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Deep Diversity: Overcoming Us Vs. Them
seeks to reframe the debate regarding racism and discrimination
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2015
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641 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 27 reviews
February 5, 2019
Je crois que c'est un excellent, voir un des meilleurs livres sur comment faire face à ses propres préjugés ou à la discrimination qu'on peut reproduire. Il ne s'agit pas, pour le livre, de dire qu'il y a des méchants racistes et des gentils anti-racistes, ni de nier qu'il y a des groupes dominants et du racisme institutionnel, mais de parler de l'effet de l'éducation, des effets des médias sur notre perception du monde et comment réussir à épousseter nos préjugés qui se sont ancrés au fur et à mesure des années.
C'est un essai, et enfin j'en lis un, qui parle de l'importance de l'amour et de l'empathie pour effectuer ce travail. Ce n'est pas tant un travail argumentaire qu'il faut effectuer, mais un travail de compréhension et d'empathie envers un autre qui a un bagage d'expériences parfois très différent. Sans être Rencontres radicales : pour des dialogues féministes décoloniaux, ce n'est pas son objectif, ce livre parle plutôt de comment modifier notre comportement, quelles sont les choses à changer au plan individuel (encore une fois, sans nier des oppressions structurelles, mais ce n'est pas son objectif).
À la fois un peu self-help, à la fois documentaire (beaucoup d'illustrations de ce dont il parle et qui aide vraiment le propos), à la fois livre pour prendre conscience, il est difficile de sortir indemne d'un tel livre et de ne pas se remettre en question un minimum. Shakil Choudhury propose plusieurs "exercices" pour travailler sur soi et on n'oublie évidemment pas l'importance de la lecture et de l'écoute dans ces stratégies.
C'est le livre qu'une personne comme Azdouz (autrice de Le vivre ensemble n'est pas un rince-bouche) devrait lire pour vraiment comprendre les dynamiques de pouvoir qui jouent dans les débats et le besoin d'empathie, plutôt que de "rationalité" pour vraiment comprendre et combattre les préjugés.
C'est finalement, je crois, le premier livre que je lis qui s'intéresse beaucoup à la psychologie derrière les préjugés, le racisme et autres formes d'intolérance et qui propose des solutions non seulement qui "fonctionnent", mais qui s'attaque aux causes fondamentales des problèmes individuels. Je vais défendre de nouveau le livre qui ne s'attaque pas aux causes institutionnelles et autres, mais ce n'est pas son objectif et je crois qu'il aurait pu être bon qu'il consacre un léger paragraphe de plus là-dessus parce que je sens que beaucoup pourraient tiquer là-dessus.
À la lecture de l'essai, je suis à la fois très content· du travail à faire, mais j'en ressors aussi un peu pessimiste malgré de nombreux exemples de réussites. Le programme qu'il propose, qui va vraiment le lire, qui va vraiment faire ces efforts. J'ai l'impression, et c'est peut-être une des faiblesses, que même si ce livre désire rejoindre tout le monde, que c'est souvent le même groupe de personnes qui effectuera le travail de son côté. Le fait d'enseigner ces méthodes dans des écoles ou des groupes peut cependant agir sur une prochaine génération qui pourrait être beaucoup plus empathique et à l'écoute de son prochain. C'est une belle porte pour rejoindre une majorité de personne.
Ma seule mini-critique est toutefois qu'il aurait pu légèrement nuancer un tout petit peu plus le besoin de voir que le travail est inégal des deux côtés d'un argument et que faire preuve d'empathie ne demande pas toujours le même travail en quantité égale, en qualité égale, entre une personne victime de racisme et la personne qui tient les propos ou agit de manière raciste. Il est peut-être intéressant de comprendre les perspectives des autres, d'où illes viennent, etc., mais il y a tout de même un blâme à porter à la personne qui cause un tort, pas juste comprendre d'où il vient et d'excuser son éducation ou son environnement et de s'attendre à ce que la personne qui est victime de ses agissements fassent preuve d'empathie; je crois qu'ainsi, il y a un double travail de la personne victime qui doit faire beaucoup plus et que c'est certainement plus complexe que pour l'agresseur de simplement reconnaître que la colère de la personne victime de X peut être légitime. À ce niveau, Rencontres radicales, vient combler d'importantes lacunes. À lire ensemble donc!
C'est un essai, et enfin j'en lis un, qui parle de l'importance de l'amour et de l'empathie pour effectuer ce travail. Ce n'est pas tant un travail argumentaire qu'il faut effectuer, mais un travail de compréhension et d'empathie envers un autre qui a un bagage d'expériences parfois très différent. Sans être Rencontres radicales : pour des dialogues féministes décoloniaux, ce n'est pas son objectif, ce livre parle plutôt de comment modifier notre comportement, quelles sont les choses à changer au plan individuel (encore une fois, sans nier des oppressions structurelles, mais ce n'est pas son objectif).
À la fois un peu self-help, à la fois documentaire (beaucoup d'illustrations de ce dont il parle et qui aide vraiment le propos), à la fois livre pour prendre conscience, il est difficile de sortir indemne d'un tel livre et de ne pas se remettre en question un minimum. Shakil Choudhury propose plusieurs "exercices" pour travailler sur soi et on n'oublie évidemment pas l'importance de la lecture et de l'écoute dans ces stratégies.
C'est le livre qu'une personne comme Azdouz (autrice de Le vivre ensemble n'est pas un rince-bouche) devrait lire pour vraiment comprendre les dynamiques de pouvoir qui jouent dans les débats et le besoin d'empathie, plutôt que de "rationalité" pour vraiment comprendre et combattre les préjugés.
C'est finalement, je crois, le premier livre que je lis qui s'intéresse beaucoup à la psychologie derrière les préjugés, le racisme et autres formes d'intolérance et qui propose des solutions non seulement qui "fonctionnent", mais qui s'attaque aux causes fondamentales des problèmes individuels. Je vais défendre de nouveau le livre qui ne s'attaque pas aux causes institutionnelles et autres, mais ce n'est pas son objectif et je crois qu'il aurait pu être bon qu'il consacre un léger paragraphe de plus là-dessus parce que je sens que beaucoup pourraient tiquer là-dessus.
À la lecture de l'essai, je suis à la fois très content· du travail à faire, mais j'en ressors aussi un peu pessimiste malgré de nombreux exemples de réussites. Le programme qu'il propose, qui va vraiment le lire, qui va vraiment faire ces efforts. J'ai l'impression, et c'est peut-être une des faiblesses, que même si ce livre désire rejoindre tout le monde, que c'est souvent le même groupe de personnes qui effectuera le travail de son côté. Le fait d'enseigner ces méthodes dans des écoles ou des groupes peut cependant agir sur une prochaine génération qui pourrait être beaucoup plus empathique et à l'écoute de son prochain. C'est une belle porte pour rejoindre une majorité de personne.
Ma seule mini-critique est toutefois qu'il aurait pu légèrement nuancer un tout petit peu plus le besoin de voir que le travail est inégal des deux côtés d'un argument et que faire preuve d'empathie ne demande pas toujours le même travail en quantité égale, en qualité égale, entre une personne victime de racisme et la personne qui tient les propos ou agit de manière raciste. Il est peut-être intéressant de comprendre les perspectives des autres, d'où illes viennent, etc., mais il y a tout de même un blâme à porter à la personne qui cause un tort, pas juste comprendre d'où il vient et d'excuser son éducation ou son environnement et de s'attendre à ce que la personne qui est victime de ses agissements fassent preuve d'empathie; je crois qu'ainsi, il y a un double travail de la personne victime qui doit faire beaucoup plus et que c'est certainement plus complexe que pour l'agresseur de simplement reconnaître que la colère de la personne victime de X peut être légitime. À ce niveau, Rencontres radicales, vient combler d'importantes lacunes. À lire ensemble donc!
October 9, 2017
I definitely enjoyed this book more because I took a two-day workshop with a facilitator from the author's diversity training organization this summer. I'm not sure I would have willed myself to get through a book like this otherwise, but I had such an emotional, engaging experience learning and talking about the concepts described in this book in the workshop that I wanted to read the book to deepen my experience.
Deep Diversity (the book and workshop) introduced new concepts to me. Like the author and my workshop facilitator, I have been an activist with a "social analysis" for a long time. I find it useful to analyze power relationships and make judgments about people and society based on those. Deep Diversity adds an important dimension to the facts about who holds positions of power: psychological research about the biases we all have, the preferences for people who are more like us, and the unconscious prejudices that we all have. This analysis makes it possible for conversations between the privileged and non-dominant groups that can otherwise be so difficult.
Understanding the "other" takes emotional skills - being aware of your own feelings, and a willingness to listen to and empathize with others. Skills that are important in more areas of life than race relations.
The book contains many interesting and topical examples in sidebars that help explain new concepts, and contains many suggestions of how to begin the work of healing from racism - whether we're from dominant or non-dominant groups.
Deep Diversity (the book and workshop) introduced new concepts to me. Like the author and my workshop facilitator, I have been an activist with a "social analysis" for a long time. I find it useful to analyze power relationships and make judgments about people and society based on those. Deep Diversity adds an important dimension to the facts about who holds positions of power: psychological research about the biases we all have, the preferences for people who are more like us, and the unconscious prejudices that we all have. This analysis makes it possible for conversations between the privileged and non-dominant groups that can otherwise be so difficult.
Understanding the "other" takes emotional skills - being aware of your own feelings, and a willingness to listen to and empathize with others. Skills that are important in more areas of life than race relations.
The book contains many interesting and topical examples in sidebars that help explain new concepts, and contains many suggestions of how to begin the work of healing from racism - whether we're from dominant or non-dominant groups.
April 23, 2021
Wow merci @Nico pour ce prêt. Ce livre offre une nouvelle perspective (des plus réfléchies) sur les enjeux de pouvoir et de discrimination basés sur la différence!
July 11, 2022
A very approachable book for entry into learning more about opportunities to bridge understanding across differences (especially racial, but cultural more broadly).
It’s not comprehensive on all things racial justice, nor does it deeply address emotions and how we feel conflict in our bodies, but I think it’s an excellent entry without even without.
I would recommend especially for white people who are on the early end of their understanding of racial justice, and who want more language to understand their reactions and those of others.
If you have done a lot of personal work already on these topics, this book might help you consider how to introduce/respond to this topic in personal/professional settings where others are coming from a place where they have not yet had the opportunity to do personal work on racial justice.
It’s not comprehensive on all things racial justice, nor does it deeply address emotions and how we feel conflict in our bodies, but I think it’s an excellent entry without even without.
I would recommend especially for white people who are on the early end of their understanding of racial justice, and who want more language to understand their reactions and those of others.
If you have done a lot of personal work already on these topics, this book might help you consider how to introduce/respond to this topic in personal/professional settings where others are coming from a place where they have not yet had the opportunity to do personal work on racial justice.
November 9, 2017
I've worked on, researched, and evaluated equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts in the environmental field for a long time. This book pulls some of the most relevant research, and examples, into one, concise document. If you are already an expert, you won't find much new here - but it is a good opportunity to revisit information and ideas, and reflect on them, in a new way. If you are new to the field, this is an excellent introduction to many of the most important findings and case studies.
February 10, 2017
Everyone, and I mean everyone, who wants to live a life of peace, full of rewarding and healthy relationships with everyone they meet, needs to read this book. The author makes a convincing case for searching our own attitudes and assumptions for ways we allow systemic biases to disadvantage ourselves and others. He provides specific exercises and action each of us can take to overcome our negative bias and teach ourselves to welcome the differences in others as enriching to ourselves and our communities.
March 27, 2025
This book is my absolute favourite non-fiction book - I read it for the first time in grade 7 for school, and it completely changed the way I had thought about the concepts of unfair systemic discrimination. Nothing much more to say about this. This felt like a fully covered analysis of existing controversy. The whole concept of the book is implicit bias and understanding all perspectives of that, as well as why humans think this way. If you're looking for an entry point to conflicts in society, this is great place to start!
February 20, 2019
Fantastic book to read, full of relevant research wisely linked to very poverful personal stories and realisations of the author through his 20 years of work in the field. Abosultely worth anyone´s time.
September 29, 2021
The 2021 edition of Shakil Choudhury's Deep Diversity is a must-read for anyone who is interested to learn about bias and how it can affect our judgment and actions. This new edition is very timely since the main topics discussed in the book are very relevant to our current affairs such as the pandemic and how it has affected different community groups disproportionately. As an EDI educator, this book is on the resource list that I share with learners for a few reasons: While the book's discussions are highly supported by current studies, it maintains a very accessible narrative. Moreover, I enjoy the approach of this book in that it emphasizes and examines our emotional tendencies that makes the discussions relatable regardless of where the reader comes from. His work, in my opinion, is a great companion to Brene Brown's work in that it presents social issues in order to find the deeper psychological and sociological factors, offers strategies to identify, accept, and mitigate our biases in our everyday labelings of "us vs. them" dichotomy and offers us hope for the possibility of social justice.
October 6, 2019
Book is tidily arranged into 30-40pp chapters for each major topic. After emotions, bias, and tribes, we get two chapters for power (separating external then internal factors) followed by a concluding chapter.
I like the blend of academic and practical. In addition to terminology being explained (and geographic synonyms provided, elevator and lift being an example not from the book), direct do-it-yourself styled questions are posed for the reader to ponder. My favourite--for being most memorable--is designed to elicit curiosity: Does this person like carrots?
And what Beth P wrote in this review, plus my wish for a bibliography. (I'm sure I will benefit by way of review for compiling my own to-read list and DIY question list.)
I like the blend of academic and practical. In addition to terminology being explained (and geographic synonyms provided, elevator and lift being an example not from the book), direct do-it-yourself styled questions are posed for the reader to ponder. My favourite--for being most memorable--is designed to elicit curiosity: Does this person like carrots?
And what Beth P wrote in this review, plus my wish for a bibliography. (I'm sure I will benefit by way of review for compiling my own to-read list and DIY question list.)
June 15, 2020
First off this book has never been more relevant than today and I doubt it’s general lessons will age poorly in the coming years.
With any social discussion framework a great way to judge its efficacy is how it’s foundational lessons connect to your own journey. I found many of Shakil’s initial personal formulations on handing an understanding of racism to eerily match my own which really helped to cement some of the later more complex structures of thinking and processing in the book.
He does a great job of mingling personal and historical stories with relevant studies and academic knowledge to keep the pace moving without getting to fluffy or anecdotal at the same time.
This is a great read for anyone looking to enhance their personal understanding of systemic racism or just looking for another toolset or perspective on handling deep conflict.
With any social discussion framework a great way to judge its efficacy is how it’s foundational lessons connect to your own journey. I found many of Shakil’s initial personal formulations on handing an understanding of racism to eerily match my own which really helped to cement some of the later more complex structures of thinking and processing in the book.
He does a great job of mingling personal and historical stories with relevant studies and academic knowledge to keep the pace moving without getting to fluffy or anecdotal at the same time.
This is a great read for anyone looking to enhance their personal understanding of systemic racism or just looking for another toolset or perspective on handling deep conflict.
April 3, 2021
I have returned to this book many times since I first read it. It has helped to inform my work, both internal and external, with people from many backgrounds. I highly recommend it for anyone who is confused or demoralized by any infighting in their social justice movements, organizations, or causes, or for anyone at all who wants to understand their own and others' reactions to charged and polarized conflicts in society. Choudhury draws on neuroscience, sociology, mindfulness, and reconciliation processes, with examples from his own and others' experiences. Healing. Highly recommended reading.
March 19, 2018
I often feel that others involved in social justice/diversity are light years ahead of me so I appreciated having a book that could help me to start where I am and focus what I have the most capacity to change - myself. I also appreciated having some very tangible tasks to follow to continue to grow. I also find these conversations scary, but I realize that being fearful or defensive is making it "all about me" which is the thing that keeps bias in place, so I hopefully I can be a better listener and more thoughtful person in the world.
September 16, 2020
Maybe it's not the best writing style you'll read this year. But the points made, structure and stories presented are profound. What you can learn from this book goes beyond learning to be an open minded human being even though just accomplishing that would be more than enough for your whole year.
Read this, or listen to it; the author does a good job narrating.
Read this, or listen to it; the author does a good job narrating.
June 16, 2017
Text bookish. Interesting topic. Could this be taught in schools?
November 26, 2017
Good book on understanding the basics of implicit bias as it relates to race.
December 1, 2017
Is this really what it's going to take? Better get started....
December 16, 2017
Not good. Had to read for school
January 14, 2020
Great for the deeply Canadian perspective.
May 26, 2022
Très intéressant, bien présenté. Une belle initiation sur ce thème.
Read
March 3, 2017303.385 C5526 2015
Read
January 7, 2016http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2016/0...
Review by Daniel Tseghay
Enslaved Africans, some have reported, reached the shores of what is now the United States to be greeted by welcome signs. White settlers were not consumed by hatred towards them -- they were too preoccupied by the urgent need for labour. It was that need which fuelled the slave trade.
Slavery ended, ultimately, because the enslaved "poisoned slaveholders, destroyed crops, 'accidentally' burned down buildings, and ran away in such large numbers their lost labor crippled the Confederate economy."
Slavery ended, also, because the price of cotton fluctuated dramatically enough that one of its main buyers, the British, took its business elsewhere.
Whites enslaved -- and ceased enslaving -- Black people because there were tangible incentives for doing so. Racism, therefore, is the structure built by innumerable actions. It isn't something people believe in, which in turn inspires actions, but rather what we come to tell ourselves in order to justify our interests.
Some, however, would argue that these racist interactions and structures arise out of the inner workings of the human mind. This is the thesis of a new book, Deep Diversity: Overcoming Us vs. Them by Shakil Choudhury. "Our core struggles regarding Us versus Them lie hidden in the architecture of our brains," Choudhury writes. "It turns out that we are biologically predisposed to bias and discrimination."
Read more here: http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2016/0...
Review by Daniel Tseghay
Enslaved Africans, some have reported, reached the shores of what is now the United States to be greeted by welcome signs. White settlers were not consumed by hatred towards them -- they were too preoccupied by the urgent need for labour. It was that need which fuelled the slave trade.
Slavery ended, ultimately, because the enslaved "poisoned slaveholders, destroyed crops, 'accidentally' burned down buildings, and ran away in such large numbers their lost labor crippled the Confederate economy."
Slavery ended, also, because the price of cotton fluctuated dramatically enough that one of its main buyers, the British, took its business elsewhere.
Whites enslaved -- and ceased enslaving -- Black people because there were tangible incentives for doing so. Racism, therefore, is the structure built by innumerable actions. It isn't something people believe in, which in turn inspires actions, but rather what we come to tell ourselves in order to justify our interests.
Some, however, would argue that these racist interactions and structures arise out of the inner workings of the human mind. This is the thesis of a new book, Deep Diversity: Overcoming Us vs. Them by Shakil Choudhury. "Our core struggles regarding Us versus Them lie hidden in the architecture of our brains," Choudhury writes. "It turns out that we are biologically predisposed to bias and discrimination."
Read more here: http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2016/0...
July 27, 2024
J’ai vraiment aimé les différents chapitres qui amènent plusieurs réflexions et poussent à l’introspection pour nous aider à prendre conscience de nos différents biais implicites, préjugés et des discriminations qui en découlent. C’est vraiment bien expliqué, avec plusieurs exemples concrets.
Ceci étant dit, il y a quelques points durant un chapitre où j’ai sourcillé, j’aimais moins entre autres quand l’auteur y allait d’une presque équivalence entre le statut de la personne victime de racisme et celle qui agit de manière raciste. Il manquait peut-être un peu de nuances de ce côté ou plutôt moins de nuances auraient été préférable?c’est selon.😅
Et faut dire que depuis l’écriture de ce livre (2015), les temps ont bien changé et pas pour le mieux malheureusement avec la montée de l’extrême-droite un peu partout. Sûrement que la fin du livre serait moins optimiste en prenant en compte ce qui se passe présentement.
Je n’étais pas d’accord avec tout, loin de là mais je ne regrette en rien d’avoir lu ce livre au contraire, c’est super enrichissant et je vous encourage grandement à le lire si comme moi vous aimez essayer de comprendre et en apprendre plus, pour être en mesure de faire mieux🙂
Ceci étant dit, il y a quelques points durant un chapitre où j’ai sourcillé, j’aimais moins entre autres quand l’auteur y allait d’une presque équivalence entre le statut de la personne victime de racisme et celle qui agit de manière raciste. Il manquait peut-être un peu de nuances de ce côté ou plutôt moins de nuances auraient été préférable?c’est selon.😅
Et faut dire que depuis l’écriture de ce livre (2015), les temps ont bien changé et pas pour le mieux malheureusement avec la montée de l’extrême-droite un peu partout. Sûrement que la fin du livre serait moins optimiste en prenant en compte ce qui se passe présentement.
Je n’étais pas d’accord avec tout, loin de là mais je ne regrette en rien d’avoir lu ce livre au contraire, c’est super enrichissant et je vous encourage grandement à le lire si comme moi vous aimez essayer de comprendre et en apprendre plus, pour être en mesure de faire mieux🙂
January 14, 2022
Thank you @greystonebooks for sending this important book! 🧡
Award-winning Shakil Choudhury explores racism through the lens of psychology and neuroscience to help us understand how and why well-intentioned people can perpetuate systems of oppression, often unconsciously.
The writer elaborates on the 4 pillars of Deep Diversity:
1. Emotional literacy: understanding ourselves and others
2. Understanding and uncovering implicit bias
3. Identity: how ‘belonging’ drives human behaviour
4. Power: as a dividing force
Through clear and simple language, Choudhury guides the reader into thinking about how to take responsibility in order to break prejudiced habits we have all systematically learned since birth.
Important and compassionate. 4/5
Award-winning Shakil Choudhury explores racism through the lens of psychology and neuroscience to help us understand how and why well-intentioned people can perpetuate systems of oppression, often unconsciously.
The writer elaborates on the 4 pillars of Deep Diversity:
1. Emotional literacy: understanding ourselves and others
2. Understanding and uncovering implicit bias
3. Identity: how ‘belonging’ drives human behaviour
4. Power: as a dividing force
Through clear and simple language, Choudhury guides the reader into thinking about how to take responsibility in order to break prejudiced habits we have all systematically learned since birth.
Important and compassionate. 4/5
March 24, 2021
my rating - overall Score: 4.0/5.0
- quality of writing (3/5)
- quality of the content (5/5)
- impact on my perspective (5/5)
- personal resonance (4/5)
- rereading potential (3/5)
https://www.mantenanotes.com/blog/the...
- quality of writing (3/5)
- quality of the content (5/5)
- impact on my perspective (5/5)
- personal resonance (4/5)
- rereading potential (3/5)
https://www.mantenanotes.com/blog/the...
June 7, 2019
I loved this book.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 27 reviews