Wokeness

This is by way of being a book review. 

Kevin Donnelly’s book The Woke Dictonary has just become available, and I am in the middle of reading my copy now.

(When I finished reading, I’ll write a full-length review for The Spectator Australia.) 

This is a fully revised and expanded edition of Kevin’s earlier book A Politically Correct Dictionary and Guide (2019). 

It contains 352 definitions of very trendy, with-it, Woke expressions from “Abelism” to “Zie.” 

Kevin gives us definitions that let us know how the Woke warriors themselves understand these words, thus enabling us to see the real claims they are making—often hidden underneath their jargon words. 

The book also contains seven short articles by Kevin telling us where this movement came from, the sort of thinking that lies behind it, what it says about race and gender, the role played by the thinking of Karl Marx, and (most importantly) what we can do about it. 

To give you a flavour of the book, here is what it says about the word “Woke” itself: 

“(Woke) Refers to being able to define oneself and see others and the wider world through a politically correct prism. The Urban Dictionary defines this as ‘A reference to how people should be aware in current affairs.’ As in ‘While you worried about whether you should order a decaf, free-trade, almond milk latte—China was building over 100 coal fired power stations, stay WOKE.’” This is a helpful book, warmly recommended.

You can find the book on Kevin Donnelly’s own website. Here’s the link: Books | Kevin Donnelly