Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “We Should All Be Feminists” is book 16 of 2023.

And—yeah, okay—it might be a bit of a cheat, considering its length. But my wife bought the book, and I couldn’t resist blowing through it in an hour.

Based on a TEDx talk that Adichie gave in 2012 of the same name, “We Should All Be Feminists” is what you’d expect. It’s a look at a contentious subject, one that people are wary of due to its volatile nature. But, and Adichie makes this point, it shouldn’t be so divisive. This is one of the many parts Adichie and I agree upon.

The book makes some excellent points about feminism. Adichie’s look at the roles of men and women is refreshing and on point. And the brevity of the book works to its advantage. I agreed with much of what Adichie said, except for a few moments.

The not-so-trans-positive statement “women can have babies, men cannot” got a raised eyebrow. Not surprising for a woman who defended J. K. Rowling. Also, “loss of virginity is a process that usually involves two people of opposite genders”? Not very LGBTQ+ friendly. So, whilst Adichie makes some excellent points, she also makes some blunders. For a book about feminism, I had hoped that it would have been more progressive.

Have a read—it won’t take long—but remember, it’s not the most inclusive piece of feminist literature.