Week 12 Prompt

Author: Malaika Jabali

Title: It’s Not You, It’s Capitalism: Why It’s Time to Break Up and How to Move On

Genre: Nonfiction

Publication Date: October 24, 2023

Number of Pages: 224

Geographical Setting: America

Time Period: Present Day

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum?

This book is a mix between narrative nonfiction with fact-based prose. 

2. What is the subject of the book?

This book is an introduction to anti-capitalist theory with a focus on race.

3. What type of book is it?

A mix of economics and political and social science. The author makes the

argument that a capitalist economic system affects every aspect of our

social and political lives, so that’s why it fits in both categories.

4. Articulate appeal:

Pacing: Measured pace.

Characters: This book is not character-focused, but Jabali highlights
important “class warriors” throughout the book, like W.E.B. DuBois,
Martin Luther King, Jr., Dolores Huerta, and Karl Marx. The class
warriors she highlights with brief overviews of their history are those
who have spoken against capitalism. 

How does the story feel? The story is thought provoking and impassioned.

What is the intent of the author?The intent is for the readers to realize we need to build a different world

not centered around capitalism and to offer realistic goals for change.

Does the language matter? Yes. The author uses colloquial language, internet slang, and pop culture

references to make concepts more interesting and easier to understand

for the reader. 

Is the setting important and well described? The setting of present-day America is less important than the state

of present-day America. The author presents several statistics and

facts about life in present-day America to show that we are not

thriving under our current economic system.

Are there details and, if so, of what? There are lots of details throughout the book to back the author's claims.

The details are about life in America under capitalism and many examples

of what other countries' policies are.

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? The book is filled with interesting graphics and charts and even memes.

It breaks up the content of the book, keeping readers interested.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?

Yes, this book is about socialism with a focus on race and how racism is

embedded into the capitalist system. Written by a black socialist, the

author offers a very different perspective to anticapitalism than that

of an economist. Jabali’s background is in law and journalism. It offers

an overview of what socialism is and what it would look like in America

and how it’s experienced in other countries. 

5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?

1. Learning/Experiencing

2. Details

3. Language