Book Review: Creative Interventions Workbook

Image: the cover of the book is a light teal background with a black and white linocut print of a fern unfurling in the center. Across the top in large white letters is "creative interventions workbook." Below that in small letters is "practical tools to stop interpersonal violence." On the bottom there are four circles with symbols in them- a bee, a conch shell, a gear with a wrench, and an ocean wave.

Creative Interventions has been a valuable resource for quite some time, but the print publication of their Toolkit and now Workbook by AK Press has given them much needed further reach. I read and reviewed the toolkit in the past out and found it to be incredibly helpful and informative instruction on dealing with abuse, violence, and other harms perpetuated in a variety of communities without relying on authoritarian state systems that often do not help and can make the problems worse. The toolkit is also a textbook sized, repetitive, massive volume that many people may not have the time, energy, or persistence to get through. I tried to read it cover to cover, but admittedly ended up skimming much of it halfway through due to the size and repetition. The repetition is not a bad thing- it allows the book to be broken up, copied into sections, and shared without constantly reading through the whole thing. But, a more condensed overall review of the processes was much needed (and requested of the organizers.)

Enter the Creative Interventions Workbook: a small volume that is far more accessible and less intimidating. This will allow more people to access and use the information. CI makes it clear that the workbook is not meant as a replacement for the Toolkit and that they are meant to be used in tandem. However, realistically, the important thing is to get as much information to people as is possible. They acknowledged this in the toolkit as well- encouraging people to find ways to share the info with those who have barriers of ability, lack of time, etc. Even in college courses, most people are not reading their textbooks cover to cover. Since the toolkit is designed in a way that different sections can be referenced separately, the workbook allows people to get the gist of things while also helping them understand what parts of the toolkit are most important to reference. The workbook also condenses much of the written exercises, allowing people to do that work in one smaller space, rather than sifting through or marking up the larger volume. 

A personal access note: I have pretty painful arthritis in my hands and wrists as well as some coordination issues that legit make big heavy books a massive pain to hold up and read. There is a significant difference when I can hold up something light and read anywhere vs lugging something heavy that I can only read at my desk. Ebooks can be a solution to some of this, but with the great design of the CI series, I end up preferring the print versions. I also adore the art by Kill Joy on the cover.

All in all, the workbook is an excellent partner to the toolkit as well as something that can be used on its own when that's the only option. I hope these methods are able to be used by more communities granting us all more protection from the state and better solutions to very human problems.

This was also posted to my goodreads.