Book description
What if family were not the only place you might hope to feel safe, loved, cared for and accepted?What if we could do better than the family?We need to talk about the family. For those who are lucky, families can be filled with love and care, but for many they are sites of pain: from abandonment and neglect, to abuse and violence. Nobody is more likely to harm you than your family.Even in so-called happy families, the unpaid, unacknowledged work that it takes to raise children and care for each other is endless and exhausting. It could be otherwise: in this urgent, incisive polemic, leading feminist critic Sophie Lewis makes the case for family abolition.Abolish the Family traces the history of family abolitionist demands, beginning with nineteenth century utopian socialist and sex radical Charles Fourier, the Communist Manifesto and early-twentieth century Russian family abolitionist Alexandra Kollontai. Turning her attention to the 1960s, Lewis reminds us of the anti-family politics of radical feminists like Shulamith Firestone and the gay liberationists, a tradition she traces to the queer marxists bringing family abolition to the twenty-first century. This exhilarating essay looks at historic rightwing panic about Black families and the violent imposition of the family on indigenous communities, and insists: only by thinking beyond the family can we begin to imagine what might come after.“Sharp, engaging, and bursting with intellectual energy, Abolish the Family is a triumph. Whether you come to this book as a critic of The Family or as its most ardent supporter, you're sure to find something within its pages to move, challenge, or provoke you. It's a joy to read, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.'” – Helen Hester“Sophie Lewis once again shines forth as one of the boldest thinkers of our current moment with this highly anticipated sequel to her groundbreaking Full Surrogacy Now. How might we understand caring, sharing, and loving outside the concept of kinship? In this energizing little book - part history and critical analysis, part manifesto — Lewis helps us understand family abolition as world-making rather than as a subtraction of infrastructure, and she does so with remarkable clarity, precision, and wit.” – Sianne Ngai, author of Theory of the Gimmick: Aesthetic Judgment and Capitalist Form“The idea of family abolition tends to provoke skeptical reactions: Can't families be a source of solidarity? Without families, who would we count on when things get tough? Shouldn't we protect vulnerable families, ostracized families, separated families? Sophie Lewis faces up to the hard questions without flinching, while ultimately steering us towards different ones: How else could we live, and who else could we be? Abolish the Family is a rigorously utopian, radically compassionate, unapologetically revolutionary manifesto, by equal parts thrilling and sobering. We all deserve better than the family, Lewis argues, and it’s up to all of us to build new forms of solidarity and care that reach beyond biology or even kin, even if we don’t know quite what they’ll look like. Abolish the Family will make you want to find out.” – Alyssa Battistoni“I am consistently dazzled by Sophie Lewis's work, which is both intellectually capacious and heart-expanding. Abolish the Family is a liberatory demand and a world-making project proposed here with revolutionary love and inimitable style. Without fail, Lewis clarifies, disrupts and inspires.” – Natasha Lennard, author of Being Numerous: Essays on Non-Fascist Life“What would it be like to imagine a communism not just of wealth but also of care, love and belonging? Where the full range of human needs are met without depending on the fragile bubble of the nuclear family? That institution we are all supposed to believe will be there for us - even though so many books and films detail all the ways in which it fails. This is the difficult yet important terrain where Sophie Lewis ventures. Abolish the Family is a short, sharp shock to our assumptions about the good life and how to achieve it.” – McKenzie Wark“Sophie Lewis and her expansive vision of feminism are desperately needed right now. She makes the work of undoing what ‘womanhood’ has come to mean look possible and irresistible.” – Melissa Gira Grant, author of Playing the Whore“In her writing, Lewis shows us the kind of feminist care that is within our reach and the intellectual work we must do to actualise it. Generous, charged and always underpinned by a comradely orientation to its reader, Abolish the Family traverses historical and contemporary arguments for unmaking the bourgeois family and methodically interrogates the idea that it is an unshakeable, ubiquitous institution that must be protected at all costs. Lewis draws on a number of radical political genealogies to say "no" - the nuclear family is a deficient provider of care and resource, a conceptual footstool for the racist nation-state and its many border regimes, a hotbed of gendered exploitation and violence… there are other possibilities! Let’s embrace them together!” – Lola Olufemi“Sophie Lewis is at the top of a new generation of scholars and activists thinking the transformation of gestational labor within contemporary pharmacopornographic capitalism. Neither simply natural nor banally cultural, gestation appears as the unthought core of gender and sexual politics, and the key of a forthcoming womb revolution: trans-Marx meets mammal's politics!” – Paul B. Preciado, author of Testo Junkie“A bracing invitation to think beyond an institution that immiserates so many but that, for just as many, remains a fixed point of social possibility. Sophie Lewis is, as always, sharp, bold, compassionate and fearless.” – Amia Srinivasan, author of The Right to Sex“Sophie Lewis is at the forefront of a vital queer, trans, feminist communist movement to create an expansive field of revolutionary theory and strategy for today. Abolish the Family is an important contribution to Lewis's already discourse-shaping body of work, analyzing and seeking ways to move beyond the contradictory and complex function of families under conditions of extreme capital accumulation and capitalist crisis. A call for liberation from the privatization of domestic labor and the cruel scarcities of care under capitalism, Abolish the Family exhorts us toward something so much better than what we’ve got.” – Jordy Rosenbery, author of Confessions of the Fox
Black Hole Necromancer
I've been recommending this app to all my friends – it's a true game-changer. Audiobook adventures simplified – this app's functionality is a revelation. Noise reduction is magic. I can finally enjoy dictaphone recordings without discomfort.
Beo
I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. 💡 Balancing learning and living effortlessly – audiobooks on demand, thanks to this app! 🎧💫 ListenBook has changed the way I listen to audiobooks. The app is so easy to use. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Crossing Guard
Quick access to chapters and controls ensures a seamless listening experience with ListenBook. It's effortless to use. I'm amazed by the attention to detail, from automatic metadata extraction to customizable settings.
EchoEnigma
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun and unique feature I can't get enough of. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment are excellent additions.
Pexxious
ListenBook's dedication to delivering a top-notch experience is evident in every detail. I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's my go-to for staying informed and entertained. 🏝️ Basking in the sun with an audiobook – relaxation meets storytelling paradise! ☀️📖 ListenBook's audio filters allow me to customize the audio playback to suit my preferences perfectly. Download options are versatile, making it easy to get audiobooks from various sources.
Woodland Beauty
I can't thank the developers enough for constantly updating and improving the app. I'm blown away by the quality of narration on this app – it's like being in the story.
Stacker of Wheat
Bravo to the creators of this app – they've truly captured the essence of convenient audiobook enjoyment. The smooth playback and thoughtful design have won me over. 📚👏 My workouts have become more enjoyable and productive with ListenBook's compatibility with Apple Watch. The narrator's voice was like butter - smooth, rich, and utterly pleasant to listen to for hours. They handled complex sentences with ease, making even dense material accessible. I never had to rewind because I missed something due to unclear delivery. Perfection!
Dez North
I'm thrilled to finally have a way to enjoy books while keeping up with my busy schedule. Talk about convenience! This app's ease of use and support for multiple audio formats ensure that I can enjoy my favorite stories without any hassle. 📱🔊 ListenBook has changed the way I listen to audiobooks. The app is so easy to use.
Crumb Cake
I'm blown away by the quality of narration on this app – it's like being in the story. ⭐️ Who knew cleaning could be this exciting? This app turns chores into adventures! 🧹🏰 ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is a fun way to experiment with the audiobook experience.
RiddleRover
Audiobooks have become my companion during long walks, transforming exercise into a pleasure. I'm thrilled that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features to cater to all types of users. Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time.
Skull Crusher
I'm amazed at how this app has made reading a seamless part of my life. The app's compatibility with CarPlay enhances my driving experience. Audiobooks on the road have never been better. Easy chapter navigation and beautiful design make this app stand out.
Tomcat
ListenBook's tone adjustment feature in the Pro version is a creative tool that adds a fun twist to my audiobook journey. Listening to audiobooks on my iPad has never been easier. Highly recommend ListenBook!
Mirage
The app's intuitive design makes it easy to find and listen to my favorite authors. ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I always have access to my favorite content. Navigating through chapters is effortless with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and intuitive experience. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
LyRz
I've never been this excited about my daily commute – thank you, audiobooks! Efficient audiobook enjoyment – this app's functionality is a revelation.
Electric Saturn
The controls on ListenBook are intuitive and user-friendly, making it a joy to navigate through my audiobooks. Effortless audiobook exploration – this app's design is a reader's dream.
Desert Haze
ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. Audiobook pleasure simplified – this app's functionality is a reader's delight. ListenBook's interface is so intuitive. I was up and running in no time.
Mrs. Voltage
I've been recommending this app to all my friends – it's a true game-changer. 📱 No more lugging around heavy books – this app brings the library to my phone! 📚📱 Sharing audiobooks via AirDrop is incredibly convenient. Great feature! I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Crazy Rox
I love how this app allows me to enjoy books even when I'm on the move. 🚶♀️🎧 Strolling through captivating narratives while I take my daily walks – pure bliss! 🏞️📚 Audiobooks have become a staple in my routine, all thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. It's a must-have for any book lover. 📖📱 A serviceable audiobook that met basic expectations. The narration was clear if somewhat unremarkable, and the production quality was standard without any noticeable technical issues. It kept me moderately engaged during workouts but didn't leave a lasting impression.
LunaStar
I'm grateful for ListenBook's seamless compatibility with a variety of formats – it's a true lifesaver. If you love stories but have a busy schedule, this app is your solution! My long walks have turned into exciting adventures with this app. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into any moment. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Wonder Lady
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly improved the audio quality of my recordings. The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time. As someone who listens to audiobooks daily, I can confidently say ListenBook is the best player out there. The sleep timer and auto-rewind features are lifesavers, and the sound quality is exceptional. Thank you for such a great app! The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience