"Mediocre" by Ijeoma Oluo is a powerful and eye-opening exploration of the pervasive influence of white male supremacy in American society. Through her analysis and thought-provoking insights, Oluo sheds light on how this system has been upheld over generations giving us a crucial reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and the importance of dismantling systems of oppression. It's a great one for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of race and power in America.

It was hit or miss with the chapters, for me.

I liked the Joe Biden chapter. It was scathing and close to home, as I myself lived in Wilmington, DE and saw the firsthand effects of his antiquated and racist education policies. (His views on bussing being only one of the many). I liked the chapter than mentioned the “glass cliff” when companies place women in power when their company is already on the downhill, making failure inevitable for female leaders. Also making it a woman’s responsibility to “clean up the mess” and if they can’t achieve such a feat, then they weren’t a good leader after all. Finally, I liked the chapter that hinted at the idea of cumulative voting. I had never heard of this proposal before, so I was excited to be introduced to it so I could research it more.

In particular, one of the things that I didn’t like was that the book didn't age well. This is why I’m not a fan of holding onto nonfiction books, since, unlike novels, the content can become incredibly outdated fast. The chapter about the squad in congress was a little boring to me, having now the hindsight bias of knowing how much some of those leaders have let down socialist voters who elected them.

thanks to perseus books & netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Initially I started reading this in ebook format, but switched it up and finished it in the audiobook. I think both formats are excellent, but I really like Ijeoma Oluo's narration and how her writing voice comes through in the audio format.

Mediocre< is a wide ranging exploration of white masculinity in America including subtle and explicit ways in which white/male supremacy is insidious and dangerous. The chapters have a historical and contemporary focus in such a way that the book on a whole feels like fresh, but also very grounded in American history. I think one of Oluo's greatest strengths is her combination of conversational or approachable writing with informative and analytical insight. It reads like learning from one of your better professors at university and that quality makes it an easy recommendations to a wide range of people.

Sure, here is an extremely positive review of Mediocre by Ijeoma Oluo:

Mediocre is a searing and important book that exposes the dangerous legacy of white male America. Oluo does a masterful job of unpacking the ways in which white supremacy has shaped our society, and she offers a powerful call to action for dismantling it.

The book is full of hard truths, but it is also full of hope. Oluo argues that we can create a more just and equitable society, but it will require us to be willing to have difficult conversations and to challenge the status quo.

I highly recommend Mediocre to anyone who wants to understand the roots of white supremacy and who is committed to working towards a more just world.

Here are some specific things that I loved about the book:

* Oluo's writing is clear, concise, and powerful. She is able to articulate complex ideas in a way that is easy to understand.
* Oluo does a great job of providing historical context for the current state of white supremacy in America. She shows how white supremacy has been built into the fabric of our society, and she explains how it has been used to justify violence, discrimination, and oppression.
* Oluo offers a powerful call to action for dismantling white supremacy. She argues that we need to be willing to have difficult conversations, to challenge the status quo, and to build a more just and equitable society.

Overall, I absolutely loved Mediocre. It is an important and timely book that everyone should read.

Here are some additional thoughts on the book:

* Oluo's book is grounded in her own experiences as a Black woman in America. She writes from a place of deep personal knowledge and understanding, and this makes her book all the more powerful.
* Oluo's book confronts some difficult truths about white supremacy in America, but it is also a book of hope. Oluo believes that we can create a more just and equitable society, and she offers a roadmap for how we can do it.

If you are interested in learning more about white supremacy and how to dismantle it, then I highly recommend Mediocre. It is an important and timely book that everyone should read.

What a straight-forward, sarcastic explanation of the dominance and privilege of white manhood in the United States today. There is no way that you can look at society the same after reading this book and the countless explanations and examples within. It was clearly written not only to inform, but to energize the public into change and action. It is conversational and confrontational in all the right ways.

Brilliantly written book about the damage done to our country by making the mediocre white male the defacto template for excellence. Those of any other race or gender need not apply even when their skills, experience and intelligence far outpace theirs.

Thought-provoking and infuriating, Ijeoma Oluo discusses the systems that oppress (works by design) and the efforts put into coddling the mediocre white male, so they never have to learn they are mediocre. There’s an old saying that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did but “backward and in high heels,” yet he’s the one who gets the credit and fame.

The solution will come from effort and education, which will not be easy because those in power have no reason to loosen their grip.

I received this Advance Reader Copy of Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#mediocre #netgalley

I had the honor of seeing Ijeoma Oluo speak last year and learn so much from her. MEDIOCRE is no different. This book puts into words what so many feminists have been trying to say but Oluo gives us the language and the logic to make the points we've been feeling for ages.

Everything about this book is a challenge, in the best and most enlightening way imaginable. Even if you think you have gone a long way towards deconstructing role the power of white men has in our society, Oluo will highlight problems you didn't previously recognize.

Only one of my favourite authors and social commentator. Ijeoma is a queen. This is a must read for everyone

This was a book club pick. To be honest I almost put it down and didn’t finish it because I wasn’t as into it. It is an interesting book with lots to think about but ultimately I wasn’t a fan of the writing. I think the author was trying to fit in too much into this book and it didn’t work for me. I’ve heard great things about her other book So You Want to Talk About Race so I’m looking forward to reading that one.

Ijeoma Oluo is someone that I make sure to read on principle, because she always delivers. This is an insightful look at hegemony and how the way we function around it, catering to it, complicates all of our lives. I would definitely recommend this for anyone, but I imagine the primary audience will be people who are doing social justice work.

Ijeoma Oluo discusses issues of race and gender in thoughtful, informative ways that are appealing to a wide range of audiences. I loved Mediocre, and her other book "So You Want to Talk About Race." These are must reads!

Ijeoma Oluo is such a phenomenal writer, and I'm so glad she also narrated the audio version of this book. Mediocre breaks down the dangers of White Male Supremacy in all aspects of our lives, all the way back to the beginnings of America. The writing is accessible and thoroughly-researched. This is essential reading especially for those comfortable in the system of White Supremacy. Thank you to Netgalley and Seal Press for the ARC!

I really appreciated reading Ijeoma Oluo’s ‘So You want To Talk About Your Race’ so I was excited to read this subsequent work. The former broke down race while Mediocre exposes the myths created by whiteness, placing white men then white women at the top, justifying dominion and violence towards BIPOC men and women. This is US-specific but broader ideas are relevant for audiences further afield.

As soon as I saw this book was available on NetGalley as a Read Now I need I had to read it. I've read this book many times at this point and every time I re-read it I find a new passage to highlight and I take away something new from it. Ijeoma Oluo is an incredible writer and researcher who takes the reader through a wonderful review of history. I loved the discussion on mediocrity and how it leads to truly mediocre leadership that hurts everyone. I will continue to come back to this book and re-read it, and I believe the more people who read this book the better, and our society will benefit from both this book and discussions about white male privilege.

Mediocre by Ijeoma Oluo is a must read for everyone, but especially for young women of color. I found myself relating on many levels and looking at my personal experiences with a new sense of understanding. Pick this up for the young professional in your life.

An important book about the danger of white supremacy that becomes increasingly relevant on a somewhat daily basis.

While in no way an easy book to sit with, Mediocre is impeccably researched and crafted. It takes us through American history, using anecdote and story to illustrate a central thesis related to the impacts on society at large of engrained white male supremacy. Through it, the author’s voice is clear, invoking humor and sarcasm so that the content avoids feeling dry or academic.

Thanks to Seal Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

This ties together a lot of excellent points and thoughts about privilege in general, with a focus on the seeming peak of privilege- the white man. It discusses the reactionary politics that have dominated the news cycle on the last decade, and warms against lionizing so-called "good white men." Oluo is so brilliant it's jaw-dropping.

In Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America, Ijeoma Oluo explores how our country has been shaped by "one of the most evil and insidious social constructs in Western history: white male supremacy."

IThis is one of those books that everyone just really needs to read. Oluo goes into the what, how, and why of white supremacy, with well-researched chapters on the white men who have shaped the systems and kept them "working as designed." She dives deep into the lives of men from Buffalo Bill to Joe Biden and so many in between.

Some of the chapters in this book didn't surprise me, but others did. The chapter on Bernie Sanders was very eye-opening and made me realize just how much I viewed his campaign and rise in popularity from a very privileged place.

Her chapter on higher education and how it has changed was also especially enlightening. I had no idea just how hard universities worked to keep out minorities throughout the 1900s, often with the government working side by side to make education inaccessible to those who needed it most.

This book takes a close look at all the systems in place to help raise up the white male. Oluo looks at each area from an intersectional point of view, noting the ways various systems were/are meant to keep out people of color, or women, or both. Oluo writes very knowledgeably about how white male mediocrity harms us all (white men included).

In her final chapter, Oluo poses questions like these: "What can women and people of color accomplish in a world that doesn't see us as fundamentally lacking?" and "What can we accomplish in a world that sees difference as an opportunity instead of a threat?"

She may not have all the answers, but her suggestions, encouragement, and hope jump off the final pages. This quote is one that stuck with me: "We must start making better and more informed choices - with our votes, our wallets, our media, our societal expectations."