This essay collection was very appealing to me namely because of the title because hello, that is my current mood. I had a terrible week at work, which made everything worse and I really just wanted to escape my real life rage to rage about things that are bigger than me. This essay collection apparently is about how Kreizman went from being a "good Democrat" to being actual left leaning or something like that. Ultimately, I made it 42% through this one before I had to call it a day. This book is very voice-y and maybe that will work for you. For me, I couldn't ever find my footing. Kreizman jumps all over the place time wise, almost like vignettes, that are loosely tied together for each essay. I wanted this to feel more organized and grounded, more like Hood Feminism than just personal experiences tied together with the smallest of connections. That said, I think it will work much better for those of you who do not need things to be as structured as I sometimes do. So happy reading if you think it's for you!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

I've been a huge fan of Maris' coverage of books for Vulture, LitHub, and the myriad other venues she's freelanced for, and this was such a good collection of essays expanding beyond the world of books and into the world at large. I tore through this over the course of a day.

Loved this essay collection. Smart but not highbrow or overworked. And, solid from beginning to end. An especially strong book for understanding living with chronic disease.

What a pleasure it was to read Maris Kreizman in this form. A longtime fan of her editorial work and personal essays, to dive into her world more immersively here was a treat. Even as she uncovers realities that many have lived with or discovered prior, she brings a welcome personal perspective and gorgeous prose to anger-inducing issues like the injustices of healthcare, the patriarchal expectations for women in relationships, feminism, and the valorization of police. Despite its title "I Want to Burn This Place Down" between the pages of this book is a place where I was honored to get to visit, and to which I can tell I'll mentally return regularly.

I had a good time with this essay collection that mixes personal anecdotes with cultural critique.

The first few essays were the strongest, but overall I enjoyed the voiciness of the collection. I do think that several of the essays didn’t quite come together, almost as if they were an earlier draft of something brilliant, but they still had nuggets worth reading for. I would read from this author again.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this in exchange for an unbiased review.</i>

the first three or so chapters are the best writing I’ve read this year. they’re about diabetes, the myth of meritocracy, & the publishing industry. these early chapters are insightful & vulnerable and somehow feel encouraging about what writing can be & do. But then, I kept wanting the book to return to this earlier tone.
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I found the last chapter on not wanting children (which I also don’t) to be frustrating bc the chapter nearly abandoned the book’s focus on collective & structural and switched to the individual: I WANT TO BURN THIS PLACE DOWN has a happy ending. I don’t want to spoil it, but it ends with a scene of contentment at home. I wanted the book to help me understand the world, which the first few chapters did, but the last chapter left me feeling, ‘that’s genuinely nice that you found contentment & home. But what about everyone who hasn’t? how can we make sense of things, & wasn’t this book supposed to help do that?’ maybe I’d feel differently at a better place & time personally.

I loved this collection of essays! My favorite is the first, She’s Lost Control Again. I love the ties she makes to her life alongside the song by Joy Division. I wish there were more stories!

Quick, simple read—finished this in two days—but it’s SMART. I’ve only read Maris Kreizman’s publications about books, so her pivoting to politics was a surprise to me (who did not read the back of the book).

Don’t think I’ve ever read an essay collection that’s so connected, so concise.

While there’s nothing revolutionary in this book, it was nice to read someone neatly articulate some of the thoughts I’ve also had on America’s healthcare system, the publishing industry’s low wages and high expectations, diet culture, and more. Diabetes runs amuck in my family, so I also enjoyed reading how Maris’ disability touches her entire life.

Also: I love seeing people I know’s names in the acknowledgements 🫶🏻

Thank you Ecco/HarperCollins for the ARC !

My short review: Exceeds Expectations.

Like Maris, I've only ever moved to the left politically since first hearing the name Bill Clinton as a child of the 90s. But unlike Maris, I would have a very difficult time putting my thoughts and feelings into a cohesive, well-written, compelling, and righteously angry record of THIS moment in time.

This collection, her words, give voice, structure, and sense to a confusing and confounding broken system of politics, capitalism, and makes personal the struggles we may not see or emphasize with firsthand like wages and unions in publishing (although that was very personal to me too!) as well as being a diabetic in life and a woman in any profession (something foreign to me, made more real through her experiences in a way I haven't quite ever read before).

Maris writes directly to you, the reader, without making you feel stupid or ashamed or talked down to, making this collection far more accessible and actionable than many of the others I've read (and also enjoyed!) that come across as more academic or didactic (like Lauren Oyler, etc.). These are excellent, relevant, and relatable essays that must be read!

Maris Kreizman’s I Want to Burn This Place Down is a blazing, no-holds-barred essay collection that hit me like a wake-up call. Her mix of personal grit and cultural sharpness challenges everything from the American dream to the way we live now. It’s raw, smart, and unapologetically fiery—a must-read for anyone ready to rethink and rebuild.

Full disclosure that I've been a Maris Kriezman follower for many years and have always appreciated and respected her points of view. She's the kind of person you can just tell is a "good" person by what she posts and how she communicates. I've been excited to read her book ever since she announced it and a book with this title (and amazing cover) feels like it couldn't have come at a more appropriate time.

As someone who's just a few years younger than Maris, I grew up in what seems like a similar family in a similar socio-economic status. I too believed that hard work would guarantee wealth and security, democracy in America was a sure thing, and cops are heroes here to protect us. As I get older, I constantly realize how much I was lied to and am still being lied to. And I'm not even someone who depends on medication to live, like Maris, logistics of which only add to the baffling state of our country.

Honestly, my only issue with the book is that it isn't longer! I would have happily read a few more essays from Maris. I imagine this was a hard book to "finish" since it seems like every day there's another lesson on how we were lied to and a reason for why we want to "burn this place down." Between the rapid advent of AI and the continuous dismantling of our country's democracy, Maris probably already has enough material for another book.

Winning essays by the host of one of my favorite podcasts, The Maris Review. There is a good bit of nostalgia in these pages as Maris examines where she came from and where she has been. What I liked best about the book, which is the same as the now defunct podcast, is all of the great book recommendations.

Engaging, timely, and relateable. A recommended purchase for collections where memoirs and political commentary are popular.

I have been a fan of Maris Kriezman's writing for years, so I was thrilled to get my hands on an early copy of her essay collection I WANT TO BURN THIS PLACE DOWN! Knowing the general vibe of the book is about range at institutions letting us down and the idea of getting more leftist as we get older, instead of the common "getting more conservative" trend, made me even more excited. The idea that if we worked hard and played by the rules we would succeed in life is the great con most millennials bought into at a young age, and dealing with the stark reality that that is not the case is something that needs to be examined over and over again, so I'm always glad to see it in a book like this.

Kreizman's thesis that it is never too late to become radicalized could not be more needed than right now. The title, taken from one of the best scenes in MAD MEN, is both a wish and a warning. I feel like the country is currently burning down, and we need everyone to be radicalized enough to rebuild it as soon as possible.

I wish the essays were a bit longer, and had a bit more grit and teeth. I can feel the anger from Kreizman below the surface, I just wish she went a little harder. But talking about the union organizing at the publisher that is publishing the book we're reading was pretty badass, as well as her essay on copaganda where she reveals both of her twin brothers are cops. She is a fascinating author, and a hugely important person in the book world, and I hope she publishes more!

I felt, unfairly to this book, a little misled by the title. "I Want to Burn This Place Down" made me think that I was getting a book of essays that mirrors the incandescent rage I've been feeling these days. I didn't get much incandescent rage, which left me feeling a bit let down, but I did get a fun and insightful group of essays about Maris, her childhood, and her thoughts on life. Enjoyable, if not exactly what I expected.

In this book, Maris has chronicled the consequences of being an ambitious woman in an industry and society that's hellbent on failing us. She has made me feel seen and validated.

This is relatively short essay collection on topics related to culture, politics, and health. Kreizman details milestones in her career, a successful marriage, and her experience with Type 1 diabetes.

I loved this essay collection. Despite being an upcoming release, however, it already feels a little outdated in our rapidly-changing political climate. Mentions of Elon Musk just a few years ago were unsettling to me. I’m looking forward to keeping up with Kreizman’s work as we all try to navigate the world we live in now.

This was overall a worthwhile read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 rounded down to 4. I really can't decide if this should be a 4 or a 5!

I really liked this book, as it talked about Kreizman's learning and unlearning as time went on. I love books like this because we all have learning and unlearning to do. It can be vulnerable to highlight the areas where you used to be wrong so I always really appreciate books like this.

I really enjoyed the different areas that Kreizman covered! I'd definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

A strongly written book with a good dose of humor. It’s a challenging time for those of us paying attention and this book gets at a lot of the issues. I appreciated being able to read it so much!

A thoughtful collection by a woman who finds herself growing increasingly leftist with age, rather than the saying that as we get older we grow more conservative. Her medical conditions, experience, and sympathy continue to make her lose faith in institutions and the system. She casts her gaze on our health care system, the climate crisis, politics, feminism, and so many societal expectations and myths. Recommended.