Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto

by Tricia Hersey
Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Religion and Theology
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Paperback • £10.99–£18.99
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  • ID: 2423
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9780316365215
  • Publisher: Little, Brown Spark
  • Published: 2022-10-11
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3

In 'Rest Is Resistance,' Tricia Hersey challenges the cultural obsession with productivity and the dehumanizing effects of grind culture. She argues that rest, particularly for marginalized communities, is a radical act of self-care and resistance. The book is rooted in spiritual energy, Black liberation, womanism, somatics, and Afrofuturism, offering a unique perspective on how rest can disrupt oppressive systems. Hersey combines captivating storytelling with practical advice, drawing from her deep experience in theology, activism, and performance art. This book serves as both a call to action and a guidebook for those seeking justice and liberation from the pressures of modern society.

Reviews
BookPage · 2025-10-13
beautiful 4.50

Hersey's prose is praised for its lyrical beauty and wisdom, reflecting her background as a poet and scholar.

The reviewer is captivated by Hersey's exquisite prose, which they describe as dripping with lyrical grace and wisdom. They appreciate the depth of her arguments and the way she weaves her background as a poet and scholar into her writing. The book is seen as a powerful manifesto that challenges the status quo and offers a fresh perspective on rest and resistance.

Quick quotes

    Hersey's prose is exquisitely beautiful, dripping with lyrical grace and wisdom that make her background as a poet and scholar obvious.

    This book is a powerful manifesto that challenges the status quo and offers a fresh perspective on rest and resistance.

    Hersey's arguments are both passionate and eloquent, making a compelling case for the importance of rest in our lives.

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books · 2023-02-06
insightful 4.00

The book offers a compelling alternative perspective on honoring one's past and reflects on various survival and resistance strategies.

This review highlights how the book challenges conventional views on rest and resistance. The reviewer appreciates the book's exploration of different survival strategies, finding it thought-provoking and insightful. They particularly value the book's ability to make them reflect on their own experiences and the broader societal implications of rest as a form of resistance.

Quick quotes

    This book offers an alternative perspective on honoring one's past, and it made me reflect on the different survival and resistance strategies of my own ...

    The book is a powerful call to action, urging readers to reconsider their relationship with rest and productivity.

    Hersey's writing is both poetic and profound, making complex ideas accessible and engaging.

Religion for Her · 2022-11-01
compelling 4.20

The manifesto argues that rest is a form of resistance against capitalism and white supremacy.

This review emphasizes the book's argument that rest is a form of resistance, disrupting and pushing back against capitalism and white supremacy. The reviewer finds Hersey's arguments compelling and her writing style engaging. They appreciate the book's ability to challenge conventional notions of productivity and the importance of rest in achieving justice and freedom.

Quick quotes

    This manifesto argues that rest is a form of resistance because it disrupts and pushes back against capitalism and white supremacy.

    Hersey's writing is both passionate and eloquent, making a clear and compelling case for the importance of rest.

    The book offers a powerful and necessary critique of our society's obsession with productivity and the devaluation of rest.

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