The Witches Are Coming

By: Lindy West

Narrated by: Lindy West

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

In this wickedly funny cultural critique, the author of the critically acclaimed memoir and Hulu series Shrill exposes misogyny in the #MeToo era.

This is a witch hunt. We're witches, and we're hunting you.

From the moment powerful men started falling to the #MeToo movement, the lamentations began: this is feminism gone too far, this is injustice, this is a witch hunt. In The Witches Are Coming, firebrand author of the New York Times bestselling memoir and now critically acclaimed Hulu TV series Shrill, Lindy West, turns that refrain on its head. You think this is a witch hunt? Fine. You've got one.

In a laugh-out-loud, incisive cultural critique, West extolls the world-changing magic of truth, urging listeners to reckon with dark lies in the heart of the American mythos, and unpacking the complicated, and sometimes tragic, politics of not being a white man in the twenty-first century. She tracks the misogyny and propaganda hidden (or not so hidden) in the media she and her peers devoured growing up, a buffet of distortions, delusions, prejudice, and outright bullsh*t that has allowed white male mediocrity to maintain a death grip on American culture and politics—and that delivered us to this precarious, disorienting moment in history.

West writes, "We were just a hair's breadth from electing America's first female president to succeed America's first black president. We weren't done, but we were doing it. And then, true to form—like the Balrog's whip catching Gandalf by his little gray bootie, like the husband in a Lifetime movie hissing, 'If I can't have you, no one can'—white American voters shoved an incompetent, racist con man into the White House."

We cannot understand how we got here—how the land of the free became Trump's America—without examining the chasm between who we are and who we think we are, without fact-checking the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and each other. The truth can transform us; there is witchcraft in it. Lindy West turns on the light.

©2019 Lindy West (P)2019 Hachette Books

Critic reviews

Amazon, "Best Books of the Month in Nonfiction"

E! News, "The Best New Books of November 2019!"

Esquire, "Best Nonfiction Books of 2019"

Library Journal, "Editors' Fall Picks for 2019"

Bustle, "10 New #MeToo Movement Books To Read in Fall 2019"

TIME, "Most anticipated books for Fall 2019"

USA TODAY, "Best Books Coming Out in Fall 2019"

Houston Chronicle, "Books... we can't wait to read this fall 2019"

Bustle, "15 New Books Under 300 Pages That Will Help You Smash Your Reading Goal Before the End of the Year!"

Book Riot, "50 Of The Best Books to Read This Fall"

Bustle, "The 20 Best New Books of Fall 2019 According to Authors"

St. Louis Dispatch, "20+ eye-opening books you'll want to read this fall"

Book Riot, "5 Boss Lady Books of Nonfiction"

Den of Geek, "Autumnal Book Guide: 15 Best Fall 2019 Reads"

Esquire, "Most Anticipated Books of 2019"

Book Riot, "Ready, Set, Hold: November 2019"

Entertainment Weekly, "20 New Books to Read in November"

TIME, "11 New Books You Should Read in November!"

Yahoo!, "Best November book releases to add to your Christmas wish list"

A.V. Club, "5 Books to Read in November."

Refinery29, "Best Books of November 2019"

Chicago-Sun Times, "Buzzworthy New Books"

USA TODAY, "5 Books Not to Miss!"

PASTE, "25 Best Memoirs of the 2010s"

MOMTASTIC, "Best Books to Pick Up This Holiday Season"

Mashable, "Best Books by Women in 2019"

BUST Magazine, "6 New Books Perfect for the Coldest Winter Months"

"Shrill author Lindy West's latest essay collection is a thoughtful and funny examination of rape culture in media. Some of the topics she tackles: Adam Sandler, Donald Trump, South Park, 'reverse sexism,' and classic movies like Sixteen Candles that make rape look like 'silly fun.'—Bustle

"Equal parts hilarious and sobering, West's words will help fellow witches articulate why they are so fired up (YES!)."—Booklist

"In this time of great frustration, this collection is a clearing in the woods to meet, to reflect, to dance, and to cackle around the fire."—Abbi Jacobson, creator of Broad City and New York Times bestselling author of I Might Regret This

Write all the books, Lindy West!

The writing of Lindy West has gotten me through my twenties and through my mid thirties. As a woman from the same region and the same age, I have benefited from Lindy’s voice in my head as I navigate what the f**** is going on. She puts into words the thoughts and feelings of frustration with systemic injustice I’ve had while educating me how to dismantle it, or at least interrogate my own part in it. This book is giving me hope in these strange times.

Highly Recommended

I love Lindy's writing and it's a treat to hear her read it! It's well written, accessible and her writing voice is distinctive. I appreciate how her writing leads me to self reflection and a desire to do better and be better.

Lindy Says What I Feel

I needed to read this book. I needed to know someone out there understands how I’ve been feeling since November 2016.

Thank you, Lindy, for making me feel sane, seen, and heard.

Lindy West is a treasure. Excellent.

absolutely excellent. Lindy is insightful, informative and funny. You will learn and think differently. Highly recommend.

Lindy West does it again

West is a brilliant essayist, picking apart harmful gender norms and societal standards in a way that exposes their weakness, depicting who they are designed to benefit. Diving into the issues West explores, oppression, climate change, the political atmosphere, it would be easy to craft a gloom and doom story. But What's writing in smart, witty, funny where it needs to be and uplifting where it's needed most.
This book is a great follow on to Shrill. Listening on my morning commute, I emerged from the bus ready to take on the impression patriarchy.

MUST READ!

Bravo, Lindy! Thank you! This book is an absolute triumph 🏆 However, I really do love dresses with pockets

Sucked me in and didn't let go

This book isn't perfect but I REALLY liked it. This was my very first introduction to the writing of Lindy West (I have since listened to Shrill) and I am totally hooked. Ms. West is a damn good writer and her delivery of her work in audiobook format is fantastic. I didn't necessarily agree with every point of view but that isn't the point. I learned quite a bit of new information from this book and it's funny to boot! I highly recommend this audiobook!!

Lindy West for President

Lindy West is brilliant. She speaks the truth and doesn’t flinch. Her bravery to speak out against the things we all say we are against (racism, classism, sexism, misogyny) is inspiring and encouraging. As long as there are intelligent, powerful women, there is still hope. Oh, and she’s funny as well. I just kept thinking, How great would it be if she was in government...????

Listen to this book and tell everyone you know to read this book

Lindy West puts into writing what many of us have been feeling and thinking. She’s hilarious and observant, vulnerable and brave. I wish this book had been around when I was younger; it taught me it’s okay to be angry and care about things openly and fiercely without fear. Thank you Lindy for brining this book onto the world.

Loved this book!

Bravo Lindy!!!! Well written, and I loved getting to listen to her read it. I think I need a print or kindle copy as well. There's a lot of think about here...and Lindy also put several things I've been thinking about into concise narrative. The delivery was witty and refreshing. At the same time, some of what she talks about brings up emotional stuff for me. I highly recommend this one!