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anthropeusthai's review against another edition
2.0
Many of the arguments in the first half seem overly ideological and don't hold up to (my) scrutiny. The work feels disjointed, broad, oscillatingly sometimes grittily realistic and other times vaguely idealistic.
The second half is a profound psychological account of the horrors of colonialism. Do not read before bed.
The philosophical conclusion is perhaps the most compelling, if elusive, part of the work.
The second half is a profound psychological account of the horrors of colonialism. Do not read before bed.
The philosophical conclusion is perhaps the most compelling, if elusive, part of the work.
midknightowl's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
I'm not going to rate this because I find rating books like this feels detrimental to what it's trying to say. But do know this is a great book and an absolute necessary read for anyone and everyone. Frantz Fanon's work is important and significant, and as the introduction states, he is the most relevant revolutionary intellectual of our century. This book is filled with passion and hope and a blunt honesty of how we work towards a decolonial society-nation-world. It may be naive, as others have stated, or even too emotional or fanatical, but Fanon writes and speaks from a perspective of someone who cannot afford not to be.
Many of the chapters of this book are completely relevant to the present. Despite writing during war in 1961 about Algeria & Africa at large, I could find easy comparisons to the present state of the United States and our own society & politics. There is so much in this book to highlight and use, I could spend hours talking about it and it really goes to show how Fanon has stayed highly regarded despite the time that has past since his death. Every single section is worth a read or two or three.
Fanon is not gentle in his philosophy and theory, so do not expect to read this for feel-good (performative) activism & thought. One of the core tenants of the book is self-critique and awareness. If you can't accept that, you're not ready for the book. This is a dense book by definition, but it is well worth the journey.
I would also highly recommend the last chapter by Richard Philcox on translation (so, so good and short!) and Homi K. Bhabha's foreword. I would definitely read Bhabha's foreword last, as it helps the reader really take in and evaluate what Fanon is saying (especially if you had trouble with everything Fanon was writing).
Many of the chapters of this book are completely relevant to the present. Despite writing during war in 1961 about Algeria & Africa at large, I could find easy comparisons to the present state of the United States and our own society & politics. There is so much in this book to highlight and use, I could spend hours talking about it and it really goes to show how Fanon has stayed highly regarded despite the time that has past since his death. Every single section is worth a read or two or three.
Fanon is not gentle in his philosophy and theory, so do not expect to read this for feel-good (performative) activism & thought. One of the core tenants of the book is self-critique and awareness. If you can't accept that, you're not ready for the book. This is a dense book by definition, but it is well worth the journey.
I would also highly recommend the last chapter by Richard Philcox on translation (so, so good and short!) and Homi K. Bhabha's foreword. I would definitely read Bhabha's foreword last, as it helps the reader really take in and evaluate what Fanon is saying (especially if you had trouble with everything Fanon was writing).
juanpablo_85's review against another edition
4.0
Finally finished reading Frantz Fanon's "Wretched of the Earth" again. I got so much more out of it the second time reading it. The first time I read it, I was in the middle of some personal issues that kept me a bit distracted. It was interesting coming across pages where particular passages struck me the first time & remembering exactly what on that page made me mark that page in the first place & then coming across other passages that I didn't mark the first go round. Easily one of my favorites & Fanon's writing style is one that is direct & inspiring.
Original Review:
It is about the effects of colonialism on the colonizer as well as the colonized. The two are connected because of their history with one another. The nature of violence in maintaining colonialism as well as fighting it is explored. Fanon also touches on the weaknesses of the any group who would choose to revolt due to the nature of living under an oppressive system. He talks about how divisive colonialism is for the oppressed & explores various methods of those divisions. The importance of a national culture & how it can be unifying is explored as well. The part of the book that stands out the most is the section that gives numerous examples of people who lived under the oppressive French regime & the various ways the harmful effects of it manifested themselves.
Conclusion of 2nd review:
I can only hope that one day the things he believed in, many in which I now believe, come true one day. And I really do hope more people realize imitating the oppressor & their way of life is not freedom. This world is not what it could be & as it currently functions is sickening & infuriating.
Original Review:
It is about the effects of colonialism on the colonizer as well as the colonized. The two are connected because of their history with one another. The nature of violence in maintaining colonialism as well as fighting it is explored. Fanon also touches on the weaknesses of the any group who would choose to revolt due to the nature of living under an oppressive system. He talks about how divisive colonialism is for the oppressed & explores various methods of those divisions. The importance of a national culture & how it can be unifying is explored as well. The part of the book that stands out the most is the section that gives numerous examples of people who lived under the oppressive French regime & the various ways the harmful effects of it manifested themselves.
Conclusion of 2nd review:
I can only hope that one day the things he believed in, many in which I now believe, come true one day. And I really do hope more people realize imitating the oppressor & their way of life is not freedom. This world is not what it could be & as it currently functions is sickening & infuriating.
patrickwalsh's review against another edition
4.0
The most thought provoking passages of this for me were Fanon’s argument that there is no bourgeois in a colonized country and that Africa should abstain from the desire to become another version of Europe.
orionidrose's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
katefloer's review against another edition
Reference to L'Internationale - the real wretched of the earth are not the proletariat but the colonized; Fanon says there’s no point in choosing between capitalism and communism after independence because that still leaves the country at the mercy of a superpower; violence the only way to get rid of the oppressor; u can tell he was close to dying when he wrote this book - strong language and he had nothing to lose;
rockyington's review against another edition
4.0
Read this for book club. Took a while to get through the whole thing, but definitely worth the read. Highly recommend reading with people as it tends to be dense and convoluted at some parts and being able to ask/answer questions together really assists in overall comprehension. It sometimes bleeds into overly metaphoric philosophical scribbling, but that is canceled out by some really beautifully constructed passages which stretch your thinking in unique and insightful ways. The book has major contemporary relevance given the genocide and violent resistance to colonial occupation in Palestine. A core book in the philosophy of violence and colonization which doesn’t hold back any punches.