No Straight Road Takes You There by Rebecca Solnit: A writer who gives us hope for today, and tomorrow
No Straight Road Takes You There: Essays for Uneven Terrain
Author
:
Rebecca Solnit
ISBN-13
:
978-1803511641
Publisher
:
Granta
Guideline Price
:
£16.99
'At this point of my life, I have lived through social, political, and scientific changes that would have been not just unbelievable but in many cases inconceivable in my youth,' writes
Rebecca Solnit
in yet another book of hope-engineering, almost hypnotic essays, crafted with her usual atypical sentences which are like soft waves of power crashing upon the barriers of imbecility.
In No Straight Road Takes You There, Solnit looks at the long view of humanity's faltering lurch towards some sense of responsibility in who we are and of our responsibilities to the world surrounding us (and what we should be doing to be around a little longer than currently predicted in order to further refine that concept).
Change for the better might come slowly, such as in areas Solnit has dedicated her life to as a writer and activist – the environment, feminism, democracy and human rights etc – but come it will, as history has shown us; what begins on the periphery eventually moves into the centre.
Solnit considers the circuitous routes some of these important changes have travelled: be it the
Biden
administration taking credit for
student loan relief
as though it were an imperious gift to impart, rather than a long campaign of struggle that was an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement, or the
International Energy Agency
finally accepting an end to new fossil fuel exploration and extraction, something
climate
activists have long been arguing for.
READ MORE
The pieces dander with a desire for knowledge under Solnit's unhurried pen (one essay's title, In Praise of the Meander, could be shorthand for her style) and are rich with all kinds of references, from Toni Morrison, Hokusai,
George Orwell
and Li Po to Ted Lasso.
There are changes in gear, too, with honourable takedowns of
Harvey Weinstein
, and how Silicon Valley has hollowed out her home city San Francisco. One particular essay has the most merciless tone I think I have ever read in Solnit's voice: the appropriately titled On Not Meeting Nazis Halfway. It sparkles as an empowered ethical stand in a volume full of enriching trails of thoughts and deliberations. If you have followed the path Solnit has made by walking with her books thus far, then you'll want to take that journey onwards with this latest volume. A writer who gives us hope for today, and tomorrow.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
No Straight Road Takes You There by Rebecca Solnit: A writer who gives us hope for today, and tomorrow
No Straight Road Takes You There: Essays for Uneven Terrain Author : Rebecca Solnit ISBN-13 : 978-1803511641 Publisher : Granta Guideline Price : £16.99 'At this point of my life, I have lived through social, political, and scientific changes that would have been not just unbelievable but in many cases inconceivable in my youth,' writes Rebecca Solnit in yet another book of hope-engineering, almost hypnotic essays, crafted with her usual atypical sentences which are like soft waves of power crashing upon the barriers of imbecility. In No Straight Road Takes You There, Solnit looks at the long view of humanity's faltering lurch towards some sense of responsibility in who we are and of our responsibilities to the world surrounding us (and what we should be doing to be around a little longer than currently predicted in order to further refine that concept). Change for the better might come slowly, such as in areas Solnit has dedicated her life to as a writer and activist – the environment, feminism, democracy and human rights etc – but come it will, as history has shown us; what begins on the periphery eventually moves into the centre. Solnit considers the circuitous routes some of these important changes have travelled: be it the Biden administration taking credit for student loan relief as though it were an imperious gift to impart, rather than a long campaign of struggle that was an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement, or the International Energy Agency finally accepting an end to new fossil fuel exploration and extraction, something climate activists have long been arguing for. READ MORE The pieces dander with a desire for knowledge under Solnit's unhurried pen (one essay's title, In Praise of the Meander, could be shorthand for her style) and are rich with all kinds of references, from Toni Morrison, Hokusai, George Orwell and Li Po to Ted Lasso. There are changes in gear, too, with honourable takedowns of Harvey Weinstein , and how Silicon Valley has hollowed out her home city San Francisco. One particular essay has the most merciless tone I think I have ever read in Solnit's voice: the appropriately titled On Not Meeting Nazis Halfway. It sparkles as an empowered ethical stand in a volume full of enriching trails of thoughts and deliberations. If you have followed the path Solnit has made by walking with her books thus far, then you'll want to take that journey onwards with this latest volume. A writer who gives us hope for today, and tomorrow.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
The Movie Quiz: Who is the only Irish-born star to win a main acting prize at Cannes?
Who has not played or voiced the title character of a Dr Seuss adaptation? Benedict Cumberbatch Mike Myers Danny DeVito Bela Lugosi Who is about to be the next Frank Drebin? Liam Neeson Clint Eastwood Arnold Schwarzenegger Sylvester Stallone Who is something else? Trigger Balthazar Velvet Joey Which is the odd song out? We Have All the Time in World Underneath the Mango Tree Avenues and Alleyways All Time High Which movie is not set in Hawaii? Who was not accurately described by Wham!'s second single? Emilio Estevez Rob Lowe Lou Diamond Phillips Kiefer Sutherland Which is the odd adaptation out? Johnny Got His Gun (1971) Maximum Overdrive (1986) Tough Guys Don't Dance (1987) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) Who can be heard in Primal Scream's Loaded? Peter Fonda Dennis Hopper Marlon Brando James Dean To date, who is the only Irish-born performer to win a main acting prizes at Cannes? Richard Harris Colin Farrell Saoirse Ronan Brendan Gleeson Which does not feature a Goon? The Rebel (1961) Casino Royale (1967) Oliver! (1968) Life of Brian (1979)
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
Anna Wintour to step down as US Vogue editor after 37 years
Anna Wintour is stepping down from her role as American Vogue's editor-in-chief after 37 years, the Times of London has reported. Ms Wintour announced her decision in a staff meeting yesterday. She said the Condé Nast publication is seeking a new head of American editorial content. The person filling the newly created position will take over daily editing duties of a magazine that's considered a trendsetter in the fashion industry. READ MORE Ms Wintour, who serves as chief content officer for Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue , took on expanded duties after a company reorganisation four years ago, the company said in an email. Other markets, including Japan, the UK and France, already have appointed dedicated heads of editorial content. She has been a force in the fashion industry for decades, with her steely presence in the front row of fashion shows from the world's top designers. Her look and demeanour largely inspired the editor-in-chief character in the book and movie The Devil Wears Prada. The magazine's autumn fashion edition was the subject of a 2009 documentary, The September Issue. As Condé Nast's chief content officer, Ms Wintour oversees every brand globally - including Wired, Vanity Fair, GQ, AD, Condé Nast Traveler, Glamour, Bon Appétit, Tatler, World of Interiors, Allure and more, with the exception of the New Yorker. They're all part of the Newhouse family's media empire.
