How To Say Babylon book cover

How To Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair Summary

How To Say Babylon
Safiya Sinclair
4.44 (28966 Reviews)
Biography
Society
Personal Development
Overview
Key Takeaways
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FAQs

Overview of How To Say Babylon

Safiya Sinclair's memoir exposes the patriarchal chains of Rastafarian Jamaica through poetic defiance. Named one of Obama's favorites and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, this lyrical rebellion against "Babylon" asks: What happens when a woman's voice becomes her most dangerous weapon?

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Key takeaways

1

Breaking Free from Paradise's Shadow

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Standing on a veranda at midnight, a young woman searches for the distant sea beyond a veil of trees. She has just defied her father for the first time, driving him from the house in fury. In the mist below, she glimpses her possible future-a voiceless woman cowering under a Rastaman's gaze. This powerful moment captures the essence of Safiya Sinclair's journey: to cut that submissive woman out of herself and forge her own path. Named one of Barack Obama's favorite books of 2023, her memoir resonates with anyone who has struggled to find their voice against oppressive traditions. What happens when the paradise of childhood becomes a prison? When does religious devotion cross into control? These questions form the backbone of a story that shows how poetry can become a lifeline when everything else is taken away.

2

The Roots of Rastafari and Early Childhood

3

The Tightening Grip of Control and Growing Contradictions

4

The Breaking Point and Family Fractures

5

Poetry as Salvation and Self-Discovery

6

Breaking Free and Finding Her Voice

7

Reconciliation and Release

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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@Matt, YC alum
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12
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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@Jaded_Falcon
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