We need new stories The myths that subvert freedom

Review by Booklist Review

Governmental and cultural norms are under attack of late, a trend that has been decades in the making. The fundamental underpinnings of democracy that citizens take for granted, such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press, are far more fragile than one would like to believe, especially with theories and modes of behavior that were once relegated to the fringes of popular debate making their way into mainstream social media, thought, and legislation. Guardian columnist Malik analyzes essential philosophies of democratic society and various hot-button issues, including political correctness, gender equality, identity politics, and nativism, along with attendant and unexamined myths and disinformation that have proliferated while undergoing dangerous transformations. A nostalgic through line connects all the facets Malik explores that contribute to the assault on bedrock beliefs, an attack emboldened by complacency. Thoughtfully adding personal experiences as a female millennial of African descent to her discourse, Malik presents fierce opinions and cogent observations that deliver a deeply intelligent and powerfully provocative work that calls into question long-held beliefs of both the left and the right.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Guardian columnist Malik debuts with a persuasive debunking of political and cultural myths that impede social justice in the U.S. and U.K. One such notion is that mainstream media outlets such as the BBC are neutral observers and not part of white-led, establishmentarian networks that "speaks truth's power." She also traces the origin of the idea that political correctness "stifl free thought and intellectual inquiry" to think tanks funded by wealthy conservatives in order to combat the influence of liberal universities, and shows how self-interested social media companies have helped push the narrative that free speech protections should be "as absolute as possible," even when the speech in question "silences the voices of others or puts them in danger of violence." Disputing the myth that feminism has gone too far and now seeks to marginalize men, Malik points to the rollback of abortion rights, the persistence of the gender pay gap, and the lack of protections against "cybersexual harassment." Malik fluidly incorporates her experiences as a media commentator and the daughter of a conservative Muslim family, and draws on the work of scholars including Judith Butler and Jerry Lembcke. This is a lucid reminder that the fight for equality is a battle of ideas. (May)

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Review by Library Journal Review

Guardian columnist Malik invites readers to analyze the media environment and political and cultural landscape of the early 21st century, with a keen, critical eye. The book's chapters each focus on a different myth that is prevalent in Western discourse, including the ideas that free speech is under unprecedented attack, that political correctness and identity politics are out of control, and that movements for gender equality have "gone too far." The author is excellent at revealing the oversimplification and outright falsehoods used by the myths' greatest advocates and explaining how opportunists have successfully used these myths to promote harmful politicians and policies. There are detailed sections about the Me Too movement and the use of male power to subordinate women, along with a history of how myths can consume their believers. This volume is worth reading and rereading; dense with information and arguments, it has so much to unpack and demands active engagement from its readers. VERDICT Readers seeking a high-level analysis of political discourse will most appreciate Malik's work, and it would make an excellent addition to college syllabi and library shelves.--Sarah Schroeder, Univ. of Washington Bothell

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