Read This to Get Smarter: About Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More

by Blair Imani

An approachable guide to being an informed, compassionate, and socially conscious person today—from issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation to disability, class, and beyond—from critically acclaimed historian, educator, and author Blair Imani.

It is more important than ever to be knowledgeable about a host of social issues, as well as confident and appropriate in how to talk about them. What's the best way to ask someone what their pronouns are? How do you talk about racism with someone who doesn't get it? What is intersectionality anyway, and why do you need to understand it? While it can seem intimidating or overwhelming to learn and talk about such issues, it's never been easier thanks to educator and historian Blair Imani, creator of the viral sensation “Smarter in Seconds” and “Learn O'Clock” series of videos.

Accessible to learners of all levels—from those just getting started on the journey to those deeply entrenched in social justice—Read This to Get Smarter covers a range of issues including race, gender, class, disability, privilege, oppression, relationships, family, and beyond. This essential guide is a radical but warm and non-judgmental call-to-arms, structured in such a way that you can read it cover-to-cover or start with any topic you want to learn more about.

With Blair Imani as your teacher, you'll “get smarter” in no time, and be equipped to intelligently and empathetically process, discuss, and educate others on the crucial issues we must tackle to achieve a liberated, equitable world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice, Feminism, Race, Disability, LGBT, Audiobook

192 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2021

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would make a good gift for a pre-teen, or for somebody really new to learning about these issues, but there really wasn't anything here I wasn't already aware of.

[Sahitya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never actually watched this author’s Smarter in Seconds series of videos on YouTube, so I didn’t know about her scholarship in various topics. I got to know about this book while browsing Twitter and immediately wanted to check it out. And I’m glad I did.

This book is definitely more of a primer if you wanna learn more about topics like race, class, gender, sexuality, disability and more which are highly relevant to our daily lives, both in a personal and political manner. And the author doesn’t just restrict herself to these issues. We also get to read about personal identity in general, the different kinds of relationships we can have, the importance of boundaries and consent in relationships, the historical differences between capitalism and socialism, the inherent value assigned to labor based on the occupation, the ableism which is ingrained in society preventing disabled people from navigating this world without troubles and much more. I loved how the author gave the historical context to everything, letting us know how things came to be, why they were right or wrong, and why it is important for us to learn these various terms and move towards a more progressive society.

I may have known about many of these topics but I found it was still knowledgeable for me to learn about them in depth, get more comfortable with inclusive language, understand the ways we might have been causing harm till now and how to unlearn such things so that we can be better in the future.

I love that overall, the one thing this book is predicated on is the philosophy of “Ubuntu” which might be translated as “humanity towards others” or in more easier terms, mutual respect. Respecting the humanity of others in every relationship and interaction, and not centering our privileged selves in every situation, reduces the harm we might cause and respect for everyone might lead to more harmonious life. I hope everyone can pick up this book, educate themselves on issues which are important to us as human beings, and learn to respect everyone on their terms and not ours.

[Stine Pernille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have I become a bit smarter about race, class, gender etc. now? Yes, I think so. I hope so. What about the "wokeness" of the book?!
This is an interesting book that has a fresh view on the topics it deals with. The bibliography, index and reflection questions at the end of each chapter encourages me to read parts of this with my students. Reading this book has taught me more about concepts such as "deadnaming", "eurocolonialism" and "cisnormativity", to mention a few new things I have (probably?) become smarter about now.
The author has an interesting Instagram page where she posts videos she calls "Smarter in Seconds" ... Check it out!

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blair Imani has delivered on her promise of getting smarter by reading this book. While many of the topics she discusses may seem, at first glance, to be topics you may feel you already know a lot about, Imani goes in depth and presents information in such a clear, straightforward manner that I learned something new in every chapter. What I loved most about this book is that the information is given very matter-of-factly. The topics are not up for debate. They are presented clearly as how things are and it is up to us to do the work and become more educated so as to treat people, ALL people, with respect. Read this book if you want to get smarter or are just hoping to become a better human being.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed Blair Imani for years—even before her Smarter in Seconds series. I love her approach to compassionate, accessible education. This book encapsulates her approach. I think it’s an excellent 101 book on race, gender, class, sexuality, and more. Her writings on whether to apologize, communication strategies, and more are useful. I do wonder about the best audience for this book because I think the folks who need to read it might not be the same audience who actually reads it. Despite that, I’m glad I’ve read it and have it in my recommendation arsenal as needed!

[Elijah Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Blair Imani does exactly what she sets out to do: teach. It's easy to think we know about these topics before reading, but the book offers new perspectives regarding everyday life and interaction. After reading this book, I feel more educated, and I will use what I learned to be a better ally to myself and others.

[Camilla]

så.. rater man den her på materialet eller hvad jeg selv fik ud af den?

for materialet er der ikke rigtig noget at sætte en finger på, Blair kommer godt omkring det meste og det er meget basic der er perfekt til nybegyndere - selvom der er meget information er det letforståeligt og giver et godt overblik over en masse ting.

men jeg vidste selv 90-95% af det så det var ikke fordi der var så meget nyt, alligevel er den ret god at have hvis der lige er noget der skal opfriskes. jeg var vild med de afsluttende spørgsmål efter hvert kapitel så man kan overføre det man har læst til sit eget liv.

altså, materialet er til 5 stjerner.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blair does a wonderful job covering a variety of topics with historical context, intersectionality, and a ton of compassion. It’s hard to choose a favorite part of the book, but I love the way she covered “communication” on page 50, and “socialism” on page 68. Just like her Smarter in Seconds series, in this book, she explains everything succinctly without losing any of the important points. This is a very accessible read that’s great for youth and adults alike. I truly think this is a must read ~ in fact, I’m ordering more copies so I can gift to my friends. 10/10 recommend!

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO GOOD! As a fairly well-read liberal queer person I assumed a lot of this book would be reviewing information I already knew, and boy was I was wrong. I learned SO MUCH. Blair Imani is such a talented educator who masterfully breaks down complicated subject matter into easily understandable verbiage and I am so grateful for all of the content she puts out into the world. I plan to return to this book anytime I need a refresher or need to explain something on race, class, gender, disability, and more!

[Sarah Soldano · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and accessible introduction to an array of complex topics surrounding identity, class relationships, disability, race, gender and more. Imani’s guide is one I am sure I will revisit and recommend again and again. If everyone opened their mind to its lessons, I think we’d live in a better world!

[Zivile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is seriously the best book on educating yourself on various topics. B. Imani’s style is so approachable but super informative in condensed way. Working now on establishing a book club at work for bias training!

[Donna Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terminology, definitions and timelines oh my I feel like I just barely passed a course compressed with an overwhelming amount of information to make me smarter.

[Aja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a stocking stuffer for those who are trying to get better in these conversations but need a little nudge in the right direction.

[Kar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another must-read. This is a wonderful overview of social identities and relationships, written in a concise and approachable manner. Would love to see this become mandated reading in high schools. There is something for everyone in this book, whether you are new to exploring social identities and justice, or you are well versed in this area of knowledge.

[Vicki Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for perspective-taking skills development. Nice reflection questions. Would be a good book for discussion groups. I listened to the audiobook which was excellent.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried that this book’s length would simplify the topics to the effect of not really saying anything, but Imani has such competence in her signature concision (a word I had to look up as I read her book!) that she does each topic justice.

I was familiar with most of the content, but I’m really glad this book exists and would love to use it as a community teaching tool to gain shared language around vital topics like identity, race, disability, class, and gender.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

If ANY of the subjects covered by the precious Blair Imani are new to you, this is the book for you. This includes race, class, disability, and identity.
If you’re well-versed, you might find finding yourself wanting to skip ahead. Imani’s accessible, light touch is ideal for starting a journey towards understanding the ways we can avoid contributing to patriarchy, white supremacy and ableism.
If you don’t already follow this author on Instagram, get on it — her videos there are bite-sized accessible learning modules.

[Caleb Lagerwey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was mostly as advertised: it's a basic introduction to some history, sociology, psychology, etc. around identity, relationships, social constructions, and more. Because it was so introductory, I understand the lack of more citations--the book does include a list of suggested readings and references at the end of the book--but there were a few times where I wished to peek behind the research curtain a bit more. While not everyone is going to agree with every part of the book, I appreciated its respectful tone and sharing the basics of contemporary thought on many of these issues. I recommend this to educators, parents, and those trying to enter more respectful dialogues and relationships with people different from themselves.

[Linnea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very well-intentioned book that covers a whole host of topics, which is why I've given it 3 stars. Blair Imani is a social media creator who makes short-form educational videos that are "perky and quirky," per the about the author section, and the book is written in that vein.

This book divided into six sections, each of which covers a topic to "get smarter" about, and each section is about 20-30 pages long. The author gives a light overview to each topic with a conversational tone and makes sure to highlight misconceptions the reader may have and why those potentially-well-intentioned ideas are no longer appropriate now that society has learned more.

In theory, this is a great idea. In practice, it proves difficult. Many of the sections have statements about new-to-mainstream ideas, and then sort of just... peter off and start talking about something else. A lot of assertions are made without discussion, which I found risky: assertions such as how to refer (or not refer) to groups of people, without really explaining how or why that's okay, or historical context that is massively glossed-over.

I would have preferred if this book was more of an encyclopedia on decolonialization. The content would be largely the same, but presenting it as a reference volume would align more with its use case. Also, then some of the fluffy explanation prose could be removed. Alternatively, I'd make this a series and expand much more on some very interesting ideas (gender being a creation by eurocolonialism for example) and then talk about how that relates to things like Two-Spirit.

The book does bring up a lot of phrases and could be a great primer but I am left with the feeling of incomplete thoughts and unfinished ideas. It reads like a longform tiktok transcript, posing provocative new ideas - and these ideas are true and very important, but it feels very click baity or "click for part 2" ish.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

-I received an ARC of this from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review-

I continue to be impressed with the work of Blair Imani! I first encountered Blair on Instagram, with her Smarter in Seconds videos since she tackles pretty tough concepts in a really succinct and accessible way. Read This To Get Smarter really takes that same approach - taking on large concepts such as racism, identify, and even capitalism in short, manageable, and honest sections. After each section the author provides reflection questions for the reader to asses their own familiarity with the concepts and to potentially determine where more work may need to be done. However, for me this book was a little too short as someone familiar with most of the topics and information the author was presenting, especially since a large number of pages are dedicated to the bibliography at the end. I loved the bibliography and this helps to serve as a self-directed way to learn more about the topics which, to be fair, is something that Blair Imani poses as a necessity to getting smarter about these topics. It is not always on those who are affected by these topics to education everyone around them, that is simply unrealistic and unsustainable. To be smarter about the world and people around us we must individually choose to do better and fill in our knowledge gaps with thorough research. So while I would have loved a more from Read This to Get Smarter, I fully believe that Imani accomplished what she set out to do with this book. It would be the perfect gift for teenagers and new adults who are grappling with the world around them. It presents the concepts and allows room for growth and further exploration.

[Read by Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the acknowledgements, Imani states that this book "captures [her] teaching methodology, which combines concision, personal narrative, history, sociology, critical race theory, intersectionality, and compassion." I can't think of a better way to sum up what Read This to Get Smarter: About Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More achieves. Each section explores some social issue that we can all benefit from being smarter about: Identity (names and pronouns), Relationships, Class, Disability, Race & Racism, Gender & Sexual Orientation.

The only chapter I struggled with was the chapter on class, which read like a socialist manifesto...which is fine if you're into that (which I was) but I can see turning some off. Also, there was one tiny section in Chapter 1 which I disagreed with, where Imani states, "Have you ever met...someone who goes by their middle name...? We call these nicknames." Ahem. I have used my middle name since before I was verbal, and have argued countless times with people about what my name "really" is. I assert that it is just as valid to use one's middle name as their first name. My name is certainly not a 'nickname.' But I forgive Imani for making the same erroneous claim I've had to deal with from people for my entire life.

If you've ever felt like you "didn't know enough" about a social topic, you'll definitely get smarter here. I even found value and information in the Gender & Sexual Orientation chapter, a topic which I've taught to teachers in professional workshops. Whatever your question, Imani answers it all in a concise and compassionate way.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I am a fan of Blair's work and this book is quintessentially her: accessible, intersectional learning! Check her out on Instagram to see her "Smarter in Seconds" microlearning series (this series inspired the book!).

It is less than 200 pages long so of course couldn't cover everything but it did attempt to be as intersectional as possible but only offers a preliminary insight into each topic.

The book is divided into main key topics: identity, relationships, class, disability, race & racism, sexuality & gender. I think I learned most in the chapter on class, including discovering two new economic systems communalism and feudalism.

The way Blair writes is very accessible, as is all her social media content. She includes her own personal narrative, to give the reader clear examples of how systems of oppression work to marginalize communities.

I gave it 4 stars as I think other topics could have been included in more detail such as queerbaiting, climate change and feminism.

I probably am not the target demographic for this point, as I am clued up already on many key terms/topics, however it does offer valuable sources and of course all citations are including at the end for further reading. I definitely learned something from reading it and (as Blair says) learning is a blessing!

[Morgan Rohbock · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐

A quick read if you're looking to improve your knowledge on how to discuss a variety of different topics that can be challenging to find the right words that do not unintentionally cause harm. For those who have read books on topics like race and sexuality, some of the information may feel basic but I appreciated the holistic approach. The book is brief in touching on a vast number of topics and I'd love to see more detailed deep dives. I think this book would be great to use with professional DEI book clubs and will be suggesting it at work!

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so good (not that i expected less, it’s blair imani)!!! the lessons were matter of fact, and everyone can learn something from it whether they are just a beginner to the topics or they are already knowledgeable. but, it is just the beginning so use it as a starting point to learn more about the topics!

my only critiques were that there wasn’t commentary on romantic orientation in the lgbtq+ section, or colourism in the racism section, which are both integral factors in both topics.

[Alyssa Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imani makes challenging topics really accessible no matter where you are in your journey of learning, or unlearning EDI related topics- overall helping you get smarter! Personal stories, important aspects of history, relevant examples of vocabulary and reflection questions bring immense value to this book. This book helped me identify specific areas that I have more learning and unlearning to do.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative & insightful!! Wow I love how Blair presents the reader with facts & data, and instructs us to what is right in a gentle way. I plan to give this to everyone who want to better understand how to talk about race, class, gender, disability, politics, economics and culture. I highly recommend.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always grateful for my daughter turning me onto Imani, a historian and influencer, who tackles a variety of important and often tough subjects, in her "Smarter in Seconds" short videos on Instagram and slightly longer ones called "Get Smarter with Blair Imani" on YouTube.

Her book 'Read This to Get Smarter: About Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More' is a more in-depth look at the history behind important topics that many people are afraid to address from slavery holdovers and cultural appropriation to engaging new acquaintances in a discussion on personal pronouns. Imani's never condescending in her videos and her writing style is equally empathetic and informative.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource if you want to learn more about “social justice” and systemic issues in todays society. Super digestible and easy to read, explaining everything and making no assumptions of prior understanding. Feel like this would be great for a middle or highschool class to read together haha

[Rebecca Milne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Many of the understandings we have been taught and socialized to believe are based on the assumptions of long dead European colonizers who worked to maintain systems of supremacy and dominance instead of presenting fact, evidence, or truth.”

A well written overview of the systems of oppression.

[Sarah Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It’s a quick read (150ish pages) with a lot of interactive parts and room for reflection.

“We can always get smarter about the world, topics we’re not familiar with, and the lived experiences of other people.”