?(We?re) socialized, manipulated, and indoctrinated by everything in our culture to believe the lies of grind culture. For a capitalist system to thrive, our false beliefs about productivity and labor must remain. ?So, we push ourselves and each other under the guise of being hyper productive and efficient. And at a very young age, we began the slow process of disconnecting from our body’s need to rest,? from Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, by Tricia Hersey
A Book Review for Tricia Hersey’s, “Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto”
How often do you rest? At times, it can feel harder to achieve than sleep. Because we?re haunted by the never-done list, our minds still spin when our bodies pause. In Tricia Hersey?s manifesto, ?Rest is Resistance? she outlines how capitalism, the driving force behind ?grind culture? is at the heart of learning to treat ourselves like machines.
But this is not a traditional book about self-care, health, or even sleep. It?s unapologetically a book about social justice. She unveils the oppressive roots behind hustle culture and opens a dialog about how imperative it is to resist.
Here are key takeaways and quotes from the book:
Capitalism is Rooted in Oppression
"We are praised when we work ourselves to exhaustion and chastise our children to ?stop being lazy? when they aren’t participating in work culture at the same intensity as us. We lose empathy for ourselves first, and push excessively as we become managers, teachers, and leaders, who fall prey to the allure of a capitalist system. And we treat those we have the honor of working with as human machines. We?re rigid and impatient, when our checklist isn’t completed to perfection, and we become less human and less secure when we believe we’re only meant to survive and not thrive" from Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, by Tricia Hersey
Although writing about the connection between racism, and capitalism isn?t new, the book emphasizes capitalism?s roots in white supremacy. And how as a result, we?re socialized to deprioritize our human needs, including restorative self-care. Mostly based on the cultural compact to stay productive. Often in ways that our bodies, hearts, and minds, weren?t designed for.
And Rest is Our Birthright
?We must believe we are worthy of rest. We don?t have to earn it. It is our birthright. It is one of our most ancient and primal needs. " from Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, by Tricia Hersey
Countless studies validate the importance of rest, sleep, and recovery. It’s vital to our creativity, longevity, health, and happiness. Yet, as Tricia asserts in her book, the systems we live and work in don?t condone it. So, we gradually disconnect from our humanity and each other, as we push through fatigue.
Dream Big, But Start Small
"There is no such thing as cookie-cutter healing. Everyone brings with them an origin story, a history, and identities that are interconnected. There is room to rest in the freedom of managing your own deprogramming journey. It is never either/or and always both/and. You don?t have to grind, hustle, accept burnout as normal, and be in a constant state of exhaustion and sleep deprivation. You don?t have to kill yourself spiritually or physically to live a fruitful life" from Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, by Tricia Hersey
Tricia founded The Nap Ministry to rescue herself, and others, from exhaustion. She has reoriented her life and career around this movement. But in the book she acknowledges that few people can go ?all in? on rest. Because financial wellbeing is often intertwined with capitalism?s grip on the economy.
She is candid throughout the book about the many challenges she?s faced. Including years with a punishing work and academic schedule, the premature loss of her father and even feeling forced into a C-Section despite her wishes and birth plan. Although she asserts the book is not a step-by-step ?guide, she provides some examples about how to incorporate rest, even in small ways. And to regain agency over its importance in our lives.
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About Tricia Hersey:
Tricia Hersey is a Chicago native with over 20 years of experience as a multidisciplinary artist, writer, theologian and community organizer. She is the founder of The Nap Ministry, an organization that examines rest as a form of resistance and reparations by curating spaces for the community to rest via community rest activations, immersive workshops, performance art installations, and social media. Her research interests include Black liberation theology, womanism, somatics, and cultural trauma. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Rest is Resistance which published in October 2022. You can learn more about her work at The Nap Ministry. And follow her great adventure on Instagram.
