Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn

by Omkari Williams, Layla F. Saad (Foreword)

Everyone can be an activist with the guidance of Omkari Williams, a life coach who guides readers in identifying their "activist archetype" and mapping a personal action plan for engaging in small, change-making activities with potentially big impacts.

In this age of social justice, those who don't necessarily want to lead a movement or join a protest march are left wondering, "How can I make an impact?" In Micro Activism, former political consultant turned activism coach Omkari Williams shares her expertise in empowering introverts and highly sensitive people to help each of us, no matter our temperament, find our most satisfying and effective activist role. Using Williams's Activist Archetype tool, readers discover their unique strengths and use this to develop a personal strategy. To ensure sustainable involvement, Williams encourages starting small, working collaboratively, and beginning locally. Advice on self-care practices, burn-out prevention, and profiles of activists engaged in a range of activities and causes (from voter registration to craftivism, literacy programs, community gardens, and more), provide readers with the inspiration and practical know-how needed to engage in small, doable actions that make a lasting impact. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice, Activism, Politics, Sociology, Self Help, Personal Development

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2023

Reviews

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly, highly recommend!

I recently visited Portland and went into Powell's Bookstore. I have not been in Powell's for almost 10 years. It is one of the largest and best bookstores! I could spend days in there.

I saw the book, Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn and knew I had to buy it. It is a short, inspirational, call-to-action book. It features a section to determine your activist archetype. And it's chock full of great tips to get you started right now on upping your activism.

Memorable passages include:

* Activism is about doing the deep and devoted work of lifelong change-making.

* For our activism to be consistent, it must be sustainable. For a lifetime, not a season.

* Your activism reflects who you are.

* Activism means taking consistent action.

* The moment in which you find yourself matters.

* The starting point for all activism is becoming aware of something that strikes you as wrong or unjust and deciding that you want to make a difference.

* Origin stories come from lived experience. They propel us from observer to participant.

* Activism and social justice involve creating a world where everyone belongs.

* We all want to belong.

* Racial equity lies at the root of all activist work.

* Determine what you stand for.

* Focus creates the greatest impact. Focus on one or two causes.

* Be steady with your energy.

* Cultivate curiosity.

* Be brave in your conversations.

* Finding common ground can require thinking outside the box.

* Our actions each day are part of the legacy we leave.

* Think of legacy as the present, not the future.

* Legacy doesn't have to be loud to be meaningful.

* Activism should become part of your daily routine.

The time to get started is now and Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn shows you how.

[Glenda Nelms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and important book about taking small actions in your community. Micro actions are sustainable and can be squeezed into small amounts of time. Some of the things I learned from this book: Find your community, stay connected to the legacy you want to leave, stay open to learning, stories connect us to one another that reveal our shared humanity. Without compassion for self, there is no compassion for others. If I recommend a non-fiction book to read this year, Micro-Activism: How you can make a difference in the world without a bullhorn is the one.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I saw this book pop up on my feed, it looked interesting. I didn't initially peg it as a "self-help" kind of book, though I probably should have. I don't know if that would have prevented me from reading it, but it probably should have. I think I just have a kneejerk negative reaction to "self-help speak", and it usually puts me in a contrary state of mind, which, I completely acknowledge is the opposite of the goal and purpose of these kinds of books. I fully recognize this as a ME thing, but I tend to get caught up in the language used to convey the ideas, and find myself pulling away from them in a way I know I wouldn't if they were phrased differently.

An example:

"Do a little experiment right now: Pause for a moment to settle yourself, take a deep inhale and a full exhale, and return to your normal breathing. Now think of something that you are against. Child abuse, for example. Say aloud: “I am against child abuse.” Now try saying: “I am for all children living lives of security and joy.” Which feels more motivating in your body?"

No. I don't need to settle myself to think of the myriad things that I am opposed to in this world. I can name 50 off the top of my head. I know that's not the POINT of the exercise though. The point is to pay attention to how the framing of the concept FEELS. How a positive versus negative connotation impacts our body's reaction to it. How a positive framing gives us a more direct goal to work toward, rather than a nebulous problem that's hard to pin down and even quantify, let alone solve.

I tend to find books like these oversimplified, buzzwordy to the extreme, and generalized to the nth degree.

"Those fighting for the rights of LGBTQIA + people are working to write a new story about who we are as humans beyond concepts of gender and sexuality."

AM I? Is that why I support LGBTQ rights? Silly me, all this time it's because I thought someone's sexuality or gender identity had nothing at all to do with me, and everything to do with their right to self-identify and exist equitably in society. I'm not trying to rewrite any "story of humanity", and I find myself bristling at the immensity of the concept, especially in a book that is nominally about MICRO ACTIVISM.

Or

"At this stage, you don’t need to know what you’re going to do with your origin story. You just need to start thinking about how it has impacted you and begin to consider what work it might lead you to. Or if you’re already in action, you can think about how consciously connecting to that story might inform your work going forward."

I get that this is essentially saying "you got into this activist work for a reason - use that", but the phrasing and framing of it again put me off. My initial reaction is WHY? WHY do I need to "consciously connect" to my "origin story" in order to be useful and supportive of a cause I believe in? Don't tell me what to do! You're not my read dad! *HUFF*

That being said... There is some good stuff in here - the section talking about Shallow Work vs Deep Work was good, and thought provoking. I liked the examples cited, such as home recycling programs being shallow work to make it SEEM like a problem (climate change) is being addressed, but in actuality, the major and main causes (industrial pollution, overconsumption, etc) are largely ignored.

I liked the advice to be a pragmatist rather than a purist when it comes to ideological allies. I am very much in this camp, and it is much harder than it seems. It's easy and feels good to be a single issue ideological purist, while pragmatism requires concessions and imperfection, and it can be hard to acknowledge the reality that we either make a little imperfect progress, or none at all if perfection is the goal. But man, it does weigh on me at times.

Where I think Ms. Williams and I may be parting ways though is when she says:

"Many people, on all sides of any issue, are purists who only want to work with those who share their entire ideology. When we choose that route, we are cutting ourselves off from potentially powerful collaborations." [...] "Is there a group that seems to oppose my general perspective but that shares my activist concern?"

All I can envision here are anti-abortion activists cozied up with literal fascists to accomplish their goal of rolling back abortion rights and protections, and... I know that isn't likely what she meant, but I think we should be careful not to be blind to the implications of what it may mean to ally ourselves with groups that share ONE ideological overlap but are hugely problematic (and vile) otherwise.

Still... I think that on the whole, this book is likely a good resource for many people who are interested in getting more involved in their communities or even larger political activism, and I did appreciate the individual interview stories from real people who talk about their work and goals, and the small ways that they accomplish them.

I myself have been a postcard writer and canvasser for several years. I've donated time and money, registered voters, been part of petition campaigns, and have consistently been on the hunt for more direct ways to help people vote - last election I signed up to be a volunteer driver to help elderly & disabled people get to the polls and cast their votes and then get home. That ended up falling through and I wasn't able to do it, but I will definitely try again. I talk to my friends and neighbors when I can about issues that are relevant and important to me/us/our community/country, etc. I attend monthly borough meetings in my area. I call and write my representatives.

In non-political spheres, I have knitted preemie hats and blankets for donation, donated to food pantries, I used Amazon's Smile donation service (back when I used Amazon, and back when they offered it) to support a local wildlife rehab. I have consistently donated pet food (including expensive prescription foods) and money and goods to the SPCA. I recycle (even though it's not the main concern, yada yada), and use reusable cloths when possible to cut down on paper towel use. I don't use RoundUp because it's poison. I bought a hybrid car. I plant pollinator friendly plants, and we want to put up a bat habitat in our back yard at some point (though we've been talking about it a long time and need to get to it already!). Probably many, many other things that I can't think of off the top of my head. Every little bit helps.

There are thousands of ways that one can "be an activist", and what it looks like for you may be very different from what it looks like for me. This book offers some useful info on many of them. Don't take my curmudgeonly negativity about the FORMAT of the book to mean that this is not a useful book for others. It's just not so much for me.

[Silvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book as an advanced copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.

This was a good book on the topic of activism, making space for different types of people who might either think that they can't do any activism at all or think that what they already do doesn't count as real activism. As the book progressed I felt like it got repetitive but that just meant I could read it faster.

One little complaint I have that was too much for my ADHD brain is the use of big, attention-grabbing quotes that were just repetition of what was written in plain text. I sometimes couldn't tell these apart from the titles of a new section of the chapter (it might look better in the finished version, but that's how it was in the e-ARC).

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic book. As someone who really hasn’t been sure how to start or be an “activist” this book helped me understand all the ways I already am an activist and how I can continue to grow and be one in the ways that fit me. The 6 principle manifesto and the quizzes to help identify your type of activism are fantastic resources for anyone to learn how to be an activist in their community. I loved the interviews with other micro-activists interspersed throughout this book. This book changed how I see activism and what I do on a daily basis as impactful even if it isn’t flashy.

[Kareena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a helpful book. As someone with a full time job and a toddler, I have so little free time, but there is so much happening that I care about changing. This book does a great job of breaking it down and helping you figure out sustainable ways to make a difference. It focuses on sustainability and doing the best with your limited time/resources. It was easy to read and engage with, while providing solid advice and information. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to make a change. Would be a great read for teens as well.

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really quick and useful little book about how to fit small acts of activism into your life, in a way that still has an impact.

Williams’ main point is that most of us aren’t able to make activism our full-time purpose. We each have a finite amount of time and energy to dedicate to it, so the book mostly centres around how to still make our effort worth it - things like choosing just one or two causes so that your actions can have a greater impact, focussing on deep work over shallow, and being realistic about how much you can actually do in the time you have.

The target audience for this seems to be mostly people looking for reassurance that they can make a difference. I found that it’s not so useful if you already know you want to do something, but just aren’t sure quite what (since of course the answer to that will vary for every individual reader and cause!). None of the content was really new information for me, and some of it is laid out in such basic terms that it felt almost condescending in places!

That said, having it all laid out in this kind of package is still useful. And there is some good advice here about making sure you’re able to sustain your activism in the long term - the section on shallow vs deep work in particular really spoke to a lot of thoughts I’ve been having recently.

So while this book can’t immediately equip you with everything you need to become an activist, it’s still a worthwhile read for a bit of encouragement, and perhaps to help you think a bit more deeply about what method(s) of activism might be best for you to get involved with.

[Mandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Micro Activism' is a great reminder that every action counts no matter how big or how small. The title and premise of this book caught my eye as it's a mentality that I've already lived by for quite some time and it's fantastic to see Omkari Williams put it into words. Complete with a quiz to help you understand the type(s) of activism that fits your personality, this book is a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to make a difference in their community no matter if they are just starting their activism journey or have been on it for some time.

A few years ago, a friend of mine asked why I wasn't as involved in one movement over another. It wasn't because I didn't support the latter movement, but was because there is only so much time that many of us have to give. Omkari validates the fact that it is okay to priortize where you put your energy and accept that you're not going to be able to do everything. It's not that one movement or cause is more important than the other, as they equally deserve attention, but that human beings have limits.

[Danielle L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good handbook and it does what it’s meant to do (inspire people who are either: new to activism, possibly overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done, or people who are unsure of where to start). This can be read all at once or based on whatever you need help with.

Obviously if you’re not new to this but true to this - you are probably not the target audience. It provides some good resources, examples of real-life activities, and new ways of thinking for people are trying to figure out their role in the realm of activism. This is something I would want to purchase to share with others and reflect on. I got this from my library so I’ll eventually get a copy.

It’s a quick read - I read it on a multi-hour train ride and took multiple breaks.

[heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Content:3.5 Book layout/format: 1.5

Glimmers of a substantive look at activism for those of us not meant to be the star with some good insights and steps toward designing our own way to be an advocate. However, the book read more like a blog with an overabundance of headings, distracting images, paper color, charts that made it ripe for fragmentation and virtue signaling on an insta feed Instead of provoking thoughtful and nuanced activism.

[Tanya b · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I do this kind of work on the daily and manage various volunteers who I think could benefit from this book. I also work with very privileged people who could benefit from more dei training. This book provides a wonderful lens of how to start small and with purpose when engaging with cause advocacy. Also good for young people.

[Kimberly Steimel Howard]

Liked this pragmatic book about how small actions can lead to big results, especially built up over time and in coordination with groups aligned to your values.

[Sally Kilpatrick]

I've long believed that more people are perfectionists than lazy.

Micro Activism gives us excellent strategies for pushing past being overwhelmed, and those strategies are excellent for life and for activism. I love the part where Williams says something akin to figure out how much time you have to dedicate to a cause. Now halve it because people tend to overestimate what they can do and underestimate how long it will take. That's my life in a nutshell.

I will say I still have no idea what my particular skillset would be. On the quiz I was all over the place. Maybe producer?

Also, I left my e copy open to the digital resources because I think two things are very important. One, that when we are advocating for folks, those people do need to be in the center of the movement. Two, we should look to the experts. Mind you, I've been looking for the experts and haven't been able to find them, so I'm going to refer back to that list at the end of the book.

I'm strongly considering getting together a group of folks with varied interests because Williams points out that we need small tasks performed consistently. It's rather hard to narrow one's focus when one has anxiety and an almost limitless capacity for worry. If I got together some folks and knew that so-and-so would be tackling this issue, and so-and-so will take that one, so I can focus on this third one, then that might help. It might help all of us.

Okay, so next steps: figure out my thing and start doing it.

[McKenna Deem · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Want to make a difference but are overwhelmed by the world and all its needs? FEAR NOT for the wonderful Omkari Williams is here to lead the way.

Part how-to guide, part journal, and part micro-interviews of microactivists, this book is a must read for anyone who wants to be in community and help their community thrive. The journal prompts are endlessly helpful and incredibly accessible to those of us with busy lives and busier minds.

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book packs a lot in! It also functions as a workbook, the author provides direct action steps to take as well as next steps for getting involved in a sustainable and maintainable way for your life; activism looks different for every person. I want everyone to be reading this book right now, we all play a role in making a world we want to live in.

[Cara (Wilde Book Garden) · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: Discussions of poverty, racism, discrimination

[Rin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'll get a copy of this. It's helpful and has good resources.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

For folks who have been working with social justice movements in the past or currently, some of the suggestions might seem a little simplistic. There are still useful suggestions for self evaluation and getting started, such as estimate how much time you think you have to dedicate to a cause, and then cut in half to avoid burnout and over promising. I would have appreciated more variety of causes in the included interviews and examples, as at least half dealt with community building in ethnic/racial groups. Where's the animal shelters, the food pantries, the beach cleanups, the driving people to warming stations, the meals on wheels, and other small scale community efforts that make a visible and tangible difference in the community? Readers should not skip the resource lists in the back, as it's filled with websites that I've never heard of and books and podcasts to get you started. The book is full of assurances that you don't have to know everything to start, and leaving a legacy can start with one person and one action and always has room for growth.

[Lovely Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Storey Publishing & Omkari L. Williams for providing me with an eARC of Mirco Activism - How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ rounded up - Available 24 October 2023 - Will publish to socials closer to publication date.

This book is a really amazing resource for activists at any stage of their activism journey. There is a clear focus on self preservation within the journey to ensure that individuals can give their best to their area of passion. I really enjoyed the focus on diving into your story, your legacy, your impact to create a strong a foundation for the actions and changes you will be implementing.

The concept of shallow vs deep work was so relatable, as a worker within the family violence response sector there was sooooo much to ponder on through this section - and honestly throughout most of the book. I have personally used a lot of the tips from the book in the last week since reading to push what a traditional organization might believe to be meaningful work and staff recognition.

I think that I need to mention that I don't think that the Activist Archetype Quiz is very reliable. Sorry. But I didn't think that the quiz was useful with less than 10 questions and a lot of questions where I didn't actually connect with any of the responses proposed. Omkari does note that everyone can be any of these Archetypes given particular circumstances and I think that the archetypes are useful to breakdown and understand the impact of activism relies on so many different skills and contributions. I just don't think that the Quiz to categorizes you into one/two of these archetypes is extremely helpful.

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to remain as anonymous as possible and so the idea of being an activist conjures up images that I just find exhausting to even thinking about: marching with signs, getting arrest and spending time in jail, giving interviews, etc. A lot of work! But that's the image I've had of "activism" and as I've gotten older I've wanted to find more ways to help. Still not inclined to march and if I want to avoid publicity, etc. there must be some sort of middle ground.

Williams discusses exactly that. You can make a difference without doing it all or even doing it loudly. After all, there's other work to be done, whether it's stuffing envelopes or managing logistics or other avenues that can make a difference. There's a place for everyone and just about everyone can do something. It is a matter of finding what that is and understanding how it fits into the greater cause.

Williams discusses what is activism, what is "micro activism" and how there are different types and paths. In between there are various interviews and profiles with activists and how they approach activism, their causes, a little bit of their background, etc. Maybe you're not good at writing letters but you enjoy going on marches and developing that sense of community. Maybe you're physically unable to stand or be outside for long periods of time but can do other less public things like making calls and making sure the event has the right permits and scheduled time for activities, etc.

I really liked this. It is not for everyone but can be a great resource for someone who feels overwhelmed at all the events, fliers, social media posts, etc. There is so much to do, so much to fix, etc. And yes, there is a lot, but of course you cannot do it all, nor should you try. (Burnout is a thing and Williams takes the time to discuss self-care, burnout and why it is so important to understand your strengths and why one should keep their focus relatively narrow). Ultimately Williams put a lot of what I've been thinking/feeling/exploring on my own and it was a relief to see that there is such a concept and it was not me not doing "enough."

It is not without weaknesses. I thought there were far too many profiles of people but your mileage may vary. It can be great to see the various backgrounds, approaches, views, etc. but I thought it was a bit of a space filler. Others will probably find this too "little"--as for some, the maximalist approach is the way to go because so many others won't and/or time is not on our side, etc.

If you're new, you're looking for ideas, if you've been burned by being involved movements and don't think you can or want to commit so much of yourself but still want to help? This might certainly be a good resource. It could also be good for people who just do not have a lot of time on their hands: work, family, personal obligations, inability to commit more time/energy for a variety of reasons, etc. I also think this would be a good read for a lot of "activists" who believe there is only one way to do things or that you must do all the things all at once otherwise it is ineffective, etc. This behavior is exactly what repels people and gets your cause really bad publicity, which is only going to harm your work in the end.

Borrowed from the library and that was best for me, but if I had to end up buying a copy for reference (there are also a lot of other references such as books, websites, podcasts, etc.), I'd have been fine with that, too.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book after subscribing to the author's newsletter, which I always eagerly anticipate reading for the latest micro action dispatch and for just the general tone and depth with which the author communicates her message. I was not surprised to find that the book invites readers to reimagine what activism entails and provides a framework for figuring it out. The author shares stories highlighting the contributions of individuals who often work behind the scenes, taking the roles that best suit their skills, abilities, and capacities. There were a few stories included that surprised me and illustrated the author’s point that it takes a community of people working in different roles behind the scenes to create meaningful change. The author's personal story and her emphasis on the idea that everyone deserves to be treated as if they belong is both practical and inspirational. The book encourages readers to consider how they can fold activism into their lives, defining the roles they wish to play and acknowledging that these roles may change over time and in different situations. This book goes deep, but like its underlying message, reading it feels easy, doable, and just feels good. This is a great book to gift to someone who you think might have values that align with activism but might not engage due to feeling they don’t have the capacity or have the idea that activists are solely extroverts out protesting. The author creates a world that emphasizes that everyone, regardless of who they are, has a role to play in creating a better world.

Overall, this book is a treasure trove of practical tips that are great for a refresh on how to avoid burnout and create a more sustainable practice if you are already in the world of activism, and it also features resources that encourage you to learn more if you are just getting started. The cover art and illustrations are an added bonus, akin to a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, instilling a sense of hope and optimism. I plan on referencing this book often, and I bought a few extra copies to gift to friends.

Micro Activism serves as a poignant reminder that even the tiniest steps can set off profound waves of change in a world that yearns for a fresh path toward belonging for all.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very inspiring and helped guide me towards what actions to take.

So this book is above all a call for action. But not huge actions, micro activism actions. It explains how you can be an activist in your own way, without needing to make huge speeches on stages if you don't want to. In multiple steps it explains how you can do this and what things would be useful to do and it gave me many ideas on what I want. It shows that small things help too, small things like cleaning a building of an organization. Or sharing food at protests for those who need it. Or maybe doing computer work to plan an protest without needing to attend it yourself when you are for example disabled. All of those are valuable and needed too and I really liked how the book stressed that point.

This book explains 4 types of activists that people could belong to or partially belong too. It has a quiz as well that can help you out figure out which type fits best for you. It then also gives lists of actions and ideas for what you can do belonging to your type in your activists journey. It was nice because this made it easy for me to realize that some things I hadn't thought that would fit me quite definitely could. It was nice as well that it emphasised that your type can change and you're absolutely not limited to one. It gave it a nice framework to hold on too but not making it too restrictive.

Throughout the book as well it has short mini interviews with various activists the author knows. I really liked having an insight in many different kind of activists. Many stories and books about known activists online are the bigger names, those who go on the stages and lead the protest. But this book showed many other people too who do the smaller tasks. It was nice to have these people as living examples of what I also could do.

All together this book was really enlightening for my own activism journey and I feel like it really made me ready to set more steps and be the activist I want to be.

4.25 stars rated down
I received an eARC through Netgalley and this was my honest review.

[Suzette Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a follower of Omkari's work for several years now, and this amazing book essentially takes all of the warmth, care, skillful intention, and daily life realism of her workshops, and makes this wisdom available for everyone.

It's filled with specific activities – from tuning into your origin story for caring about the world around you, to identifying your own activism interests, the vibe of how you operate, to the actual "what" you can do. All of it scaled for the space of your life.

In this way, Omkari's teachings align with the teachings of compassionate yoga lineages. That there is the yoga for those on an ascetic path (removed from demands of daily society, such as in a temple or ashram), and there is yoga for the householder. The folks who raise families, work jobs, and are very interwoven into community. One way is not better, more important, or more real than the other. They're just better matched for the person. In a world with intense need and demand – where it often feels like only "some" types of people are strong enough to make a difference – Omkari asks, "What if an activist looks like YOU?" What if it could be scaled to fit your lived experience, time, and emotional expertise?

I also LOVE the profiles of Micro Activists from across the world included throughout the book. Folks of many ages and backgrounds, all contributing in unique ways. Some of the stories are from folks with very focused interests, such as volunteering or working with an organization. And other stories are from people who take a lighter, broader touch, such as hosting conversations with neighbors or community. You can get a ton of ideas just from reading these profiles alone – and validation, too.

This book is exactly what the sensitive souls, tender hearts, introverts and neurodivergent folks of the world need right now, a blueprint to get started – written just for YOU.

[Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource for anyone who is at the ground floor of activism and wants a wide-reaching layout for steps to take. It could be condensed in quite a few ways, as it hits on a lot of self-help and adds some filler to certain passages. I didn’t expect a full outline for activism, but I do appreciate that all of it was included because it helped breakdown micro activism into micro actions!

The book helped me connect with my own mission and feel much more comfortable about focusing on what I’m capable of doing, rather than expecting to change the world today. It also made a point that I think is very often overlooked: that activism is something we can do right now, in this moment, and in each days of our lives with the little things we do. Taking responsibility for our lives is a form of activism, it helps move the needle forward in many different areas simply by recognizing humanity as a whole family and acting on that belief as we live our lives.

After the re-election of Donald Trump, I know many of us want change and are itching to make an impact in the world. We want everything to change right now and we want to help in any way possible. This is amazing. It’s noble. But we won’t accomplish what we set out to if we don’t remember to take time for ourselves so we can better serve others, find a way to utilize our own stories and strengths, or start creating our legacies right here and now. Each one of us has a unique role that we can play, when we realize what that is, we can harness it for the betterment of all. Personally, it’s made me more confident in the direction I’m headed as I pursue something that means a lot to me with mental health and education, and more comfortable with the idea of not knowing what that will look like exactly as long as I stay committed and true to myself.

Definitely recommend this book whether you’re looking to make a career in activism or simply want to do one small thing every day.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Gracias a NetGalley y a Omkari L. Williams por mandarme un eArc (copia avanzada digital) de Microactivism. How you can make a difference in the world (without a bullhorn) a cambio de una crítica honesta.

✨ Este libro se publica en octubre de 2023, así que ¡apuntároslo si os interesa!

✨ Podemos describirlo como una pequeña guía para activistas, haciendo especial énfasis en que no es necesario hacer grandes acciones, con acciones pequeñas también estamos trabajando y también se considera activismo.

✨ Creo que es necesario destacar en que es un libro que se centra mucho en los Estados Unidos, que es lógico ya que es de dónde proviene la autora, pero que en ocasiones hace que no sea tan cercano a nuestras realidades. En cualquier caso, mucho que lo que la autora comenta me parece muy interesante, así que aquí va un pequeño resumen:
1) replantearse lo que constituye ser un activista
2) distintos arquetipos de activista
3) hay que enfocarse en una o dos causas - el mundo es muy grande y no podemos abarcar todo
4) practicar el realismo radical - poner expectativas realistas
5) trabajo con fondo o trabajo superfluo
6) no hace falta go big or go home, hay otras perspectivas que nos ayudarán más
7) qué legado quieres dejar - el legado es asunto del pasado, del presente y del futuro

✨ Además, a lo largo del libro varias activistas contestan varias preguntas sobre su manera de hacer activismo, sobre sus inspiraciones, y te enseña realmente que hay muchas maneras de trabajar para lograr lo que quieres - ya sean derechos reproductivos, reparaciones/indemnizaciones o mejores servicios de salud mental.

✨ Te replanteas que acciones activistas pueden ser algo pequeño que se convierta parte de tu rutina diaria, y que es igual de válido que organizar una marcha o manifestación.

[Chanelle S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Micro Activism is accessible, both easy to skim if you just want the gist or easy to read in its entirety because it flows back and forth between explanations, lists, questions, anecdotes and biographies of people who've tried/lived that chapter's main point, bullet point summaries, and striking illustrations which introduce new concepts. It's a brief, lively, engaging text that makes getting involved in the causes which speak to you feel like a great choice because micro activism is doable.

I like, though, that Williams has broken it down into a number of steps: figuring out what your passions are, choosing only 2 to get started on, recognizing the potential for burnout and avoiding it, recognizing your particular advantages and how you can use those advantages for good, thinking about and planning a legacy of activism to leave for the next generation, etc. For such a short book, it's packed with useful tips, food for thought, and encouragements. Micro Activism is a book to keep handy so you keep finding new ways to refresh your enthusiasm for working on the causes which matter most to you.

[Eduardo Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taught me some valuable lessons, the most prominent being not to jump to conclusions too early.

I feel ashamed to admit that my first reaction, two chapters in, was cynical dismissal. I rolled my eyes as I ticked off the self-help tropes: Fun Personality Type Quiz, Inspirational Stories From Real People, Questions To Reflect On. Then I started realizing that the content itself was good. Very good. Sober, realistic, practical life lessons not just for activism but for being a responsible grownup: managing your focus, time, energy; framing in positive terms; choosing deep work, not shallow; allowing for mistakes and decision fatigue; creating routines. Williams covers, succinctly but solidly, pretty much all the foundations of how I try to live my life, including principles I've understood for decades and some that have taken me much longer to learn. Some I still struggle with despite understanding their importance (self-care, yeah, I know).

It is June 2025 as I write this: we are all activists now, and for the remainder of our lives. Might as well learn to do it right while respecting our limitations.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This works well for what it is as a book meant to inspire others to participate in small forms of activism. It provides many practical tips on how to best use your time and how to not burnout.

I'm very data-driven, so I had been hoping there would have been more evidence (either in anecdotes or in actual numbers) of microactivism contributing to real change. The book does make the distinction between shallow and deep acts of activism, but there's not much time spent on identifying shallow vs. deep in practice. There's the underlying assumption in the book that things like calling or writing emails to government offices is a valuable use of time, but I've just always been skeptical that those things do any good, and this book didn't convince me otherwise.

Nonetheless, I do still agree with the message of the book in finding small, sustainable ways to participate in the causes you most care about, but I personally wanted more evidence of the impact microactivism has, rather than just trusting that it will have impact.

3.5

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Shana · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***

This book is an accessible and friendly call to action for all of us, but especially those of us who feel stuck in inaction because we don't believe our contributions are ever enough. Omkari Williams defines the different activist personalities and provides a healthy reminder that it takes all types for activism to work. She is concise, firm, and honestly, her writing sounds a lot like my inner voice and at times I found that both warming and disconcerting! I did like that it felt as if she had read me somehow and written this to remind me that even if I don't have all the hours in the day or all the money in the world to dedicate to the causes that matter to me, I can still contribute to meaningful change in impactful ways. I finished this book feeling a renewed commitment not only to my values and beliefs, but also to doing the necessary work in the size that fits my life in the present.

[Carol Roote · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure this book told me anything I didn't already know. What it did was to remind me that I don't have to feel guilty for not saving the world. Activism consists of small, incremental tasks over a long period of time--longer even than one lifetime. Williams's reminder that there are activists all over the world and to take the Noah's ark approach--just pick 2 things to focus on at a time--was a good one. Also, it's important to focus on deep, not just shallow responses (e.g. recycling rather than reducing the use of plastic or liking a Facebook post). The point of self-care is not to feel good; It's to find refreshment and build resilience. Community in some form is absolutely necessary and don't reinvent the wheel.

Overall, it was a quick and worthwhile read with many examples and resources.