I'm pro-accountability but also someone who has dealt with the weird, mob-like internet pile-ons that can happen in liberal spaces when people simply don't agree, so I was interested in reading this book! It's a pretty academic, intelligent take on cancel culture, what it is, what it isn't and why accountability is both needed and something rooted in history. That said, I don't know how anyone who is on the fence about accountability will find this book accessible or approachable -- it's a bit of preaching to the choir.

Read this. Just do yourself the favor of reading it.
I’m pro cancel culture, personally. I don’t believe in tolerating intolerance. I think most people understand when someone has an egregious opinion / ideology that we shouldn’t handle them with kid gloves. We can’t allow those things to fester and grow like a fungus for the sake of being ‘nice’. Because racism, sexism, etc isn’t nice.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a very interesting read! Found it super fascinating, was going to try to read it chapter by chapter but ended up reading it all in one go! Would buy, would reread.

'The Case for Cancel Culture' is a good faith attempt to define and provide support for the societal concept of cancel culture. Cancel culture has become a contentious subject over the past few years. Personally, I requested this book so that I could hear a positive argument for cancel culture, as I was struggling to view it as fully positive movement at the time. I believe that Owens does a good job articulating his case for the most part, but I would argue that this book is targeted at reaffirming those of us who self-identify as liberal. I appreciated how Owens could relate the more current use of cancel culture via social media to other forms of protest and social reform in the past. It is accurate to say that methods enacted to create social change in the direction of progress, equality, and human rights have mostly received backlash, been discredited, or been critiqued as the incorrect method to utilize (typically by those who have a vested interested, explicitly or implicitly in maintaining the status quo). This framing helps the reader understand cancel culture in the frame of protest and to reclaim it from conflation with the accusations of imagined and the threat of real cyber-bullying (which, as Owens notes, existed long before the growth of cancel culture as we know it). This reframing assisted me in understanding that my own complex feelings towards some facets of cancel culture resulted from this conflation.

Generally speaking, this book provides a more decisive view on what cancel culture is, how it is utilized, and the positive impacts in can have. There is appropriate discussion of how it is utilized by both liberals and conservatives in the United States, the complexity of power dynamics and intersectionality, and the ways in which cancel culture have been co-opted by bad faith actors to cause negative outcomes for progress.

Very interesting thoughts...definitely gave me some things to reflect but I wonder if this was an essay collection if it would have resonated differently. In some cases it felt like the examples were in defense of the author's experience. Either way it was clear the power and danger of calling out people (how easily the tactic can be weaponized for any offense even mistakes).

“Chances are, you’ve heard this a lot lately. What might’ve once been a niche digital term has been legitimized in the discourse of presidents, politicians, and lawmakers.

But what really is cancel culture? Blacklisting celebrities? Censorship? Until now, this has been the general consensus in the media. But it’s time to raise the bar on our definition— to think of cancel culture less as scandal or suppression, and more as an essential means of democratic expression and accountability.”

Some books are riveting. Some make you cry. Some make you fall in love, just a little.

This book is none of those things, but you should probably read it anyway.

The books looks at the differences between Cancelling, Bullying, and just plain personal preferences. It talks about what it is, what it is not, and how the term has been misunderstood and coopted by those wanting to silence those on the periphery.

I loved how this work detailed the longevity and rich history of Cancel Culture, chronicling notable instances throughout time and geography. Boston Tea Party? Salt March? Montgomery Bus Boycott? All cases of how Cancel Culture was successfully used to improve the lives of the marginalized.

My favourite part was the discussion of the nuances involving race/gender/sexuality/class. The Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake Nip Slip is the perfect example. She, woman of colour, bore the brunt of the scandal, while he, a white male, got to go on and Bring Sexy Back.

The main issue I see with this book involves getting it into the hands of those that need it. Those who misunderstand (willfully, in some cases) Cancel Culture won’t read it (though they seem to have no problem leaving reviews – weird) and those needing clarification will likely be put off by the author’s use of Conservative and Progressive labels.

8/10

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this educational ARC.

This book features a methodically analysis of Cancel Culture. The author gives a history of cancel culture & how it was originally used. In my view, Owens covered the topic Cancel Culture in a neutral manner. He covered how both the left & the right have weaponized Cancel Culture over the years. This book is worth a read & you might learn a little bit along the way.

This book is about the history of cancel culture and although I believe Mr. Owens has it wrong when he compares the tea party and boycotting South Africa is cancel culture I do understand what he’s trying to say. However this cancel culture that he keeps referring to is a great thing has had innocent people fired from their jobs and others who have lost their whole career due to this get them now and ask questions later cancel culture. In the beginning of the book he took up Janet Jackson’s cancel culture“Faux pas“ when Justin Timberlake tore her shirt off on the Super Bowl halftime show and he blamed Justin Timberlake… Even though that was a choreographed routine they both agreed to do and she knew it was going to happen. Now it was wrong that people shamed her and did nothing to him but I don’t see how that’s his fault. Why didn’t you take up Bob Paris is cancel culture moment Who was the first man to come out as a gay bodybuilding champion or Tiger Woods who people supposedly canceled because he was a sex addict. What I also didn’t understand is he called him a racist and Even had the nerve in the same comment to say he was white explaining. He insinuated that Justin Timberlake was racist and homophobic because he Ernest Owens is a gay man and I guess if you don’t agree with him or do what he wants you to do that makes you racist and homophobic? Now he did bring up some great points with the school shooting in Florida and all the kids speaking out . He also brought up the murder of Brianna Taylor . He associated Breonna with the Black Lives Matter movement and her mother said she doesn’t want them using her name. Tamika Palmer who is Breonna Taylor‘s mother said Black Lives Matter is a fraud and they were forced to take there post down that mentioned her daughter. I think Mr. Owens should do his research before writing another book and if you want everyone to listen don’t speak to everyone if you want people not to be racist and quit bringing up peoples race.. I believe there are things we still need to iron out when it comes to race and respecting peoples religion and sexuality but I don’t think trying to coin a new term like white splining is helping. I found this book very interesting and those are the only two real issues I wanted to bring up I do want to say what happened to George Floyd is terrible but I do believe their are parts of Black Lives Matter that are equal to antifa because they have bad in every group. I think antifa is a bunch of clowns who have nothing better to do with their life then to hold on to a cobweb version of America. To me cancel culture is a rush the judgment as long as you’re the first to complain you’re the victim. I also think as soon as we start treating each other with kindness and treat everyone the same then we will start to heal. I don’t like when someone carried a victim mantra and I believe that’s what Mr. Owen does and that makes me sad because he is a successful black gay man in America and instead of celebrating that he wants to point out those who don’t like it. You have my sympathy sir I am blind and do not see peoples race when I speak to them and although I can tell sometimes what race they may be there’s times I’ve been wrong so I’ve learned not to assume. It’s great to have a cause we believe in but too many times we have become a victim of our own efforts. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This book is an extremely long winded way of saying that cancel culture is not new, and protests dating back in time were also cancel culture, under different names. The book doesn't feel necessary, and an article explaining this subject would have been more appropriate.