Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning Hardcover – February 25, 2020

Item as described, prompt shipping.

It’s a book that needs to be re-read to interpret the depth of the “minor”, as in “minority” feeelings. it’s not a novel, it’s a series of related short stories that combine to give the reader pause on prejudice towards Asians. An excellent read.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s interesting and fun and frustrating all at the same time. She really lets the reader in as she opens herself up and in doing so established a sense of trust and understanding that I rarely find in books/people. I really appreciate the honesty and truth telling. She didn’t hold back and does a great justice to Asian American history/studies.In some ways though I have a sneaking suspicion that some of her ideas/conclusions were inspired by the discussion class she leads and discusses either in the book or acknowledgments section and it seemed like the last two chapters were shared thoughts and I feel like her students deserve more credit if this is the case. I don’t know why it came off like this and I could be wrong but it seems like there was some “borrowing” of ideas. Did anyone else get this sense?

Cathy Park Hong unpacks, confronts, and dismantles the “model minority” myth and fearlessly explores the complexities of being Asian in America while examining and updating race, capitalism and identity to the 21st century. Each essay is so layered and beautifully written, delving into the variegated truths and contradictions of Asian American identity and weaving personal memories and reflections with historical and current events and cultural and social criticism.Minor Feelings is many things, it’s hard to put into words, or words that can adequately convey how powerful and brilliant it is. Reading Minor Feelings was so deeply gratifying, satisfying, inspiring, empowering, and illuminating. I felt exposed and profoundly recognized as each essay, each page, each passage peeled away a layer to distant internalized feelings, “ugly feelings” that I had have never reckoned with or known how to even acknowledge. Minor Feelings articulates these emotions and experiences into sharp focus, where I felt overwhelmed as I wasn’t prepared to feel so seen, where my invisible self became visible. Hong’s essays have equipped me with something that I’ve been searching for, a voice. Mira Jacob writes, “[Minor Feelings] takes all the parts of us that we can barely account for and gives them back fully recognized. It felt like having someone sit me down in a chair and say ‘You’re feelings are real’ and ‘This is how we got here’ and Here is a way out’ all at once…” Minor Feelings is an essential read, now more than ever.

I truly enjoyed this book. I learned so much and was called out on my own biases. Very appreciative of the interweaving of history, personal experience, comedy, and difficult topics. Also, this author is a true wordsmith and I needed a dictionary - very evident that she is an academic!

This book made such good points about being Asian-American. There are SO MANY incredible quotes that really highlight the Asian experience as a whole. It is so hard to find Asian-American books that really highlight the internal struggles of being Asian-American. Cathy Park Hong very eloquently highlights these struggles in a way that ignites emotions and understanding in her audience.However, that being said, Hong's writing style often left me feeling confused. Hong inserts these very poignant paragraphs of reflection and insight. However, between these paragraphs, there are often very quick jumps between narratives that don't seemingly connect to one another. Hong alternates from talking about one event to talking about something completely different, without ever really transitioning between the two. This style overall left me confused and took away from the really moving pieces of insight that she offered throughout the book.Overall, if you can move past the slightly confusing writing style, Hong offers very poignant insight into what it means to be Asian-American and what it means to be human. I wish that the anecdotes in this novel had flowed better, however, I still believe that the novel offers very good insight and voice on the Asian-American experience.

Cathy Park Hong does an amazing job weaving and unpacking her own history within the larger context of Asian Americans in the US. It is by no means a comprehensive book on the AAPI identity and struggles faced historically and presently, but she does a very honest acknowledgment of that throughout. The concept of "minor feelings" resonates throughout the book, in a very "show not tell" way of her personal anecdotes. It is important for everyone to read, not just those who immediately identify with Hong's 1.5/2nd generation East Asian female persona. This is a book I had only wished was published sooner and I hope those of a younger generation can read it now. This gives the Asian American identity and experience such a rich history and weight of the generations before them. The stories of those we rarely or never learn about in school, and the struggles that have been glossed over for far too long. I encourage everyone to read this, to gift it, and to let it be the beginning of many challenging but rebuilding conversations between us.

This book and author was recommended to me by 18 year old niece. She couldn’t stop raving about it so I gave it a shot and bought the book. I was sucked in from just the first few pages. It brought back memories of growing up in Chicago and reliving and reawakening some of the same feelings growing up as an Asian American. I won’t spoil the contents but there are things in there that made me realize I was doing subconsciously thinking they were my own original thoughts and ideologies, not ideas hammered into my psyche through years of wanting to fit into and be accepted by America, specifically white America.

Beautiful writing that takes you softly through the stories of people you must know, I cried and laughed, and related to a lot since colonialism affect all of us non-white people in different ways. I am grateful to learn about Cathy Park Hong experiences. And also learn hints of what I personally should continue to unpack as a Brown latine person that can also portray colonial violences, because it's not about intent but about the impact of our words and actions. Everyone should read this magnificent book.

inspiring ideas and perfect delivery!

Book arrived fast and glad it’s on discount, but there’s a crease on the cover. Can’t wait to read this tho

Published by Hachette India for South Asia this is one of the cheapest cover and paper I've seen sold for rs 500. Avoid. And there's no way to get a refund!

This wasn’t an easy read, but it was a worthwhile one. Cathy reckons with all the complexities regarding race and privilege without providing a clear cut answer and while always keeping humanity in mind.