memoir and look forward to more from her.

I hope absolutely everyone reads this book. There’s history, concrete actions to take, and a narrative that helps the reader understand the urgency and imperative nature of abolition in our country. Patrisse Cullors is brilliant and I can’t wait to read more of her work. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy! The audiobook was the perfect way for me to absorb this work, with narration that was easy to listen to and emotive.

While I’m grateful this text, it was often confusing who the audience was intended to be. The author seems to alternate between addressing young Black organizers and an white public new to abolition without explicitly coding it that way. It never particular seems she regards the audience as her peer. For some reason Ariel Blake’s narration kept drawing me out of the text but I’ve listened to other works read by Ariel and loved them. The interview with AMB at the end was an absolute delight and a highlight of the text for me.

Cullors presented 12 steps to help bring about reform - even on a small level. Themes of family, communication, intersectionality, responding versus reacting, and affecting change starting where you are. Excellent historical references to support each step. I did not consider that an abolitionist could be described as one that was supportive of disabled people or LGBTQ+ folks - talk about opening my eyes. Here’s to challenging the patriarchy!

Oh my this is the best book I’ve read on activism in a Long time. I don’t talk about my love for Patrisse Cullors enough guys.

The personal start, of how to introduce this kind of activism in everyday life was so inspiring. The whole idea of Courageous Conversations took me like a day to process all by itself, I won’t lie this book is very heavy and needs break times in between.

Anyone who cares about social activism and making a change needs to read this book. It is an absolute must have, these steps lay a framework that Cullors herself has employed successfully throughout her years as an activist. I greatly admire the career she’s built and I appreciate her taking the time to lay the groundwork for a future generation.

I really enjoyed this book. However, I feel like I made a mistake in picking up the audiobook instead of a hard copy. It's pretty much what it says it is - a handbook for how to become an abolitionist. There was tons of great information, including guiding questions, things to read, watch, or listen to to help further get the point across, etc.

That kind of stuff is harder to use in an audiobook format. If I'd had a physical copy of the book, I could have taken notes, highlighted portions I wanted to come back to, etc. It really would have made a difference, I think. Still, the book itself has tons of great information, and it's one that I think everyone could benefit from reading.

The sections on courageous conversations and active forgiveness were particularly illuminating and could benefit literally anyone, whether they're interested in becoming abolitionists or not. The narrator was great, too, and I enjoyed the interview with author at the end.

I'd easily give this book four stars, but my recommendation would be this:

If you plan to use this as a guide to do better in your abolitionist work, get the hard copy. If you just want to read it and hear the principles behind abolitionism, the audiobook should be fine for that.

I'm combining my two November challenges in this audiobook review! Thank you Macmillan Audio for my ALC of An Abolitionist's Handbook. I enjoyed listening to this one while exploring the beautiful NC fall!

Pub date: Jan 25
From the publisher: An Abolitionist's Handbook is for those who are looking to reimagine a world where communities are treated with dignity, care and respect. It gives us permission to move away from cancel culture and into visioning change and healing.

It's easy to get discouraged in a world full of injustice and discrimination - how can one learn to effect change? Activist Patrisse Cullors co-founded Black Lives Matter and she wrote this book as a how-to for readers who want to be modern-day abolitionists. If you're looking for her memoir, that's a different book - When They Call You a Terrorist.

I enjoyed listening to this guide - like other good nonfiction, it made me think. I especially appreciate Cullors' emphasis on courageous conversations and responding rather than reacting to events. She makes it clear that calling for blood instead of accountability is counterproductive. It is easy to "cancel" someone - the harder work is having open, honest dialogue that leads to understanding and change, as well as active forgiveness. She also shows the reader that abolition is not just about police and prisons; it is about dismantling structures that perpetuate racism and inequality.

Cullors' message is ultimately hopeful - she believes we can transform the world by transforming ourselves. We have all seen how much she has accomplished with BLM, and I hope this book will inspire others to work for change.