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Rife: Twenty-One Stories from Britain's Youth
Young people in this country are facing a chasm of doubt and instability. Mental health problems are widespread, university fees are rising, job opportunities are drying up, and the prospect of ever owning a home is increasingly out of reach. But this generation is noticeably absent from the opinion columns, comment pieces and news reports of the mainstream media.From the creative minds behind Rife magazine comes this anthology of twenty passionate voices, all under the age of twenty-four, writing across a spectrum of topics that matter to them. It holds a mirror up to the experience of young people in the UK today, with essays on money, mental health, sex, gender, inequality, education, crime and the future.Bracing, honest and set against what can often seem an apocalyptic backdrop, these stories are nevertheless full of ideas and solidarity to draw on through these uncertain times.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 27, 2019
Because I work on young people's writing in post-war Britain, I was excited to read this collection of essays by young people aged sixteen to twenty-four. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in most of these essays on a number of counts. Firstly, it has to be said: most of the writing here isn't very good. I know from reading blogs, short stories and novels written by young/er people, as well as from reading the writing of my own undergraduate students, that writers in their late teens and early twenties are as capable of producing wonderful and insightful prose as any other group of writers. However, I worry that others reading this collection will lazily assume that nothing better can be expected from young people.
The problem possibly lies in the way many of these essays were produced: rather than seeking out twenty-one independent contributions, a lot of these essays emerged from a single project at Watershed in Bristol, which produced Rife magazine. Whatever the process was, it seems to have encouraged many of these writers towards a ponderous and formal style; individual voice is smothered and a lot of the essays sound the same. Rather than drawing on personal experience, many of the essays pontificate on very familiar topics: the rental crisis, poor funding for mental health and university fees. (One essay on the university experience was particularly enraging; the writer rightly criticises high fees but seems to blame lecturers for not providing 'value for money' e.g. for going on strike over staff pensions, rather than government policies. I know from talking to my own students about these issues that many undergraduates are not this short-sighted).
My second problem with this collection is more an issue of personal preference. Most of these writers talk about their experience as young people by invoking the language of generational inequality; making the usual arguments about the unfairness of rising house prices, unemployment and student debt in comparison to the experience of their parents' generation. While I agree with these arguments, I was hoping that these writers might have more to say about the way that age itself acts as an oppressive category. This may in its turn result from the limited range of ages represented by the contributors. The majority are in their early twenties - already looking back on adolescence. The one essay that is obviously written by a teenager, 'Sweet Sixteen: Kiss, Marry, Vote', was one of my favourites. Amber Kirk-Ford effectively challenges the relevance of chronological age, arguing: 'If some sixteen-year-olds are disengaged or badly behaved, that is equally true of apparent grown-ups... [not giving sixteen-year-olds the vote] is based on the myth that all young people are exactly the same, and are less mature than adults'. Other essays worked well for me despite the fact that they weren't focused on questions of age because of the way they explored other intersectional identities; for example, Shona Cobb's essay on her experiences of living with Marfan Syndrome, 'Exclusion', and Mariam Khan's essay on being an hijabi, 'My Body, My Choice'. On the whole, however, while I think projects of this kind are really important, I've read much better writing by teenagers and young adults elsewhere. 2.5 stars.
I received a free proof copy of this collection from the publisher for review. It's out in the UK on 11th July 2019.
The problem possibly lies in the way many of these essays were produced: rather than seeking out twenty-one independent contributions, a lot of these essays emerged from a single project at Watershed in Bristol, which produced Rife magazine. Whatever the process was, it seems to have encouraged many of these writers towards a ponderous and formal style; individual voice is smothered and a lot of the essays sound the same. Rather than drawing on personal experience, many of the essays pontificate on very familiar topics: the rental crisis, poor funding for mental health and university fees. (One essay on the university experience was particularly enraging; the writer rightly criticises high fees but seems to blame lecturers for not providing 'value for money' e.g. for going on strike over staff pensions, rather than government policies. I know from talking to my own students about these issues that many undergraduates are not this short-sighted).
My second problem with this collection is more an issue of personal preference. Most of these writers talk about their experience as young people by invoking the language of generational inequality; making the usual arguments about the unfairness of rising house prices, unemployment and student debt in comparison to the experience of their parents' generation. While I agree with these arguments, I was hoping that these writers might have more to say about the way that age itself acts as an oppressive category. This may in its turn result from the limited range of ages represented by the contributors. The majority are in their early twenties - already looking back on adolescence. The one essay that is obviously written by a teenager, 'Sweet Sixteen: Kiss, Marry, Vote', was one of my favourites. Amber Kirk-Ford effectively challenges the relevance of chronological age, arguing: 'If some sixteen-year-olds are disengaged or badly behaved, that is equally true of apparent grown-ups... [not giving sixteen-year-olds the vote] is based on the myth that all young people are exactly the same, and are less mature than adults'. Other essays worked well for me despite the fact that they weren't focused on questions of age because of the way they explored other intersectional identities; for example, Shona Cobb's essay on her experiences of living with Marfan Syndrome, 'Exclusion', and Mariam Khan's essay on being an hijabi, 'My Body, My Choice'. On the whole, however, while I think projects of this kind are really important, I've read much better writing by teenagers and young adults elsewhere. 2.5 stars.
I received a free proof copy of this collection from the publisher for review. It's out in the UK on 11th July 2019.
July 5, 2019
OVERALL RATING: 8.1/10 (you can find the ratings for each essay at the end of the review)
I really enjoyed this collection of essays and the issues explored, from mental health issues and the rental problems the people are facing now in the UK, to religion, diversity, feeling alone and inadequate, sexism, politics and the gap between the youth and the elderly. I learnt a lot from this and although I enjoyed some essays more than others, I believe there is something for every type of reader in this collection.
ALL INDIVIDUAL RATINGS:
Generation Spent: Britain's Rental Crises: 7/10
Rush: 7/10
Gender Divides: 9/10
The Modern Fairy Tale of Mental Health and 'Just Asking for Help': 9.5/10
University Ain't for the Likes of Us: 7/10
I Agree with Thatcher: 9.5/10
Rites of Passage: 9/10
The Latte Drinker That Spilled the Tea: 8.5/10
A Marked Woman: 9/10
Little Miss Sunshine: 8/10
Exclusion: 9/10
My Body, My Choice: 9/10
Half-Truth Histories: Howe Erasing Empire Maintains the Status Quo: 9.5/10
Working with Anxiety: 7.5/10
Conveyor Belt Socialising: An Exposé on Modern Dating: 8/10
Playing the Part: 7.5/10
The University Myth: 8/10
Sweet Sixteen: Kiss, Marry, Vote: 8/10
The Dinner Party: 6/10
Dumping the Green Belt: 7/10
An Intergenerational Conversation: 7.5/10
I really enjoyed this collection of essays and the issues explored, from mental health issues and the rental problems the people are facing now in the UK, to religion, diversity, feeling alone and inadequate, sexism, politics and the gap between the youth and the elderly. I learnt a lot from this and although I enjoyed some essays more than others, I believe there is something for every type of reader in this collection.
ALL INDIVIDUAL RATINGS:
Generation Spent: Britain's Rental Crises: 7/10
Rush: 7/10
Gender Divides: 9/10
The Modern Fairy Tale of Mental Health and 'Just Asking for Help': 9.5/10
University Ain't for the Likes of Us: 7/10
I Agree with Thatcher: 9.5/10
Rites of Passage: 9/10
The Latte Drinker That Spilled the Tea: 8.5/10
A Marked Woman: 9/10
Little Miss Sunshine: 8/10
Exclusion: 9/10
My Body, My Choice: 9/10
Half-Truth Histories: Howe Erasing Empire Maintains the Status Quo: 9.5/10
Working with Anxiety: 7.5/10
Conveyor Belt Socialising: An Exposé on Modern Dating: 8/10
Playing the Part: 7.5/10
The University Myth: 8/10
Sweet Sixteen: Kiss, Marry, Vote: 8/10
The Dinner Party: 6/10
Dumping the Green Belt: 7/10
An Intergenerational Conversation: 7.5/10
November 2, 2019
It made me so happy to read this brilliant collection of essays, all written by people under the age of 24. I remember when I was a teen the general consensus from “adults” was that we should shut up and grow up before having an opinion, something that I don’t think I ever listened to, nor did my peers. I know now that we were lucky – today’s youth are branded before they even open their mouths to voice an opinion. Instead of listening to those who will be making real change we try to silence and erase them. I know that at 41 I relate a lot more to what I read in this anthology than I do with many mainstream media types, so I am sure you will too.
I had personally never heard of Rife Magazine before picking up this book, but fell in love with the content and the approach. This is a platform created for the youth of today, by the youth of today, to talk about issues that directly affect not only the youth of today, but all of us. The essays in this collection are all brilliantly written and discuss a wide range of topics from racism, ableism, sexism, and ageism, housing, gentrification, family, tuition fees, economy, mental health, and many other important subject matters. I was born in England, but haven’t lived there since I was a kid, but I still related to most of the content written in the essays, as I’m pretty sure many people of different ages and backgrounds would.
This is what hope looks like – while a lot of the content discussed in these essays is bleak, it is not without optimism, and courageous fight to make real change together. Listening to these voices is important. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy, and thanks to Nikesh Shukla for compiling and editing such an eye-opening and important collection.
I had personally never heard of Rife Magazine before picking up this book, but fell in love with the content and the approach. This is a platform created for the youth of today, by the youth of today, to talk about issues that directly affect not only the youth of today, but all of us. The essays in this collection are all brilliantly written and discuss a wide range of topics from racism, ableism, sexism, and ageism, housing, gentrification, family, tuition fees, economy, mental health, and many other important subject matters. I was born in England, but haven’t lived there since I was a kid, but I still related to most of the content written in the essays, as I’m pretty sure many people of different ages and backgrounds would.
This is what hope looks like – while a lot of the content discussed in these essays is bleak, it is not without optimism, and courageous fight to make real change together. Listening to these voices is important. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy, and thanks to Nikesh Shukla for compiling and editing such an eye-opening and important collection.
June 17, 2019
Thanks to Unbound and Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Let me tell you, there is nothing that, as a 27 year old, makes you feel older than reading a book called Twenty-One Stories from Britain's Youth which then specifies that the nebulous Youth are ages 16-24. I will probably be drawing a pension soon.
But in all seriousness, this book was just great. It's a completely necessary middle finger to all the white, middle-aged male politicians who denigrate the so-called Youth for being unengaged with politics, misinformed and apathetic. This book goes completely against that ridiculous stereotype and shows that young does not mean uncaring.
As always in an anthology book like this, there are some essays which stand out more than others. The final essay in this collection is about how young people can learn from the elderly, and about how ageism affects both ends of the spectrum, and as someone who has taken on a carer role for elderly relatives in the past, this one in particular spoke to me. There are also essays on sexism, fatphobia, racism, the voting age, online harassment, mental health, and the pressures of university, amongst others. Many of these issues do not only affect young people, and it was simultaneously refreshing to see a new perspective on some of them and disheartening to realise that even young people are not protected from bigotry.
The essays on university life in particular were illuminating. As a 27 year old, I was part of the last cohort to pay £3k a year for tuition fees. My year group was the year who voted Nick Clegg into office and then experienced the betrayal of the tuition fee hike, but didn't have to pay up. It made me angry to see what students have to contend with today and the debt they experience because of it.
The voices in this collection are strong and important. The writing is fluent, persuasive and well-informed. I really couldn't find much fault with this collection; I'm sure there'll be the inevitable 'ooh, it's Leftist bias' nonsense from some people at some point, but the fact is that it's a representation of a microcosm of youth voices. It is indicative, not representative, of young people's viewpoints in Britain today, and it's about time that they were listened to. They? We? God, I'm old.
Let me tell you, there is nothing that, as a 27 year old, makes you feel older than reading a book called Twenty-One Stories from Britain's Youth which then specifies that the nebulous Youth are ages 16-24. I will probably be drawing a pension soon.
But in all seriousness, this book was just great. It's a completely necessary middle finger to all the white, middle-aged male politicians who denigrate the so-called Youth for being unengaged with politics, misinformed and apathetic. This book goes completely against that ridiculous stereotype and shows that young does not mean uncaring.
As always in an anthology book like this, there are some essays which stand out more than others. The final essay in this collection is about how young people can learn from the elderly, and about how ageism affects both ends of the spectrum, and as someone who has taken on a carer role for elderly relatives in the past, this one in particular spoke to me. There are also essays on sexism, fatphobia, racism, the voting age, online harassment, mental health, and the pressures of university, amongst others. Many of these issues do not only affect young people, and it was simultaneously refreshing to see a new perspective on some of them and disheartening to realise that even young people are not protected from bigotry.
The essays on university life in particular were illuminating. As a 27 year old, I was part of the last cohort to pay £3k a year for tuition fees. My year group was the year who voted Nick Clegg into office and then experienced the betrayal of the tuition fee hike, but didn't have to pay up. It made me angry to see what students have to contend with today and the debt they experience because of it.
The voices in this collection are strong and important. The writing is fluent, persuasive and well-informed. I really couldn't find much fault with this collection; I'm sure there'll be the inevitable 'ooh, it's Leftist bias' nonsense from some people at some point, but the fact is that it's a representation of a microcosm of youth voices. It is indicative, not representative, of young people's viewpoints in Britain today, and it's about time that they were listened to. They? We? God, I'm old.
August 10, 2021
Rife is a collection of stories about the problems that Britain’s Youth face today. These stories and essays cover mental health, sexual abuse, financial problems among many more. The collection highlights the struggles and shows you how the knock on effect from the previous generation are so impactful today.
I won’t lie, I struggled with this collection. This is for two reasons. The first being that I tried to read it in one gulp and Rife isn’t really the kind of book you can do that in. It needs to act as a palate cleanser. Maybe a commute read. Secondly, I felt that it was a little bit southern-centric. There were a few stories telling how northerners struggle but the majority featured writers living in the south and without trying to create division there is a divide between the north/south experience. However, Rife is a gritty, engaging read and the essays in it shouldn’t be dismissed.
I won’t lie, I struggled with this collection. This is for two reasons. The first being that I tried to read it in one gulp and Rife isn’t really the kind of book you can do that in. It needs to act as a palate cleanser. Maybe a commute read. Secondly, I felt that it was a little bit southern-centric. There were a few stories telling how northerners struggle but the majority featured writers living in the south and without trying to create division there is a divide between the north/south experience. However, Rife is a gritty, engaging read and the essays in it shouldn’t be dismissed.
September 20, 2020
Some of the essays included content which I was triggered by, so I couldn't read the text in its entirety. The essays were topical and smart. I especially loved The University Myth and An Intergenerational Conversation.
November 25, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC.
This book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how young people feel about today's world. It deals with so many issues - classism, racism, ableism, mental health, sexual abuse, politics - in a timely and sensitive manner. Each young voice is both interesting and insistent and should be listened to by all generations.
This book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how young people feel about today's world. It deals with so many issues - classism, racism, ableism, mental health, sexual abuse, politics - in a timely and sensitive manner. Each young voice is both interesting and insistent and should be listened to by all generations.
January 6, 2020
Such a difficult one to review. There are some really incredibly written essays in here, my favourite actually being the last one written by Tom Greenslade. A really powerful comment on the intergenerational divide in society that manages to hit all the right emotional beats without straying too far into preaching or whining (something that, unfortunately, happened with quite a few other essays).
I really got the sense that, even though these essays are written by people aged 16-24, some of them really strayed too far into angsty teen for me and lacked the nuance and balance needed for the essay topics themselves. It's understandable for some of the essays and their topics but it was too prevalent for me to rate this any higher than 4 stars.
Definitely worth a read. It is so refreshing for me to read young British voices and hear first-hand the struggles and issues they face socially and economically. It feels like a real snapshot of British youth today.
Thanks to Unbound and NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review.
I really got the sense that, even though these essays are written by people aged 16-24, some of them really strayed too far into angsty teen for me and lacked the nuance and balance needed for the essay topics themselves. It's understandable for some of the essays and their topics but it was too prevalent for me to rate this any higher than 4 stars.
Definitely worth a read. It is so refreshing for me to read young British voices and hear first-hand the struggles and issues they face socially and economically. It feels like a real snapshot of British youth today.
Thanks to Unbound and NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review.
January 27, 2021
From Rife Magazine comes this anthology of twenty-one essays from young people aged 16-24 covering an intersectional spectrum of topics including racism, ableism, misogyny, Islamaphobia, homophobia, sex, mental health, lack of job opportunities, student debt, poor educational provision, the housing crisis, crime, and the future. (All prefaced with appropriate trigger warnings.)
This generation is not often given a voice, but rather maligned as avocado-munching, snowflake millennials. However, this collection shows that they are actually politically informed, passionate and articulate, and gives an insightful snapshot into what it's like to be young in Britain today.
Thanks for Unbound and Netgalley for the digital copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
This generation is not often given a voice, but rather maligned as avocado-munching, snowflake millennials. However, this collection shows that they are actually politically informed, passionate and articulate, and gives an insightful snapshot into what it's like to be young in Britain today.
Thanks for Unbound and Netgalley for the digital copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
October 5, 2021
twenty one stories from twenty one writers of Britain’s youth. This book and it’s content touches on many topics such as the rental crisis, voting for brexit, the patriarchy, racism, ageism, mental health and many more topics.
It did really open my eyes to the statistics that stared at me from the page and having a deeper understanding of some of the issues my generation is facing. Sure, I’ve never rented or been to uni, but I can empathise with the struggle as such and know that’s what puts me off pursuing certain things!
If you want a book full of non fiction captivating essays from talented young writers, then please do read this!
It did really open my eyes to the statistics that stared at me from the page and having a deeper understanding of some of the issues my generation is facing. Sure, I’ve never rented or been to uni, but I can empathise with the struggle as such and know that’s what puts me off pursuing certain things!
If you want a book full of non fiction captivating essays from talented young writers, then please do read this!
May 3, 2020
A fantastic reflection from Britain’s Youth (a voice absent from a lot of mainstream media) on topics such as the current housing crisis, tuition fees, mental health, class, race and generational divide. It’s brilliantly diverse, much needed and filled with both hope and solidarity as well as a general feeling of despair at the state of today.
August 1, 2019
Really enjoyed this book despite its revelations on how unprepared our youth of today are to live mainstream lives. This made me question a lot of my own beliefs. Highly recommend.
September 25, 2019
Great selection of stories. Content could be varied slightly more.
April 5, 2020
tories out, rife in
July 15, 2019
I truly enjoyed the content of the writing and the subjects that were discussed, however, some of the writing was really bad. It seems like some of the pieces were not proofread. I would give this 5 stars if not for the writing.
November 21, 2023
I absolutely love Unbounds anthologies and this one also did not fail to disappoint! They are put together so well and I love the way a theme is explored from multiple angles, in multiple voices and that it gives a platform to diverse and emerging writers.
December 17, 2019
Ferociously smart.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews