Read on November 9, 2018. 5 out of 5 stars. I listened to this on audiobook and it gave me chills. It’s almost impossibly difficult to talk about the types of things the individuals in this collection talk about. Listening to their essays and recounts of their experiences was enthralling, horrifying, and gut-wrenching. I have to echo what other reviewers have said: I can’t properly review this book because I can’t assign a rating to someone’s life experiences like this.
It’s beyond commendable that these people contributed their experiences. There’s a powerful message here for men and women alike, and both should add Not That Bad to their reading list. There’s constant reinforcement: it was that bad. It wasn’t your fault. You did nothing wrong. For the people who’ve never had to worry about rape culture, there’s a dose of reality. This happens every day. This happens to men and women. It is a problem that no one is trying to solve.
All of the essays in this collection are valid. It’s impossible for me to talk about any one as “better” than the others, because that’s not the point. Instead, think about how many essays there are in the collection – over 30. Think about how many lives were effected by rape and rape culture. Think about how this is a collection that people would say is a warning to women, rather than a lesson for men.
Know that this is real.