From beloved and bestselling author Roxane Gay, "a strikingly fresh cultural critic" (Washington Post) comes an exhilarating collection of her essays on culture, politics, and everything in between. Since the publication of the groundbreaking Bad Feminist and Hunger, Roxane Gay has continued to tackle big issues embroiling society--state-sponsored violence and mass shootings, womens rights post-Dobbs, online disinformation, and the limits of empathy--alongside more individually personalized matters: can I tell my co-worker her perfume makes me sneeze? Is it acceptable to schedule a daily 8 am meeting? In her role as a New York Times opinion section contributor and the publications "Work Friend" columnist, she reaches millions of readers with her wise voice and sharp insights. Opinions is a collection of Roxane Gays best nonfiction pieces from the past ten years. Covering a wide range of topics--politics, feminism, the culture wars, civil rights, and much more--with an all-new introduction in which she reflects on the past decade in America, this sharp, thought-provoking anthology will delight Roxane Gays devotees and draw new readers to this inimitable talent

Introduction --

Identity/politics --

Tragedy plays on an infinite loop -- Am I a bad person if je ne suis pas Charlie? -- Seduction of safety, on campus and beyond -- White crime -- Case against hope -- Cops don't belong at pride -- Why people are so awful online -- Why I've decided to take my podcast off Spotify -- It's time to rage -- Don't talk to me about civility on Tuesday morning, those children were alive --

Matter of Black lives --

Why I can't forgive Dylann Roof -- On the death of Sandra Bland and our vulnerable bodies -- Of lions and men: mourning Samuel DuBose and Cecil the Lion -- Where are Black children safe? -- Alton Sterling and when Black Lives stop mattering -- How to build a monument -- World expects Black men to make themselves smaller. My brother never did -- Making people uncomfortable can get you killed --

Civic responsibilities --

Who gets to be angry? -- Voting with my head and heart -- Hate that doesn't hide (on Trump's presidency) -- No one is coming to save us from Trump's racism -- You're disillusioned. That's fine. Vote anyway -- How we save ourselves -- I am shattered but ready to fight --

For the culture --

So fast, so damn furious -- Nickel and dimed (Mitchell Jackson's The residue years -- Why the beach is a bummer -- Discomfort zone (The unspeakable by Meghan Daum) -- Bridled vows (Jenny Offill's Dept. of speculation) -- Food TV's sadistic glee -- Marriage plot -- Warning signs (The sacrifice by Joyce Carol Oates) -- Wise crack (Delicious foods by James Hannaham) -- Oscars and Hollywood's race problem -- Black Lives imagined (Jodi Picoult's Small great things) -- I don't want to watch slavery fan fiction -- Mockingbird reconsidered -- Can I enjoy art but denounce the artist? -- Roseanne is gone, but the culture that gave her a show isn't -- Insatiable is lazy, insulting from start to finish -- Legacy of Toni Morrison -- After Chadwick Boseman's iconic Black Panther, should King T'Challa be recast? -- How to collect art --

Man problems --

Why are most Father's day gifts so terrible? -- Nate Parker and the limits of empathy -- Dear men: It's you too -- Louis C.K. and the men who think justice takes as long as they want it to -- I thought men might do better than this -- Dave Chappelle's brittle ego -- Jada Pinkett Smith shouldn't have to take a joke. Neither should you --

Minding other folks' business --

Madonna's spring awakening -- Charlie, come in -- Nicki Minaj, always in control -- Melina Matsoukas's fearless vision -- Janelle Monáe's Afrofuture -- Sarah Paulson has no fear -- Talented Tessa Thompson -- Where Jordan Casteel sees herself going -- This is Pamela, finally --

Solicited advice --

Yes, your job is important. But it's not all important -- Ask Roxane: Is it too late to follow my dreams? -- Ask Roxane: I'm outraged but failing at activism. Why? -- Ask Roxane: Where the hell is the love of my life? --

Acknowledments