Privilege, Power, and Difference by Allan G. Johnson

Johnson holds back no punches in this very direct outline of the problems modern American society faces with privilege.

While I respect his conclusions--okay, fine, most of his conclusions--I feel like the big problem with this book is that it actually provoked me to feel defensive. I felt really open to receiving what knowledge he had to offer me until he took things to such a monumental level. I understand that he's trying to reinforce the importance of working to break down these social barriers and constructs we've created, but he takes it to a place that is too "big picture" for me to retain hope for change.

On the other hand, I appreciated his thoroughness and the much more serious academic tone of the book compared to the one I had read previously, 35 Dumb Things Well-Intended People Say. I wish I could take the best of both books and mash them up into one comprehensive super-book about improving issues of difference.

~7/10~