Men Explain Things to Me was one of the books Patrick and Katie gave to Diane for her Birthday. After Diane read Men Explain Things to Me–before she lent the book to Katie to read–Diane suggested I read Rebecca Solnit’s book. The essay that became the title of the book refers to the tendency of some men to talk down to women, explaining the obvious. Men seem to think they know just about everything and women need “help” no matter what the subject is. Solnit sees this as a fundamental problem in conversations between men and women. Solnit’s other clever essays tackle the problems of rape, marriage equality, and Virginia Woolf’s concept of doubt and ambiguity. This short book, just over 100 pages, packs a wallop! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Men Explain Things to Me p. 1
The Longest War p. 19
Worlds Collide in a Luxury Suite: Some Thoughts on the IMF, Global Injustice, and a Stranger on a Train p. 41
In Praise of the Threat: What Marriage Equality Really Means p. 59
Grandmother Spider p. 69
Woolf’s Darkness: Embracing the Inexplicable p. 85
Pandora’s Box and the Volunteer Police Force p. 109
Image Credits p. 125
Acknowledgments p. 127
George, I appreciate writers who can write on such issues with original insight and perspective. One simply can’t afford to be too informal or generic either in style and substance.
Prashant, Rebecca Solnit presents her ideas in clever, sometimes humorous ways. MEN EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME is well worth reading.
Sounds good, George.
Patti, Diane enjoyed MEN EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME. So did I.
Well, it’s our job to do this, right? Just kidding! I do explain certain things to Jackie – things she doesn’t understand, like football, but only if she asks. I know she has no interest in it. There’s a reason that “mansplaining” is a word now.
Jeff, Rebecca Solnit discusses “mansplaining” and talking down to women in MEN EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME. I see it happening all the time in public.
So explaining something is “talking down”? Okay, and the target audience for this book is…?
Rick, explaining the obvious to women demeans them. Rebecca Solnit provides plenty of evidence that many men assume they know way more than women do. The target audience for MEN EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME is everyone.
I’m guessing Cap’n Bob will not be reading this one.
Jeff, I’m sure the good Cap’n never “mansplains” to women.
This is a tremendous little book that everyone should read. What’s interesting is the most famous essay was not the most important one. I hope Solnit is read more than just for inspiring the mansplaining meme.
Jim, I want to read more of Rebecca Solnit’s work after being enlightened by MEN EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME.