a personal reflection

Lee is well-intentioned in her goal of uncovering inequities in access to education but the book lacks an organising argument/theory about 'who gets be smart'.
This book is more a series of reflections on Lee's personal journey towards realising there are inequities in Australia's education system. Unfortunately no solutions to addressing these inequities are suggested.

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6 people found this helpful

Just give it a go

Unlike other listeners the tittle of the book didn’t suggest to me she would give a solution to every problematic discussed here. I’d be confident the low ratings are made by people who fit the non empathetic model described in the Language chapter. In Australian politics, left or right, have show to be two sides of the same bird and both wings exercise their turn in power aiming to retain the current structure. She’s not claiming to have the answers but rather sharing her journey to come to see her own nation from a less righteous point of view and that in it self deserves recognition.

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5 people found this helpful

Very important, though not surprising

This is an important book. Whilst a lot of the information will not be surprising to anyone familiar with the political climate/class divides in Australia, it's still well worth a read.

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Enjoyable but thick with internal conflict, irony and prejudice

Some great points and an entertaining listen but let down by the authors obvious prejudices, and narrow minded approach. This is entertaining given the authors rants against prejudice. She rails against academia but the majority of the book comprises of quotes from others in an academic style. She also decides to take down the system by being part of it and paying fees to the academy that she hates. She starts with a given that conservatives are bad and refugees good without examining any nuance. She hates on western civilisation but completely skips over any issues in any other civilisation. She quotes debunked “research” to support her points. She notes issues of causation and correlation if it helps her argument but skips it if it doesn’t. She says research and knowledge should be accessible but her prejudice against conservatives will put off the majority of Australians from getting though this book.

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15 people found this helpful

Thought provoking

I had to force myself through parts of this, it holds a mirror that sometimes reflects an undesirable image. I disagreed with many aspects, some of the arguments and rationale, BUT, this challenged me, made me reconsider my position, didn’t necessarily change my mind but often did. All in all, though I feel it’s a bit biased in parts, it’s a must read if you’re brave enough to face your own convictions.

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2 people found this helpful

Absolutely perfect

Bri Lee consistently pushes your brain to think about systems and society in new ways by weaving in personal stories and leaving you feeling satisfied and motivated. Her writing is so intimate and she makes big concepts accessible to all. Just finished this book and feel so inspired to learn and love better. I want all my friends and family to read this book.

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1 person found this helpful

incredible read!!

I got so much out of this book! It was incredibly illuminating. Everyone should read it
I highly recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

Well researched, thoughtful discussion

Well researched, thoughtful discussion on education and the educated, and the politics of getting an education

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GOOD BLOODY WORK BRI

Loved it very much. Have enjoyed seeing the authors knowledge of feminism and BIPOC grow over the years. Just wish there was a mention of discrimination against queer especially transgender people in the education system. Regardless listening today for a second time!

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4 people found this helpful

Great Research and Ideas, but Didn't Hold Together

I loved Eggshell Skull. I thought it was a brilliant first book- the personal story added mountains to the ideas and arguments.
For this book... the personal stories often felt, a little indulgent. As a self named white- middle class- private school educated- lawyer from the city, with 2 - going on 3 degrees, the self richeous rants about class and inteligence feel like they a lacked a little humility.
Bri largely achieves her goal of making the ideas accessible to a wide audience. (Although another reviewer made the fair point that anone right of center would struggle to get through much of this book-given the 'basket of deplorables' attitude to conservatives).

She is an excellent resercher and wrtier and she has fascinating points to make about education, class, inteligence, race and how they apply to an Australian context. Do her personal stories add to this topic? I didnt think so in this book.
Many Indigenous Australian writers have already written on this topic and haven't had such a large profile, or a pop social issues book deal.
I hope that Bri's next focus might be some more listening (as she hints at) and amplifying of personal stories of the refuggees, international students and Indigenous people she speaks so much about.

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3 people found this helpful