Health and Safety: A Breakdown

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would agree with many of the third party professional reviews to date that have referred to it as one of the finest post-Covid memoirs to date. Like her other books and articles, Emily Witt's writing style is elegant, poignant and enthralling. I'm not sure there's a readily available comparison, but I would say she's somewhere in the mix of Chuck Klosterman, Bianca Bosker, Jia Tolentino and maybe a little Cat Marnell. The substance of the book is also great -- a high-brow analysis of (arguably, although I would disagree) a low-brow subject, the Brooklyn rave scene, coupled with the author's experience with Covid pandemic, the tumultuous politics of that time and a captivating, but ultimately toxic, relationship. In short, I would highly recommend this book. If I have any criticism about it (and I really don't), I guess a little too much ink was dedicated to her failed relationship, as if the author felt compelled to justify herself to readers that are not as hard on her as she is on herself regarding it, and a perhaps implicit theme that the author is partially responsible of the gentrification of the Brooklyn scene she writes about, as I felt that partially detracted from the authenticity she clearly deserves.

Our culture war climate produced many Gen Z that don't like me because I'm Y, many women don't like me because I'm a white guy, and libertarians who hate me. How very ironic that so many reviews of this book are negative because the reviewer comes from a different splinter of the left than their's. I'm in my upper 50s. I remember when people's first reaction was to try to avoid cynicism about very opinionated writing, to give it some breathing room.I disagree with some of the ideas in this book, but almost all have at least some merit. There's no need to needle and discredit every author who is a very personal storyteller and outspoken.I missed most of the rave scene times, but I lived in Greenpoint 15 years ago. I've seen the EDM culture in Saigon, Vietnam, where I moved eight years ago, and "Safety" makes me want to vomit in my mouth a little if I compare the extreme shallowness of club life much of Asia."Safety" is concerned with social justice. One thing I don't get (my one, choice, small needling) is how Witt doesn't call out those who choose coke as their regular nightlife drug of choice. In the more "aware" world of these underground clubs, they are pretty inauthentic. They cause more problems, via people's live ruined by cartels, than a Trump supporter ranting on Twitter about his/her grievances.

When observing events outside what goes on beyond her, the author revealsextraordinary writing skills, distilling social trends to bare bones..Not tojudge, but to express confusion, what attracts her to raves, drugs, rejectionimpulses, DJs or bartenders as talented, and particularly her “love” interest,while graphically portrayed, ultimately masks, until it can no longer mask,the futility of it all..This, in the final analysis, is rebellion run amok..She feels“love” for a lover first, foremost, and ultimately, a self-destructive abuser who, ironically, as highly skilled and articulate in self justification and delusion, might well mirror the author..Her ability to garner writing gigs seems her only means to stay afloat..The fact that The New Yorker hires herspeaks volumes..Exploring unconventional and risky business against thebanalities of living will always sell books..But like what we see on televisionand other media, we can be fascinated if not seduced by people or agencieswho talk a good game, but who have no game. Caveat Emptor.