Anna Malika Tubbs, wrote and narrated, Erased - What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us. It is an interesting perspective of how the people who have shaped this country. Many contributions have been denied the credit that they deserve. It is a book that will lead to some good conversations.

Dr. Anna Malika Tubbs, the author and narrator did a nice job sharing the book. It was a bit lengthy. But it was easy enough to listen to. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced reader copy in exchange of my honest review.

This is a heartbreaking but important must read for everyone. Anna did a fantastic job of narrating and writing this heavy information in a way that was easy to follow and engaging to listen to.

Erased by Anna Malaika Tubbs is a well-written but emotionally heavy book. There’s no part of it that’s easy to digest. Tubbs methodically deconstructs how the U.S. has been built to uphold the patriarchy that created it. From foundational narratives like Lewis and Clark to modern examples like AI photo editing, she shows how these dynamics are woven into the fabric of everything.

The section on Sacagawea was immediately engaging and challenged me to rethink how I consume news and the stories we’re told. At the same time, it made me more critical of the book itself—a testament to how deeply Tubbs encourages critical thinking.

The most gut-wrenching part was Tubbs’s discussion of Anita Hill, Christine Blasey Ford, and Chanel Miller and their experiences with sexual assault. She drives home the point that despite decades between these cases, society still excuses harassment and assault—often rewarding perpetrators with power, including lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court. The indignation some feel when held accountable is especially disturbing.

I appreciated how Tubbs summarized each chapter and consistently tied her arguments back to the central thesis. These transitions kept the book cohesive and especially helpful in the audiobook version, where flipping back to reference earlier points wasn’t an option. Tubbs also does an excellent job narrating the audiobook herself.

This book aligned with my political views, but I often wondered how a conservative reader might react. Would they disagree with every point? Or at least find common ground in her critiques of the medical establishment and environmental impacts? Regardless, Tubbs makes a strong, well-supported case that urges readers to question widely accepted narratives—and that’s what will stick with me most: question the narrative. I’ll definitely be following Tubbs’ work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

When adding to your feminist scholarship bookshelf, many books can feel repetitive. Going over the same trod on stories over and over. And while this book has some of that (I am so sick of reading about Brock Turner y’all) what sets it apart is its persistent examination of intersectionalities within American patriarchy.

This was overall a great read. A few things I felt could have been fleshed better but I enjoyed this and also felt inspired. Particularly by the ending rallying cry.

Things do not have to be this way.

Erased by Anna Malaika Tubbs is a must-read. It amazingly connects gender and racial inequality in the US, using personal stories and historical context to build a truly compelling case for change. If you want to understand patriarchy and fight for true equity, this book is essential. Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this Advanced audio copy.

I really enjoyed this book from Anna Malaika Tubbs. She is a wonderful writer and narrator. I appreciated how she structured the story around her personal life benchmarks to focus various areas of patriarchy. It is clear that she has done her research and spent time considering the prevalence and tools of patriarchy. I really appreciated how her perspective allowed me to re-evaluate my own life and the larger social constructs in the USA. I will continue to reach for everything Anna Malaika Tubbs comes out with. She is also a great audiobook narrator. I strongly recommend this to anyone who is grappling with our current situation and how to possibly move forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing me an eALC in return for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced audio copy of Erased by Anna Malaika Tubbs.

I found the organized structure of this book to really help build the argument of how our fabricated hierarchy here in the US is determined by gender in a limited and flawed binary and is also always tied to whiteness. The author managed to structure her arguments in a way that builds steadily, each chapter layering evidence, historical context, as well as personal narrative in a way that felt deeply researched. She connects everything using individual experiences and larger societal structures which I think helps readers understand not only what is wrong with these entrenched systems, but why it matters and what could be done to change them.

This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to better understand the mechanics of patriarchy and the pathways toward equity. It left me both informed and inspired.

"Destroy the patriarchy" is not just a glib phrase on a T-shirt - it's a call to action. American patriarchy is an intentional, deeply-ingrained, insidious system that hurts all it touches, and can be founds with claws in all aspects of life in the United States, from the Supreme Court, to the maternal health crisis, to the exclusion of women in the Constitution, to the day-to-day interactions within social media. This fabricated hierarchy, which limits gender to a binary deeply enmeshed with whiteness, still goes virtually unnoticed and intentionally hides the tools needed to dismantle it. Drawing on rigorous research, historical accounts, and personal experiences, Anna Malakia Tubbs shows us that the tools needed to effect change - including courage, wisdom, power, and our own intuitions - can be used to restore what has been kept from us, building from discussions on race, gender, and equity, to effective societal-level changes that will make life better for all.

This was such a timely and incredibly well-written book, and a must-read for anyone who has seen the last 5-10 years of American political machinations (whether on a local or national level) and had that queasy, sinking feeling in their stomach. I have read several books about American patriarchy, Christian nationalism, and feminism, and still had a lot of gasp-out-loud moments listening to Anna Malakia Tubbs moving through each section (and as an aside, I highly recommend the audiobook of this title as it is read by the author herself), blending history, studies, and anecdotes/personal stories with each point of discussion. I loved the way that the author organized this book, dividing the complex topic of American patriarchy in stages relevant to her own life, and, as she mentions in her afterward, I think this would be a great reference tool for those working on addressing the invisible bonds of patriarchy in their own spheres - it was also completed at the end of 2024, so it's quite relevant for today's readers, and I would love to see an update in about a hear under the current presidency, since some of the things Tubbs discussed in the book have unfortunately come to pass.

Overall, if you want to learn more about American patriarchy and don't know where to start, this is a fantastic primer and richly detailed text all-in-one, and will also give you many more jumping off points for reading (I wrote down about five other books and articles mentioned throughout this reading for more investigation at a later date) and reflection. There is a dire need for books that address patriarchy and its uncomfortable edges head-on - including and especially the role of white women as instigators and enablers of a white patriarchy, even though they themselves are victims of patriarchy themselves. Absolutely pick up this book and make it part of your toolkit if you're interested in effecting bigger changes for yourself and your communities - there is hope, and it's within reach!!!

3.75 stars. So much of this book is critical information. General society doesn’t often think about how enmeshed patriarchy is with every aspect of our lives, especially if you are a woman or POC. How even things that seem mundane can have originated from a need from the majority to dominate.

That being said, I felt the author took too many broad strokes with some conclusions, particularly involving religion. There was an obvious bias against any faith. There were also views she held that were just diametrically opposed to my own Christian beliefs. I’m on the progressive side, so I fully believe we should understand how humans have taken patriarchal models and absolutely ruined them and manipulated them into something ugly, but that doesn’t mean that any and all faith teachings are inherently suppressive.

Her views on being hyper vigilant over children and their influences seemed extreme. Of course, we should be diligent and intentional with how our children interpret the world around them in their formative years, but some of her examples seemed to spread into being neurotically over analytical (we can’t even enjoy The Lion King now??).

Finally, it was just a smidge long winded. I think we could have made the same impact with 100 or so less pages.

Overall, if you are able to dive in with some time to process well and sift through her bullet points, anecdotes, and the history, it’s a good read to add to your TBR.

I received a complimentary copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for sharing my honest thoughts.

Despite how broad and grim the subject it, this book is so well organized that it is very approachable. The writing is engaging and easy to follow. And the author's own narration of the audiobook is smooth and lively.

This is a very well written, detailed and important book. It was very interesting to get more details about the history of patriarchy. It shows how the tenets of patriarchy that were built within the foundation of the United States still strongly affects life today. I enjoyed learning more from this book. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of the audiobook.

4 stars

Using examples from the distant past and very recent history, Tubbs articulates the flow of patriarchy and its various ramifications throughout society. Readers who think about this topic often, consciously experience its consequences and impacts, and engage in regular conversations about it will still find some good info here, especially in some of the modern applications and - on the other hand - some of the apt historical examples that may have been previously missed.

Tubbs uses her own life as a structural mechanism for this narrative, and for me, that was one of several engaging elements. I really appreciated the personal stories, insights, and intersectional connections Tubbs makes throughout. There is a clear personal touch here that makes this feel much more human and relevant than it might if the focus were the information instead of its impacts on specific individuals.

I was skeptical that I'd get much new info because I've done so much reading and teaching on this subject, but I did very much enjoy the listen and recommend the audio version when and where accessible.