The Good Ally

by Nova Reid

‘I invite you to be courageous and get comfortable with being uncomfortable, because any discomfort you feel is temporary and pales in comparison to what black and brown people often have to experience on a daily basis.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started, we have work to do.’
With social injustices rising in frequency, and an increase in far-right movements around the world, the rise in hate against “the other” is palpable. There is an urgent need to change so that we no longer repeat patterns of behaviour that have led us to where we are.

As a diversity consultant and anti-racism campaigner Nova Reid receives a lot of cries for help and is now inundated with messages asking ‘what next?’. This is a book for those wanting to become better allies against racism, for those who are hungry to expand their knowledge and understanding of systemic racism. Because for centuries we have been taught to uphold and maintain systems of oppression without question. To go along with that powerful current. Because it’s easier than swimming in the opposite direction.

So this book is for everyone. Everyone who wants to be part of change, but feels helpless and doesn’t know how to move forward. It helps interpret the reams of information so that you to can commit to powerful action. And together, we can change the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Race, Politics, Anti Racist, Social Justice, Sociology, Education

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2021

About the author

Nova Reid is an Activist, TED speaker and author, with a mission to improve racial justice by helping people be the change they want to see by courageously unlearning their racism.

Reviews

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book? That you should get it, immediately, and for Christmas presents for everyone else too. I wanted to devour this book in one setting, so generous and brilliant is Nova’s writing style; but I knew I needed to pace myself to truly, as Nova says, do the work. (This is one of the countless great things about the book, too - whenever I felt like this, she’d preempted it, and called me in on it in the pages!)

I have never known a book quite so affecting as this one - her oratory style is really unique and impactful, and I truly feel so lucky (and grateful!) to be living in the same age as Nova.

One I’ll return to again and again and again, because the work is never over.

[Dafni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books on antiracism I have read. Nova so eloquently provides reflective pointers and practical steps to start your journey to become a better ally to our black and mixed-race friends, colleagues, and counterparts. It’s tough work and as a reader you need time to digest the content, reflect and re-learn. This book comes with a lot of personal work, it’s not just a read through, so prepare yourself.

If you are a white person reading this review, I want to remind you that self-care is very important. Shame and guilt will definitely surface when reading this book (especially if you are a White woman), and you need to treat yourself with compassion. Having a group of like-minded people to reflect together is very helpful.

The author helps you to understand how you can become a better bystander when witnessing harm, start discussions about race within your workplace, families and friends groups, but also lead on this work within organisations and universities.

I would recommend listening this to Audible, as it’s narrated by Nova Reid herself and she is very engaging. It’s literally like being in the room and having a conversation with her one to one.

An eye opening tool to ultimately become a better human being and challenge the societal systems for equality.

[tabby ^_^ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book took a while to read as i was reading it with my book club, which is a chapter every two weeks, but as reid says in the book, it's fine, and probably advised, to leave the book and come back to it (you must come back to it though) so you have time to digest.
a book interwoven with facts, stories, instructions, but mainly hard and brutal truths, it's brilliant and i highly recommend it to any white person starting their anti racism journey.

[Emily-Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I was looking for, comprehensive, educational, intentional and overall so well written. I listened to the audio book version- definitely would recommend that if you’re not great at sitting down to read non-fiction books. There’s heavy content so listening may be easier to do for some rather than reading. Would definitely recommend reading this or listening to the audio book and have a notebook with you for the reflection parts.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book!
It's difficult to put into words how much The Good Ally will turn your world upside down - but in the most healing and transformational way. If, like me, you care about other humans and you're committed to being anti-racist, this is definitely the book for you. It's called 'a guided journey' because it is just that. It's much more than a book you just read and put back on your shelf. You will be referring back to every section for the rest of your life.
I approached this book wanting to be more confident about calling out racism and other people's poor behaviour. Now that I've read it, I realise it's actually about ME. Looking inward and realising my own racism (which we all have because we live in a racist society). There are not 'good people' and 'bad people'. We can be the kindest person yet still harm people with racism because we haven't unlearned it. We can be loving and still enact harm. We can also call in people around us who we love and adore when their behaviour is harmful. Nova supports us every step of the way (although she will not be patting us on the back and giving us a cookie for it!). Nova's background is mental health and wellbeing - which is so apparent when you read The Good Ally. Doing this work will bring up feelings of shame, guilt, anger and more. And Nova helps us to build resilience so we can keep going with our anti-racism anyway. It's uncomfortable! As she says 'you might want to slam the book shut'. But by the end you will feel courageous and that you want to be part of a chain of courage which could actually change things for future generations. Are you ready? Buy this book - especially this week if you're reading this on 15th Sept 2021! This book needs to be on bestseller lists. Thank you for writing it Nova.

[Frances Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for any (white) person who considers themselves an ally, and a book that has the great potential to change individuals, communities and institutions if we open our hearts and minds to this radical but obtainable possibility.

I have been doing the online anti-racism training that the author offers so when I heard Nova also had a book coming out, I immediately ordered a copy for myself and several for friends and family. The book does not disappoint and indeed I am going to buy more for other people in my life who are (or are not!) ready to do the work, dig deep into their own biases and ego-led prejudices, thoughts, and feelings and truly look at the world differently. The most important message in The Good Ally and in Nova's teachings is that the only way forward is through collective healing, and if you believe in that too and are ready to do your part, then please, please, please read this book.

[Adam Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please, please read this.

There are few books that can have the power to completely transform your perspective, challenge you and actually make you a better person. And I do mean a BETTER person. Perhaps not for you (at least not as much) but for people who need you to be better, for their and their families sake.

Forget what you think you know about your own racism. You might not even think you have racism in you. Like I said, forget that. This isn't a fun book. But it is a very very good and important one. I am very glad to have read and digested it and I only hope many many more people do.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an incredible eye opening book. Thank you to Nova for her sheer courage and determination to help society do better despite everything she has endured. Would highly recommend this book to anyone willing to do better and are curious about what it means to truly be anti-racist. She has included so much information on inequality faced by black people every day in different settings of society and very helpfully provides examples and suggestions on how we as anti-racists can disrupt and challenge the status-quo.

[Róisín · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very readable and had some really practical ideas for action towards the end. The sections on education I found particularly useful

[Connor Whitley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Thomas Brand · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Ally delves into a hard subject to read about, whoever you are. Anti-Racism. This might be because you've been oppressed by racism your whole life, and it's traumatic to think about it head-on. Or it might be because it can be hard to accept exactly how much racism has impacted the world you grew up in. 
But while the subject might be hard to read about, Nova Reid's writing is just the opposite. Her talent and experience as an anti-racism campaigner shine through, clearly explaining the topic in a way that is clear and easy to follow. 
And this cannot have been an easy task for the author. Throughout the book, Reid explains how much her work has affected her. Both the personal trauma of facing her own feelings and the external trauma of the number of white people who've tried to erase her experiences to make themselves feel better. 
But while I've said The Good Ally is easy to follow, I don't mean it's an easy read. Racism and anti-racism is a difficult topic to process. It took me a while to finish this book, simply because it took time to take in everything I was reading. 
As a white male, it's all too easy for me to ignore how deeply racism is part of my world and how much I've benefitted from it. I will put my hand up as one of those people who, in the past, has argued that I'm one of the "good ones". I've looked at the world, and I've told myself that racism is no longer the problem it was a few decades ago. But that simply isn't the case. Because racism, especially anti-black racism, is a baked-in part of our world. 
But here's the trick Reid manages to pull off. She presents her arguments in a way that directs us to accept the parts we play in institutional racism without making it feel like a personal attack. And if you do feel like it's a personal attack, she takes you through the process of why this is and how you can learn to see things differently. 
At the end of the day, fellow white people, while it may not be your personal fault that racism exists, you still benefit from it and have been taught not to question it as it only affects other people. And being actively anti-racist, while hard, does not ultimately take anything away from you.


I learnt so much from reading The Good Ally, and I cannot recommend it enough to people. Especially fellow white people. There is so much about the everyday world of racism that we don't see because we live in a world designed around us and our own comfort. Nova Reid sets this out in a way that isn't angry or accusatory and simply has to be listened to if we want to be a proactive part of a better society.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely timely book which will challenge any white reader to get reflective and uncomfortable in order to unlearn their racism on the journey to being a better ally. The book is brilliantly written with grace and humour but never shying away from difficult truths and calls to action. There have been many books written on antiracism in the last few years but I found it extremely helpful to read one written in and for a British context. We have an unhelpful attitude towards conversations around race and racism and this book really helps to address that head on.

This book is beautifully authentic and endlessly practical. Read it and be changed.

[B.S. Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘I invite you to be courageous and get comfortable with being uncomfortable, because any discomfort you feel is temporary and pales in comparison to what black and brown people often have to experience on a daily basis.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started, we have work to do.’

The Good Ally is more than a book, it's a guided journey for anyone and everyone into the complex subject of fighting social injustice. It isn't a book about how to simply not be racist, but about being actively anti-racist, which is something we all need to learn how to do.

The writing style was easy, straightforward and structured in a helpful way, Nova Reid has nailed a perfect conversational style to her writing that makes even difficult subjects like this easy to follow and understand on a personal level.

Encouraging readers not to only fight against the blatant systemic racism that we can all see, but to reflect inwards and assess our own internal biases and microaggressions we may not even realise. Of course, this can get uncomfortable and painful, as we look at ourselves and realise we may have been harbouring unconscious racism or prejudice against others, or even ourselves.

The beauty of this book is Reids gentle focus on self-care - they acknowledge how painful this kind of reflection can be, and encourage the reader to be kind to themselves, to practice loving and caring for yourself, and to not allow your subconscious and taught behaviour to influence who you are and the choices you make.

A frustrating, painful read but something that should definitely be on your bookshelf regardless.

[SJ Snelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Good Ally' is heavy, heart-holding, challenging and encouraging.

Not a book to whizz through but to sit and reflect with.

I love how Nova has approached building knowledge and self-reflection before asking readers to participate in further engagement with effective anti-racism practices.

The book is written with empathy for a learning reader whilst also offering substantial challenge and asking readers to be accountable for their own actions.

Nova makes a dedicated effort in explaining racism within the British context and experience. This alongside her use of data, case studies, empathy, reflective questions and inspirational quotes makes this book stand out to me.

The book has chapters dedicated to Black women, racism at work, racism in education and raising children in addition to a number of chapters providing knowledge on both racism and reflections around trans-formative social justice.

I have underscored line after line and bent a significant number of corners because there is so much I want to come back to and revisit.

I highly recommend this book. It is in my opinion for everyone, regardless of where they are on their anti-racism journey - You will, without doubt, find this book valuable.

[Nienke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impactful book on how to recognize our own racism, the historical and political background of systemic racism and most of all how to be part of the change towards an anti-racist society; despite fear and other challenges.

The depth and breath of the examples shared often took my breath away, I did not realize the extent of the impact racism now and over the past centuries: generation after generation after generation. It is everywhere. I am deeply impressed by the way Nova describes everything, it is so powerful and so very respectful; it will make everyone think twice and incite people to keep on reading and keep on doing the work.

It is important to not cut to the end of the book or read a summary version. Only then can the impact be really felt.

I appreciate the many practical examples of how to show up, challenge and ask questions based on curiosity and empathy. That will make addressing micro aggressions, whereas still scary, somewhat less scary.

It would be great when this would be read by basically everyone, especially politicians, policy makers, educators and parents. The shared understanding and knowledge will make the world a better place, small step by small step.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definitive handbook every white person should read

If you are white then, sadly, you will be racist. You are brought up with the concept of white supremacy. Through television, books, education, and those around you. When I was a child every black person was either craven coward, a fearsome savage or a comic stooge, that is how they were portrayed in films. In school I was taught how we, the British, colonised and brought civilization to the savages.( We still do) I lived in the west country and never saw anyone black or brown. So it is in my subconscious that black and brown people are not to be trusted. Since then I have read and watched about how we the white people have fouly treated any and everyone who is not white, the black and the Jew the most. I am ashamed, I hate racism, but through this book I have learned that I am still a racist even if it is unconscious. This book has shown me how to overcome my shame and most importantly the way to be a proactive anti-racist. Please read this, learn to acknowledge your inherent racism, and how to become a better human being.

[Jen Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Ally is a book for those who want to be better allies against racism. Reid recognises that we live in a society where we are surrounded by systemic racism, and so being anti-racist is a constant, and conscious act.

Occasionally the self-help tone gets a little patronising, but I really appreciated the straightforward, practical advice that Reid weaves throughout the book. Sure, we're all pretty good at spotting overt racism, but it's those subtler, though no less sinister kinds, like microagressions and implicit bias, that can often slip under the radar unopposed. Unlearning inherent racism is just as important as actively practising anti-racism.

While The Good Ally is not an easy read (and Reid's repeated reminders to self-care are helpful), it is a rewarding one. I learned a lot, and would recommend this to other readers looking for guidance in how to really practice the anti-racism you preach.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Natalie Alleyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning! Courageous, inspiring, impactful and full of knowledge and truth bombs! I cannot recommend this book enough. The most anticipated of my life time and it did not disappoint! I implore you to join Nova as she encourages us to be the change you wish to see. This book is written so beautifully. Full of life and wisdom - healing and inspiration. You cannot NOT do anything but take action. Eloquent, intelligent and so well researched it will keep your interest and compel you to keep reading at the same time as willing you to pause…take a moment…breathe…take it in….allow the change to manifest…allow the truth to land….allow yourself the time and space to transform and then go forth and flourish!!! This book is for you! BUT for the betterment of others…that’s why I think it is the most important piece of self development work you will ever do. So go ahead - DO IT! Do the work…when studied deeply with compassion for self, empathy for others and honest self reflection this book really will be the change we all want to see.

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was motivated to read this book because I wanted to know not just how I could educate myself about racism, but what I could tangibly do about it. Honestly I was left feeling a little empty, or like I missed something despite watching really hard.

“Anti-racism work is about unlearning discrimination that has been normalised; consciously and continuously disrupting the status quo, in society, in work, in others and ultimately, in yourself.”

As instructed, I spent some time reflecting on my attitudes and internal expectations and beliefs, and unintentional microagressions, and that is useful, but not quite what I was hoping for. One useful suggestion was to think carefully about what content I share when teaching - who shows up in pictures, whose work gets cited, etc.

I also learned about British "reparations" that were paid, not to its slaves, but to the slaveholders, when England outlawed slavery in 1835. The debt that the country took on to do this was paid back by its taxpayers (including descendants of the slaves) all the way until 2015.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring and confrontational read on everyday racism, what we can learn about ourselves and why we should step up. I’d say this is a must read for anyone who’d want to actively contribute to dismantling racism. It was difficult to read about the atrocities committed in the name of white supremacy and I had to put the book down at intervals to cope – but my shame and discomfort doesn’t come near what Nova and other people of colour have gone through and are still going through daily. Nova is a gifted writer and storyteller who narrates you through acts necessary for change, but also emphasises that allyship is a mindset and requires an active attitude.

[Clivemichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive manual.
"Connecting with like-minded people to say and do shitty things to others is not healthy, but it is addictive—even if you feel you're on the side of “right”. If you find yourself doing so, get curious about why you're engaging and this behavior. Self interrogate when you're shaming, naming and dehumanizing others, particularly when they encounter misfortune, sometimes even when they've died--…
Gathering to collectively hate online reeks of superiority. Feeling morally superior to a person or groups of people is exactly what we are trying to eradicate. "

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is, quite possibly, one of the best on allyship I have read, if not the best. Nova Reid skilfully and shamelessly holds absolutely no punches as she calls out racism and simultaneously teaches people their role in it and their way out of it. If I could make every single white person I know read it I would. Instead, every time a white person needs helps with their showing up or their racism, they are getting a copy of this!!

[KFK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where are the 10 stars? Just 5 isn't enough!

Nova is blunt, direct, and takes us through the story of racism; examples of Black people's lives and how white surpemacy makes us be racists, even if we think we aren't.

I love how she makes you think about yourself, your bodily reactions, and how you have been racist/prejudicial.

I am KFK, and I am a racist. And I will work on unlearning it more and more and more.

[Emily Bubble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible and rounded journey, very much a must read. Covers everything from work, parenting, self care, to devastating anecdotes accounts of racism. Everything you need for a full picture.
A lovely section from the end “this work isn’t solely for you. It’s for humanity. Your fear though loud as hell is valid and is not more important than serving something greater than you.”

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for white people who are ready to tackle their racism and work towards being a changemaker. It’ll challenge you, I had to put it down a few times and think about what I’d read, but it was worth it!

[Carrie Swatten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read. Nova writes a wonderful book full of real life experience, incredible research and stories that cut straight through to the heart. I loved it and will no doubt read it again and again! The last chapter...powerful stuff 💔

[Sarah Knopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been on a journey for a few years to learn and understand my privilege as a cis white female. I know this journey oflearning will be lifelong, and that I will read innumerable books on this journey. The Good Ally stands out as one of the most impactful reads I’ve encountered so far. I read it slowly, as the author suggests, and it was important to take breaks. She is a brilliant voice: providing historical and current stories that are tragic and important to hold space for; she provides tangible ways to use one’s privilege, and she speaks with such gentleness and fervour. I will encourage everyone I know on this journey to read this book, and I am so grateful for the takeaways for myself.

[Bethanna Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Striking, important, uncomfortable and courageous. This should be in everyone’s reading catalogue. I am inspired and moved to self reflect on a deeper level than I have before. I will need read throughs this book again and again. Anti-racism is a journey that never ends and I’m glad to be on it.

[Lilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book- raw, therapeutically informed writing, compassionate, moving and practical! I've been talking about the book and what I've been learning and unlearning at work and with friends! ❤️

[Jemma-Leigh Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read if you’re serious about your anti racism journey! This is really thorough and in-depth, the author has many thinking/journaling points so you can really ‘do the work’ to reflect on your own racism. A really powerful and galvanising read