Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World

Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein (2023) A book heavy with dire real-world subjects and complex ideas (complex, but not hard to understand, at least on some level)—it starts out with the humorous “crisis” of author Naomi Klein’s consternation with being often (over the years) confused with author Naomi Wolf. Partly due to the similarities of their names, but also because of the common ground of their interests and politics—at least at one time. A confusion that is maddening for Klein, now, since Wolf’s seeming reversal of beliefs and most recent fame as a conspiracy theorist and anti-vax spokesperson. Naomi Klein expands on the concept of doppelganger, in myths, movies, and literature, and extends it through her concerns touched on this book—from conspiracy theories, the pandemic, politics, cancel culture, capitalism, social media, autism, religion, antisemitism, Zionism, fascism, history and human conflict, and the climate crisis. I’m probably forgetting something… there’s a lot here! If it sounds hard to take on, well, she helps a lot by clearly covering one thing at a time, and her approach is personable and positive—with a lot of focus on herself, her stake in everything, including her own shortcomings. She comes off like the friend you’d like to have, and in that way allows you at least the possibility of hope. I learned a lot, that’s for sure, and it got me thinking in other directions. I feel like I could go through the book again. I will admit to listening to an audiobook version, read by, weirdly, Naomi Wolf! That’s a joke. It’s read, very well, by the author. I wanted to get to it, this book—and through it—sooner than my slow, slow reading would allow. I feel like audiobooks are never as thorough a delivery system as reading is, but I can always listen to a book read twice, in half the time. I can imagine listening to this again (and/or reading it)—for her personable, somewhat odd—sometimes poetic, sometimes eccentric—take on all of it—but really deep and sane insights. A lot to learn and relearn. Some comfort. Sanity through clarity, at least a bit of clarity, and increased understanding. It could be a companion through rough times—rough times, now, and rougher times ahead.

8.15.24