User:RedSpaceRocks/Epistemologies of the South

What is the Book About
Epistemologies of the South examines the idea of "cognitive injustice," or the inability to take into account the various forms of knowledge that people use to manage their lives and provide meaning to them. Boaventura de Sousa Santos demonstrates why global cognitive justice is necessary for global social justice. According to Santos, knowledge and wisdom that had previously existed in the global South have been severely suppressed as a result of Western dominance. He argues that it is crucial to rediscover and value the global range of epistemologies today. In contrast to the logic of market-driven avarice and selfishness, epistemologies of the South present a new form of bottom-up cosmopolitanism in which conviviality, solidarity, and life dominate.

Reactions to the book
Overall all accounts and reviews of Epistemologies of the South are very positive. Due to the fact that the book is fairly new having been published in 2014, there is not much large-scale discourse around the book. Despite this what little time this book has spent in the world of the published book this book has been getting reactions from people in the world of sociology and all of them are positive. Throughout the many different accounts of reviews for this book, all of them praise the book's unique and thought-provoking way of analyzing sociology in many different parts of the world not typically talked about. One review says, “The book functions well as a lens into a distant world outsiders may have forgotten.” This quote shows the extent to which this book looks into sociology in ways typically not seen in popular sociology. Another review of this book ends by saying it “invites readers to participate not only as critics of colonial, capitalist, and patriarchal domination, but as full participants on a new epistemic terrain.” This quote highlights the forward-thinking aspect of the Epistemologies of the South. Not only does the book use new analysis to get its point across it opens up the ability for people to use similar analysis in their writings in the future. Although most of the reactions seem in favor of the book there is still critique to be found. One review says “In a book called Epistemologies of the South, there is a strange absence of epistemologies from the South.” The main sentiments put forth and critiques of the book all seem to center around very similar ideas. They all seem to think the work present in Epistemologies of the South is seemingly rushed and far too abstract. Another big critique of the book is that reviewers feel that many things are left out.