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I Want to Burn This Place Down: Essays
A debut essay collection by the inimitable cultural critic Maris Kreizman—an introspective, searing account of the life experiences that have pushed this former “good Democrat” even further to the political left
At the heart of this funny, acerbic, and bravely honest book of essays is Maris Kreizman, a former rule follower and ambition monster who once believed the following truths to be that working very hard would lead to admission to a good college, which would lead to a good job at a good company, which would then lead to personal fulfillment and a sense of purpose, along with adequate health care and eventual home ownership and plenty of money waiting in a retirement account. Like any good Democrat and feminist, she believed that if she just worked hard and played by the rules, she was guaranteed a safe and comfortable life.
Now in her forties, the only thing Maris Kreizman knows for sure is that she no longer has faith in American institutions or any of their hollow promises. Now she knows that the rules are meant to serve some folks better than others; and, actually, they serve no one all that well—not even Kreizman. Disturbed by the depth and scope of the liberal myths in which she once so fervently believed, Kreizman takes readers on an intimate journey that revisits some of her most profound revelations, demonstrating that it’s never too late to become radicalized.
With Kreizman’s signature wit and blunt self-reflection, and more than a little transformative rage, I Want to Burn This Place Down is a book for anyone who wishes they could go back in time to give their younger selves the real truth about the fractured country they have inherited—and the encouragement to rebuild something better in its place.
At the heart of this funny, acerbic, and bravely honest book of essays is Maris Kreizman, a former rule follower and ambition monster who once believed the following truths to be that working very hard would lead to admission to a good college, which would lead to a good job at a good company, which would then lead to personal fulfillment and a sense of purpose, along with adequate health care and eventual home ownership and plenty of money waiting in a retirement account. Like any good Democrat and feminist, she believed that if she just worked hard and played by the rules, she was guaranteed a safe and comfortable life.
Now in her forties, the only thing Maris Kreizman knows for sure is that she no longer has faith in American institutions or any of their hollow promises. Now she knows that the rules are meant to serve some folks better than others; and, actually, they serve no one all that well—not even Kreizman. Disturbed by the depth and scope of the liberal myths in which she once so fervently believed, Kreizman takes readers on an intimate journey that revisits some of her most profound revelations, demonstrating that it’s never too late to become radicalized.
With Kreizman’s signature wit and blunt self-reflection, and more than a little transformative rage, I Want to Burn This Place Down is a book for anyone who wishes they could go back in time to give their younger selves the real truth about the fractured country they have inherited—and the encouragement to rebuild something better in its place.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2025
174 people are currently reading
9749 people want to read
About the author
Maris Kreizman
3 books1,610 followersMaris Kreizman is an essayist and columnist for Literary Hub whose work has appeared in the New York Times, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, and more. She hosted The Maris Review, an intimate author interview podcast, from 2018 to 2023. A former board member of the National Book Critics Circle, she has served as a judge for the annual NBCC Awards as well as for the NYPL Young Lions Fiction Award. She is the creator of Slaughterhouse 90210, a blog and book that celebrate the intersection of literature and pop culture. She was previously the editorial director of Book of the Month and Barnes & Noble .Com, and a publishing outreach lead at Kickstarter. Her new essay collection is called I WANT TO BURN THIS PLACE DOWN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
July 11, 2025
A little exploration in how liberal to left takes personal reckonings with the status quo - and what I’m struck with was how these happen in the personal and social. Some happen almost inherently (like disability), but a lot of it happens only because of noticing and watching the world around us.
February 21, 2025
This book was fine. I think each essay alone was good and enjoyable, and they did flow together a little bit, but I was expecting a different feel based on the title and blurb. While she definitely talks about the end of her belief in institutions, it is not as much of a theme of the book as I had originally anticipated. The title is more of a single reference to a single essay than an overarching theme, which I think means people who pick this up might not enjoy it as much as anticipated, particularly those (like me) who were not familiar with the author prior to this book of essays.
One thing I personally enjoyed, as someone who did not come to politics until well after college, was her writing on not really being a feminist at a young age and to this day being quite un-read in Feminist theory. I feel like most feminist writers have always been feminist and took Women and Gender Studies 101 fall semester of freshman year, which makes me feel disconnected to the writing, as a cis white woman who just didn't get what all that was about until later in life. That essay made me feel seen, and I greatly appreciate that.
I also really enjoyed her chapter on Copoganda, particularly when she reveals that her brothers are cops. I would personally love her examination on her relationship with her brothers in related to this, as someone whose loved one is struggling with their family going down the Fox News path, but I also know that is not something she has to share if she doesn't want.
Thank you to Ecco and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
One thing I personally enjoyed, as someone who did not come to politics until well after college, was her writing on not really being a feminist at a young age and to this day being quite un-read in Feminist theory. I feel like most feminist writers have always been feminist and took Women and Gender Studies 101 fall semester of freshman year, which makes me feel disconnected to the writing, as a cis white woman who just didn't get what all that was about until later in life. That essay made me feel seen, and I greatly appreciate that.
I also really enjoyed her chapter on Copoganda, particularly when she reveals that her brothers are cops. I would personally love her examination on her relationship with her brothers in related to this, as someone whose loved one is struggling with their family going down the Fox News path, but I also know that is not something she has to share if she doesn't want.
Thank you to Ecco and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
August 13, 2025
I’m not mad… but I’m also not really Moved
July 7, 2025
The marketing for this book is doing it a disservice. Based on the title and the description, I expected something revolutionary and with thoughts about how to really change the system and work for improvement (or, to fight the man and, at least metaphorically, burn it down). Instead, what I got was chatty blog posts from a nice white woman. As a nice white woman myself, this was pleasant enough--she has similar lived experiences to me in terms of living through a time of greater realization of privilege, recognition that there are systemic problems with the world, and some nostalgia for the innocence of not knowing these things. And a generalized frustration that the system doesn't feel like it's getting better (and, in current political climate, getting distinctly worse).
But nothing here was revolutionary or especially nuanced or especially new. I don't know anything about the author beyond what she's written in this book. But based on what's here, she seems like a nice, not particularly expert, woman with good intentions, but also someone who's still largely enjoying the privilege she's got and living a reasonably comfortable life. That's fine, just not how the books is marketed. If the book were marketed more as run-of-the-mill author's memoir/blog post compilation, it would get less attention but be a more honest representation of what to expect.
The essay about her experience with diabetes (the first essay in the book) is personal and relatively interesting. Acknowledging the way a chronic condition can permeate all aspects of life and can be a constant drain on mental load and energy is an important perspective that isn't always well understood or articulated. However, the effort to tie it back into availability of health insurance/insulin/supplies wasn't especially nuanced or compelling. The author thinks it's bad that insulin isn't cheap and easily available (true!), but she doesn't demonstrate any insightful understanding of the Affordable Care Act, the insurance industry, or the details of interchange between pharmaceutical companies and providers.
The author narrates this herself, which is fine. It's a fairly chatty personal memoir format, so hearing it in her own voice makes sense.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the audio version to review.
But nothing here was revolutionary or especially nuanced or especially new. I don't know anything about the author beyond what she's written in this book. But based on what's here, she seems like a nice, not particularly expert, woman with good intentions, but also someone who's still largely enjoying the privilege she's got and living a reasonably comfortable life. That's fine, just not how the books is marketed. If the book were marketed more as run-of-the-mill author's memoir/blog post compilation, it would get less attention but be a more honest representation of what to expect.
The essay about her experience with diabetes (the first essay in the book) is personal and relatively interesting. Acknowledging the way a chronic condition can permeate all aspects of life and can be a constant drain on mental load and energy is an important perspective that isn't always well understood or articulated. However, the effort to tie it back into availability of health insurance/insulin/supplies wasn't especially nuanced or compelling. The author thinks it's bad that insulin isn't cheap and easily available (true!), but she doesn't demonstrate any insightful understanding of the Affordable Care Act, the insurance industry, or the details of interchange between pharmaceutical companies and providers.
The author narrates this herself, which is fine. It's a fairly chatty personal memoir format, so hearing it in her own voice makes sense.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the audio version to review.
July 3, 2025
Ironically (or not) the anger, rage, and destructive desire suggested by the title are nowhere to be found in this book. Nor is there much depth or originality. I can think of quite a few more books that we "need right now" than this one, some of which are on the suggested reading list at the end.
Outside of middle aged, middle-class, educated, white, heterosexual, cis-women who did the reading in the George Floyd and BLM era, suddenly became aware of the injustice of your privileged existence on multiple fronts, and want to feel good about how *aware* your are now, (even if that just means you repeatedly admit how there's still *so much* for you to learn while you mourn/grieve/feel nostalgia for your previously uncomplicated worldview instead of talk about any actual changes you've made in how you live your life in line with this new awareness besides who you donate your middle-class money to), I don't know who this book is for.
The ultimate irony for me is that, just like the TV character who said the titular line, Kriezman doesn't actually want to burn anything down because she's too invested and relatively comfortable in the very system she says she wants to burn down. Can I relate to that? Absolutely. But I don't think the world needs another industry insider publishing a book about it to unironically show how shallow that angst really is (or is that ironically the point and I'm just not a sophsticated enough reader to get that? Despite what this book seems to assume of its audience, I don't read LitHub or listen to book podcasts; I just work at a library).
That is more a criticism of the publisher for publishing such a book than it is of the writer, who is only doing what comes naturally to writers: having thoughts and deciding that those thoughts are so important other people won't just *want* to hear them, some people will *need* to hear them too. It is no different an impulse than anyone deciding to write a review of a book on this site.
The blurb writers call this book "heartfelt," an "utterly reasonable...powerful indictment of... capitalist cruelty," and "the book we need right now." There's some legit irony for you. Or maybe we just didn't read the same book.
Outside of middle aged, middle-class, educated, white, heterosexual, cis-women who did the reading in the George Floyd and BLM era, suddenly became aware of the injustice of your privileged existence on multiple fronts, and want to feel good about how *aware* your are now, (even if that just means you repeatedly admit how there's still *so much* for you to learn while you mourn/grieve/feel nostalgia for your previously uncomplicated worldview instead of talk about any actual changes you've made in how you live your life in line with this new awareness besides who you donate your middle-class money to), I don't know who this book is for.
The ultimate irony for me is that, just like the TV character who said the titular line, Kriezman doesn't actually want to burn anything down because she's too invested and relatively comfortable in the very system she says she wants to burn down. Can I relate to that? Absolutely. But I don't think the world needs another industry insider publishing a book about it to unironically show how shallow that angst really is (or is that ironically the point and I'm just not a sophsticated enough reader to get that? Despite what this book seems to assume of its audience, I don't read LitHub or listen to book podcasts; I just work at a library).
That is more a criticism of the publisher for publishing such a book than it is of the writer, who is only doing what comes naturally to writers: having thoughts and deciding that those thoughts are so important other people won't just *want* to hear them, some people will *need* to hear them too. It is no different an impulse than anyone deciding to write a review of a book on this site.
The blurb writers call this book "heartfelt," an "utterly reasonable...powerful indictment of... capitalist cruelty," and "the book we need right now." There's some legit irony for you. Or maybe we just didn't read the same book.
July 18, 2025
Fair warning: I won a free ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. And apparently this has happened often enough that I can just type, “Fair,” and use predictive text to fill in the rest.
I'd never heard of Maris Kreizman before. So why enter the giveaway at all? I'm honestly not sure. The title was provocative, and seemed to encapsulate how I feel about the state of the world, at least occasionally. And the cover was certainly striking (I'm not judging the book by it, just pausing and taking a closer look because of it.) And essays are usually enjoyable. It's a good way to get to know a writer in sort of bite-sized pieces.
The drawback is that collections of essays can be tough to review. They're not stories so I can't pad things out by summarizing the plot. Although there are common themes, they're all different enough from each other that talking generally about the whole book feels like a cop out. But tackling them individually would take forever, and I'd have to practically reread the entire book (not a hardship) to prime my aging memory to the point where I could write coherently about any of them.
So let's pick one. How about “Copaganda And Me?” By comparing and contrasting media portrayals of law enforcement with contemporaneous news stories and personal experiences from the 80's to the present day, Kreizman sheds light on where we currently seem to be as a society. Okay. Apparently I'm reverting to term paper mode. In a nutshell: TV and movie cops are (spoiler alert) not realistic. Politicians have a distressing tendency to throw more police at problems that aren't really police issues (more spoilers, I know.) Oh, and Maris’ brothers grew up to be police, so she has some firsthand experience with the mindset. She's learned not to talk politics at family gatherings. And there's a bunch of footnotes citing sources.
The whole book is, more or less, like that. Kreizman has an entertaining style, and is quick with a supporting anecdote. And her self deprecating humor helps it all go down easy. I found myself thinking, “Right on!” quite a bit while reading this, and I've got a mental list of friends and family whom I plan on urging to read it. It's that sort of a book. Recommended!
I'd never heard of Maris Kreizman before. So why enter the giveaway at all? I'm honestly not sure. The title was provocative, and seemed to encapsulate how I feel about the state of the world, at least occasionally. And the cover was certainly striking (I'm not judging the book by it, just pausing and taking a closer look because of it.) And essays are usually enjoyable. It's a good way to get to know a writer in sort of bite-sized pieces.
The drawback is that collections of essays can be tough to review. They're not stories so I can't pad things out by summarizing the plot. Although there are common themes, they're all different enough from each other that talking generally about the whole book feels like a cop out. But tackling them individually would take forever, and I'd have to practically reread the entire book (not a hardship) to prime my aging memory to the point where I could write coherently about any of them.
So let's pick one. How about “Copaganda And Me?” By comparing and contrasting media portrayals of law enforcement with contemporaneous news stories and personal experiences from the 80's to the present day, Kreizman sheds light on where we currently seem to be as a society. Okay. Apparently I'm reverting to term paper mode. In a nutshell: TV and movie cops are (spoiler alert) not realistic. Politicians have a distressing tendency to throw more police at problems that aren't really police issues (more spoilers, I know.) Oh, and Maris’ brothers grew up to be police, so she has some firsthand experience with the mindset. She's learned not to talk politics at family gatherings. And there's a bunch of footnotes citing sources.
The whole book is, more or less, like that. Kreizman has an entertaining style, and is quick with a supporting anecdote. And her self deprecating humor helps it all go down easy. I found myself thinking, “Right on!” quite a bit while reading this, and I've got a mental list of friends and family whom I plan on urging to read it. It's that sort of a book. Recommended!
January 31, 2025
I enjoyed this essay collection---especially the first few. I related so much to the way the author developed in her politics. Kreizman is really good at setting you in a time period in her writing. She jumps you around through the 80s to the 2000s but really puts your feet on the ground with cultural and technological references.
The book felt a little short and the essays seemed shorter and less impactful as you moved through. Though, that may be on purpose? There were a few punchy story drops (the cringe from the fingering story! ah) that I feel would have been less impactful if they were elaborated on.
Thank you NetGalley for sending an advanced copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. I had pre-ordered this book beforehand and after reading I am still looking forward to owning a copy.
The book felt a little short and the essays seemed shorter and less impactful as you moved through. Though, that may be on purpose? There were a few punchy story drops (the cringe from the fingering story! ah) that I feel would have been less impactful if they were elaborated on.
Thank you NetGalley for sending an advanced copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. I had pre-ordered this book beforehand and after reading I am still looking forward to owning a copy.
Read
April 28, 2025Dnf at 50% in. Voicey in an ouchy way for moi.
July 16, 2025
This ended up in my library hold queue because it made a "Best of 2025" list, and... it’s not. Full stop. I love essay collections. I devour cultural criticism. But this isn’t the best of the genre, or even close to one of the best books of the year.
Nothing in this collection was particularly insightful. The standout, by far, was the first essay, where the author reflects on growing up with Type 1 diabetes. The title is pulled from a Mad Men scene.
Nothing in this collection was particularly insightful. The standout, by far, was the first essay, where the author reflects on growing up with Type 1 diabetes. The title is pulled from a Mad Men scene.
August 31, 2025
4.5 book
August 15, 2025
Another challenge.
This novel is focused on diabetes and the challenges which appear during one’s everyday life.
An important book with approximately 160 pages about democratic, feminist and toxic body image. How will we ever survive the patriarchy?
However, a lot of flashbacks, jumping back and forth in time which I don’t appreciate.
Despite this, the novel went from 2 to 3 stars.
This novel is focused on diabetes and the challenges which appear during one’s everyday life.
An important book with approximately 160 pages about democratic, feminist and toxic body image. How will we ever survive the patriarchy?
However, a lot of flashbacks, jumping back and forth in time which I don’t appreciate.
Despite this, the novel went from 2 to 3 stars.
July 3, 2025
the first three or so chapters are the best writing I’ve read this year. they’re about diabetes, the myth of meritocracy, & the publishing industry. these early chapters are insightful & vulnerable and somehow feel encouraging about what writing can be & do. But then, I kept wanting the book to return to this earlier tone.
.
.
I WANT TO BURN THIS PLACE DOWN has a happy ending. I don’t want to spoil it, but it ends with a scene of contentment at home. last chapter left me feeling, ‘that’s genuinely nice that you found contentment & home. But what about everyone who hasn’t? how can we make sense of things, & wasn’t this book supposed to help do that?’ I might feel differently at a better place & time personally.
.
.
I WANT TO BURN THIS PLACE DOWN has a happy ending. I don’t want to spoil it, but it ends with a scene of contentment at home. last chapter left me feeling, ‘that’s genuinely nice that you found contentment & home. But what about everyone who hasn’t? how can we make sense of things, & wasn’t this book supposed to help do that?’ I might feel differently at a better place & time personally.
September 6, 2025
I was delighted to learn that Ms. Kreizman was a former editorial director at Book-of-the-Month-Club. I have many fond memories of looking forward to my Monthly Selection, and really enjoyed picking up something new as a result of their recommendations. Sadly, I ended up dropping my membership sometime around a decade ago, perhaps around the time it was acquired by a private equity (aka vulture capitalists) and I no longer fit their target audience.
Her book is actually a series of short essays sort of describing her life experiences as a youngish New York woman coming to terms with our increasingly dysfunctional country. Much of what Kreizman discusses mirrors my own experience, (minus the type 1 diabetes, though).
There are a lot of fun passages. She went to Pennsylvania for college and was actually there at the same time as noted douchebag, Don Jr. Here she is on p. 32;
“I know it’s wrong to portray an entire school, an entire field of study, as if it’s made up exclusively of con artists. I’m sure there were smart, kind people who graduated from Wharton and who are now doing good in the world. There must have been. But when Donald Trump is your school’s most famous grad, with his vile son in your class, it does tend to color how you perceive the rest.”
My experience with business majors was the same... mostly dumb guys looking to get rich.
The essays are funny and well written. I hope she continues to write and put together many more volumes. 4 stars
Her book is actually a series of short essays sort of describing her life experiences as a youngish New York woman coming to terms with our increasingly dysfunctional country. Much of what Kreizman discusses mirrors my own experience, (minus the type 1 diabetes, though).
There are a lot of fun passages. She went to Pennsylvania for college and was actually there at the same time as noted douchebag, Don Jr. Here she is on p. 32;
“I know it’s wrong to portray an entire school, an entire field of study, as if it’s made up exclusively of con artists. I’m sure there were smart, kind people who graduated from Wharton and who are now doing good in the world. There must have been. But when Donald Trump is your school’s most famous grad, with his vile son in your class, it does tend to color how you perceive the rest.”
My experience with business majors was the same... mostly dumb guys looking to get rich.
The essays are funny and well written. I hope she continues to write and put together many more volumes. 4 stars
July 18, 2025
Kreitzman's journey felt a lot like mine: I grew up believing that meritocracy was real and that authority figures are good and always have your back. I hate that the right wing has ruined the word "woke," because when you start to see the world for what it is, it really does seem like waking up. It took me longer than I care to admit to wake up and recognize how much privilege I have, and how much this country ruins things for everyone, even me, a person born on third base. Kreitzman went through a similar awakening, and her words felt like they were coming from my own brain sometimes.
This book also gave me a chance to get some small insight into what it's like to have diabetes, and how it consumes so much thought and effort all throughout every day, and even overnight. I'm disabled, but my disability is more in-and-out. While it can ruin plans and ruin my day, it doesn't have to take up 50% of my brainpower at all times to manage it. The system we live in that charges even a single dollar for insulin and the various technologies needed to monitor diabetes is pure evil, and, obviously, deserves to be burned down.
This book also gave me a chance to get some small insight into what it's like to have diabetes, and how it consumes so much thought and effort all throughout every day, and even overnight. I'm disabled, but my disability is more in-and-out. While it can ruin plans and ruin my day, it doesn't have to take up 50% of my brainpower at all times to manage it. The system we live in that charges even a single dollar for insulin and the various technologies needed to monitor diabetes is pure evil, and, obviously, deserves to be burned down.
August 5, 2025
There wasn't a lot of new information for me personally, but I enjoyed this book and honestly hope it helps to radicalize a lot of well-meaning center-left white women away from liberalism into prison abolitionists and universal medicare advocates.
September 4, 2025
I really liked this.
August 23, 2025
Disappointing read. What was promised as a personal tale of political radicalism wound up being a series of under-researched long form Facebook posts that really just highlight the privilege the author is taking pains to renounce.
July 11, 2025
Nothing to see here.
April 6, 2025
Quick, simple read—finished this in two days—but it’s SMART. I’ve only read Maris Kreizman’s publications about books, so her pivoting to politics was a surprise to me (who did not read the back of the book).
Don’t think I’ve ever read an essay collection that’s so connected, so concise.
While there’s nothing revolutionary in this book, it was nice to read someone neatly articulate some of the thoughts I’ve also had on America’s healthcare system, the publishing industry’s low wages and high expectations, diet culture, and more. Diabetes runs amuck in my family, so I also enjoyed reading how Maris’ disability touches her entire life.
Also: I love seeing people I know’s names in the acknowledgements 🫶🏻
Thank you Ecco/HarperCollins for the ARC !!
Don’t think I’ve ever read an essay collection that’s so connected, so concise.
While there’s nothing revolutionary in this book, it was nice to read someone neatly articulate some of the thoughts I’ve also had on America’s healthcare system, the publishing industry’s low wages and high expectations, diet culture, and more. Diabetes runs amuck in my family, so I also enjoyed reading how Maris’ disability touches her entire life.
Also: I love seeing people I know’s names in the acknowledgements 🫶🏻
Thank you Ecco/HarperCollins for the ARC !!
August 15, 2025
When I came across this book and read the title, I really wanted to read it. Even though short stories (in this case essays) are not usually my go to genre.
But I do like to read or listen to statements that are well argued or are well documented by data (from reliable sources).
Even though I grew up in a different country, on a different continent, in a household with a different religion, I am a child of the 70's as well.
So lot of what the writer talks about (idealizing law enforcement, believing that medication is and always be available for all, respect for elderly, especially the doctor, lawyer and one's boss) is very familiar.
And de-learning all that my generation was brainwashed with, is very hard. As an early 70's child, I learned from my parents that people are (in general) good, that banks will help you and that official authorities will not harm you as long as you behave, work hard and do the best you can.
How hard it is now, when in my rich country I have to fight to get home care in time for my mother. That a GP will not listen, let alone act when you visit and talk about your concerns for an elderly family member that is in their care.
That medication is often switched, because big insurance companies don't pay for the kind you need, only for the kind they van make the most money on.
That politics, something I was very interested in, turned out to be one big party of people who know each other, hand out jobs or favours to one another. Fight over academic differences while the country lacks proper leadership. One that not only looks 1-4 years ahead, but also further, because the challenges we globally face now are too big to solve alone. Or to ignore. Or to deny.
So,even when this book may not have had the content I expected, it did trigger quite a lot in my mind. As you can see from the length of this reaction/comment/review.
But I do like to read or listen to statements that are well argued or are well documented by data (from reliable sources).
Even though I grew up in a different country, on a different continent, in a household with a different religion, I am a child of the 70's as well.
So lot of what the writer talks about (idealizing law enforcement, believing that medication is and always be available for all, respect for elderly, especially the doctor, lawyer and one's boss) is very familiar.
And de-learning all that my generation was brainwashed with, is very hard. As an early 70's child, I learned from my parents that people are (in general) good, that banks will help you and that official authorities will not harm you as long as you behave, work hard and do the best you can.
How hard it is now, when in my rich country I have to fight to get home care in time for my mother. That a GP will not listen, let alone act when you visit and talk about your concerns for an elderly family member that is in their care.
That medication is often switched, because big insurance companies don't pay for the kind you need, only for the kind they van make the most money on.
That politics, something I was very interested in, turned out to be one big party of people who know each other, hand out jobs or favours to one another. Fight over academic differences while the country lacks proper leadership. One that not only looks 1-4 years ahead, but also further, because the challenges we globally face now are too big to solve alone. Or to ignore. Or to deny.
So,even when this book may not have had the content I expected, it did trigger quite a lot in my mind. As you can see from the length of this reaction/comment/review.
August 23, 2025
I Want to Burn This Place Down is a well-written collection of essays covering a variety of topics, mostly relating to politics and the ways in which we are being let down by politicians and the political system. The essays cover issues like health insurance and chronic illness, the myth of meritocracy, feminism, copaganda, climate change, and the failures of neoliberalism. The essays are not super long, so it never goes into too much depth on any of these issues, but they are talked about. I think that Kreizman is a good writer and a clever one. This especially comes through when she's writing about her personal experiences, particularly her struggles with type 1 diabetes. I think the issue that I had with these essays is that there's a disconnect between the personal and the big picture political stuff. I understand how the two things are related to each other, but the gap isn't really bridged and it feels like there isn't much of a point being made. This also might be a generational thing, since Kreizman is a Xillennial, but a lot of these realizations that were made in these essays felt obvious and surface-level to me. As other reviewers have mentioned, the anger of the title also doesn't really match with the content of the essays either. Rather than actually burning down the establishment or having some sort of call to action, it feels like we're just recognizing the failures of the system and being frustrated by them, which also is coming from a place of extreme privilege. Kreizman does recognize her privilege in these essays, but I think I would have liked it if they had dug a bit deeper and done a bit more, or gone the other direction and focused much, much more on the personal. I would recommend this one to fans of Kreizman's writing and centrists who are interested in learning more about sociopolitical issues.
Thanks to Ecco and NetGalley for the review copy.
Thanks to Ecco and NetGalley for the review copy.
August 18, 2025
The book is so intriguing, eye-opening, and thought provoking. This is a must read. Author has shared about her life and experiences. Everyone go through certain emotions and situations which creates and shapes them into who they are today. For some life is not a piece of cake and for some, life is a bed of roses. I felt deeply for the author and love her honest thoughts. From growing up to sharing about their family, I felt the utmost honesty and wisdom of author’s soul deeply embedded in her words. Author has shared their insightful perspectives about blood sugar, publishing industry, Government, marriage, obsessions, and being vulnerable. This is a raw, honest and thought-provoking biography.
I would highly recommend the audiobook.
I would highly recommend the audiobook.
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August 28, 2025Hmm. I was expecting to love love love an audiobook talking about how a good Democrat went farther left. Didn't love it. It didn't seem like she really explained that transformation, but was more tidbits here and there, and most of it not political, but rather more personal. I suppose that's what a memoir is - personal - but I didn't find it especially interesting. (I did find the part about her Type I diabetes to be interesting.)
I haven't listened to a ton of audiobooks and maybe it's the common format for a narrator to narrate their own work, but she maybe should have had a professional narrator do it for her.
Not a bad book by any means, and probably it's just that my expectations were super high.
I haven't listened to a ton of audiobooks and maybe it's the common format for a narrator to narrate their own work, but she maybe should have had a professional narrator do it for her.
Not a bad book by any means, and probably it's just that my expectations were super high.
August 28, 2025
Saw this blurbed on Bluesky, seemed cool, glad it was short, enjoyed the content about her old weird pug, the rest was really just essays about how much it must suck to not have healthcare or to not have an amazing husband or to not have privilege and how the current political climate is fucked and mannnnnnn, yeah, we know. The reading list at the end shares much overlap with books I've read and found essential. YMMV with this one but if you see this on the shelf at your library or in the book store, I'd scan that list and grab many of the suggestions first.
September 4, 2025
very relatable, but ultimately felt very surface-level. i agree with her points but also don't feel i necessarily learned anything new or was shown a path forward.
personal thoughts/experience were mixed with the general examination of societal issues in an easily readable way, but for the most part it didn't feel like either approach was given the space to get very deep.
perhaps the most interesting angle for me was getting a glimpse of how someone a decade+ older than me was introduced to/understood some of these concepts, having been a kid pre-internet, etc.
personal thoughts/experience were mixed with the general examination of societal issues in an easily readable way, but for the most part it didn't feel like either approach was given the space to get very deep.
perhaps the most interesting angle for me was getting a glimpse of how someone a decade+ older than me was introduced to/understood some of these concepts, having been a kid pre-internet, etc.
August 17, 2025
This was just fine, but I expected something totally different from the cover and title. The essays read more like blogposts and were very surface level. Where was the rage?! I feel like I could've written something similarly insightful at age 20
I did appreciate reading about the author's experience growing up and living with type 1 diabetes in America.
I did appreciate reading about the author's experience growing up and living with type 1 diabetes in America.
September 2, 2025
A quick, easy, perhaps satisfying read for anyone who happens to agree with Kreizman on her main talking points. However, although the essays are good at pointing out the lies middle class white Americans grow up believing, she doesn't really have any thoughts on how to solve or improve anything. The whole book just smacks of people who use "no ethical consumption under capitalism" as an excuse to complain about everything but refuse to change a single thing about their existence that might help. and I am so, so sick of those people.
September 7, 2025
En intressant bok. Jag har vetat att de är jobbigt att leva med Diabetes men jag har nog aldrig fattat hur jobbigt de faktiskt är.
Tycker de intressant att få följa med i hur bokindustrins backsida sett ut. Vilka kassa förhållande de jobbar under och hur de sällan läggs pengar på att kontrollera att de man publicera som fakta är sant.
Jag har aldrig tyckt att the great American dream har låtit lockande. Men efter den här boken känns den en mer som en massa humbug som deras ledare försöker intala sin befolkning för att de inte ska inse, hur sämst deras system är.
Gillar hur hon har skrivit en feministisk bok med starka demokratiska åsikter men samtidigt visar att hon fortfarande älskar sina bröder trots att de är republikaner. Hon skriver så bra om hur ens omgivning påverkar ens politiska åsikter och hur man kan tolka samma situationer olika beroende på personerna man omger sig med.
Tycker de intressant att få följa med i hur bokindustrins backsida sett ut. Vilka kassa förhållande de jobbar under och hur de sällan läggs pengar på att kontrollera att de man publicera som fakta är sant.
Jag har aldrig tyckt att the great American dream har låtit lockande. Men efter den här boken känns den en mer som en massa humbug som deras ledare försöker intala sin befolkning för att de inte ska inse, hur sämst deras system är.
Gillar hur hon har skrivit en feministisk bok med starka demokratiska åsikter men samtidigt visar att hon fortfarande älskar sina bröder trots att de är republikaner. Hon skriver så bra om hur ens omgivning påverkar ens politiska åsikter och hur man kan tolka samma situationer olika beroende på personerna man omger sig med.
July 7, 2025
These cultural, memoir-ish essays also have footnotes and a recommended reading list at the end. I’m a fan of all those things and I really enjoyed this.
August 9, 2025
LOVED THIS. This audiobook is a short one and packed with essays that make you want to scream, "GOD, WHY IS THE WORLD LIKE THIS?" I loved how the author gets tickled as she's reading her own essays. Makes it seem more like she's telling you a story rather than just reading what she wrote.
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