Nonfiction

Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times

Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times

  • Downloads：3724
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-03-07 00:19:34
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Azar Nafisi
  • ISBN：0062947362
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Joyce ，

I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway。 I have not read any of the earlier works by Azar Nafisi， but this was a good place to start。 She uses the construct of letters to her late father in which she explores various great novels to gain a clearer understanding of what she has been experiencing in Washington DC as an Iranian American during COVID and the troubling years of late 2019 to 2020。 She also utilizes the literature to illuminate her own and her father's history in Iran。 H I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway。 I have not read any of the earlier works by Azar Nafisi， but this was a good place to start。 She uses the construct of letters to her late father in which she explores various great novels to gain a clearer understanding of what she has been experiencing in Washington DC as an Iranian American during COVID and the troubling years of late 2019 to 2020。 She also utilizes the literature to illuminate her own and her father's history in Iran。 Her reflections are interesting and thought-provoking。 It is rather chilling to see the comparisons between Iran and the US。 I will definitely plan to read or re-read many of the novels mentioned， with an eye to reading more dangerously。 It would probably be more meaningful to read this book with good familiarity with the works cited。 。。。more

Dana ，

I received this ARC for free via a Goodreads giveaway。 When I read the title and description of this book， I was expecting a book that would add gasoline to the angry ember I’ve been carrying around for a long time。 I was hoping this book would be a weapon to add to my arsenal。 It did not take long for me to realize I was not going to get what I wanted。 To be honest， I was a little disappointed and even told a friend that I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy reading it。 I can’t get The Ro I received this ARC for free via a Goodreads giveaway。 When I read the title and description of this book， I was expecting a book that would add gasoline to the angry ember I’ve been carrying around for a long time。 I was hoping this book would be a weapon to add to my arsenal。 It did not take long for me to realize I was not going to get what I wanted。 To be honest， I was a little disappointed and even told a friend that I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy reading it。 I can’t get The Rolling Stones out of my head because “You can't always get what you wantBut if you try sometimes， well， you just might find You get what you need。” By the end of the first letter/chapter， I realized this book was going to be what I needed， not what I wanted。 I’m sure there are many other lessons that could be pulled from this but I needed to be reminded to humanize those with whom I disagree fiercely lest I become just another version of what I consider to be the “enemy” of Justice and progress。 I’ve read most of the books Azar Nafisi mentions throughout her book and I really enjoyed seeing them through her perspective。 I believe there is something for nearly everyone within these pages。 。。。more

Michelle ，

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC！I was delighted to see a new book by Azar Nafisi， and one that sounded right up my alley。 I did love the stories of her reading the books included and how it intersected with her life。 So I recommend it！ I have one small quibble， and that is the letter-to-her-father format。 I don't mind it being in a letter format， but the continual addressing of him in sometimes nearly every paragraph became distracting to me as a reader。 But I did enjoy this look at how reading Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC！I was delighted to see a new book by Azar Nafisi， and one that sounded right up my alley。 I did love the stories of her reading the books included and how it intersected with her life。 So I recommend it！ I have one small quibble， and that is the letter-to-her-father format。 I don't mind it being in a letter format， but the continual addressing of him in sometimes nearly every paragraph became distracting to me as a reader。 But I did enjoy this look at how reading can get us through tough times。 。。。more

Billy ，

I received an advance copy of this book through a giveaway listed on Goodreads。Azar Nafisi's Read Dangerously is the most thoughtful mainstream examination of literature I've read in quite a while。 The book， formed out of a series of letters Nafisi wrote to her father， explores the relationship between democracy， particularly during the Trump administration， and difficult times like the current pandemic， and literature that shines a light on the flaws of the world （in this case， specifically in I received an advance copy of this book through a giveaway listed on Goodreads。Azar Nafisi's Read Dangerously is the most thoughtful mainstream examination of literature I've read in quite a while。 The book， formed out of a series of letters Nafisi wrote to her father， explores the relationship between democracy， particularly during the Trump administration， and difficult times like the current pandemic， and literature that shines a light on the flaws of the world （in this case， specifically in the US and Iran） throughout its modern history。 The works mentioned in these letters run the gamut， from Plato to Margaret Atwood to Ta-Nehisi Coates and more， and through Nafisi's writing readers see how these works have reflected the times they were written in， and how one can find a personal connection to literature。 As such， Nafisi has provided an excellent introduction to analyzing these great works in a thoughtful and very accessible manner; I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history or literary analysis， and will definitely be submitting it to my library's end of year best list。 。。。more

Jennifer ，

This book weaves together the author's personal experience as an Iranian women and the importance of literature during times of strive and war （including the Trump error）。 Juxtaposed with these two heavy topics is the author's relationship with her （now deceased） father。 She writes the book as a series of letters to him， and the personalization of such a heavy topic brings the point closer to home and humanizes it。This book made me think about the importance of literature in a way that I haven't This book weaves together the author's personal experience as an Iranian women and the importance of literature during times of strive and war （including the Trump error）。 Juxtaposed with these two heavy topics is the author's relationship with her （now deceased） father。 She writes the book as a series of letters to him， and the personalization of such a heavy topic brings the point closer to home and humanizes it。This book made me think about the importance of literature in a way that I haven't before， and also gave me an appreciation for what some authors go through just to have their stories published in places where free speech isn't a guarantee。To me， this book falls under the genre of literary theory and is some heavy reading。 I wouldn't normally have chosen this book， but I received an advance copy from the publisher for review。 。。。more

Lorri ，

Read Dangerously， presented as a series of letters the author has written to her father， analyzes a number of well-known， diverse works of fiction， showing us how literature helps us understand and confront societal challenges。 In literature， Nafisi teaches， we wage wars against tyranny， racism， closed- mindedness， and despair， and in literature we find the tools to construct a better world。 Nafisi’s selection of authors include powerhouses ranging from Salman Rushdie to Margaret Atwood and from Read Dangerously， presented as a series of letters the author has written to her father， analyzes a number of well-known， diverse works of fiction， showing us how literature helps us understand and confront societal challenges。 In literature， Nafisi teaches， we wage wars against tyranny， racism， closed- mindedness， and despair， and in literature we find the tools to construct a better world。 Nafisi’s selection of authors include powerhouses ranging from Salman Rushdie to Margaret Atwood and from James Baldwin to David Grossman， to name but a few。 I will keep this book and refer to it again and again。 It has inspired me to select and read books more mindfully。@DeyStreetBooks 。。。more

Michaela ，

Definitely worth a read :） I've always loved Azar Nafisi's books。 Definitely worth a read :） I've always loved Azar Nafisi's books。 。。。more

Andréa ，

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss。