Rest Is Resistance

A Manifesto

By: Tricia Hersey

Narrated by: Tricia Hersey

Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Disrupt and push back against capitalism and white supremacy by connecting to the liberating power of rest, daydreaming, and naps as a foundation for healing and justice. Tricia Hersey, aka The Nap Bishop, encourages us to elevate rest as a form of resistance and a divine human right.

What would it be like to live in a well-rested world? Far too many of us have claimed productivity as the cornerstone of success. Brainwashed by capitalism, we subject our bodies and minds to work at an unrealistic, damaging, and machine‑level pace—feeding into the same engine that enslaved millions into brutal labor for its own relentless benefit.

In Rest Is Resistance, Tricia Hersey, aka the Nap Bishop, casts an illuminating light on our troubled relationship with rest and how to imagine and dream our way to a future where rest is exalted. Our worth does not reside in how much we produce, especially not for a system that exploits and dehumanizes us. Rest, in its simplest form, becomes an act of resistance and a reclaiming of power because it asserts our most basic humanity. We are enough. The systems cannot have us.

Rest Is Resistance is rooted in spiritual energy and centered in Black liberation, womanism, somatics, and Afrofuturism. With captivating storytelling and practical advice, all delivered in Hersey’s lyrical voice and informed by her deep experience in theology, activism, and performance art, Rest Is Resistance is a call to action, a battle cry, a field guide, and a manifesto for all of us who are sleep-deprived, searching for justice, and longing to be liberated from the oppressive grip of Grind Culture.

©2022 Tricia Hersey (P)2022 Little, Brown Spark

Critic reviews

“Rest Is Resistance left me feeling elated. This book reminds us that we are in charge of our restoration. In these pages, Tricia has offered us an invitation to take our power back.”—Alexandra Elle, author of After the Rain and How We Heal

“Sometimes the window is open and a breeze comes through singing a sweet song: it is nap time. Grandmother sits on the front porch; grandpapa cuts the grass. It is a song. You nap. I nap. The angels hug us. A book settles beside us. Rest Is Resistance. It is a war we will win.”—Nikki Giovanni, Poet

“With Rest Is Resistance, Tricia Hersey helps us understand that rest is how we can sustain ourselves as we awaken to the truth of the toxic systems of our times. She is not ahead of or above us in this journey, but right here in the midst of social media addiction and overwork and systemic frustration, shouting that she can see an opening. She offers us rest not instead of the incredible work we are doing, but as a way to undergird all our efforts against capitalism and white supremacy. She shows us that our dream space is sacred, and rest is how we reclaim access to the wisdom there. Naps and all kinds of rest are portals through which we return to ourselves. Tricia, sounding like an ancestor who is DONE seeing us suffer, is inviting us to join her and step on through.”—adrienne maree brown, author of Emergent Strategy and Pleasure Activism

Such powerful words

This book has changed the way look at our future. My heart is bursting with hope and possibility. I will rest AND continue to build communities of care!

Thanks Ms. Hersey!!!

Game changing ideas!

The author read this with great passion and intention! I am convinced she is absolutely correct! Rest is a right! The grind culture is a sham!

Balm for the Soul

I’ve followed The Nap Bishop’s work online for many years and was eagerly awaiting this book, which did not disappoint. Even more satisfying was the friendly/angelic yet firm with concoction vocal delivery. I will likely listen to this over and over again to be reminded of what I most need to rest AND resist. 5+ stars!

Phenomenal

I write this laying down, in a rested state. This book is magic. This writing is unshakable truth. In the most authentic writing and conveyance of gems, Hersey calls us back to the truth that we know. We are not machines.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Only on the first few paragraphs and I am deeply grateful for the way it speaks to my soul. A must experience book 💕

Take back your control!

Always felt this way, but didn't have it in words like Ms Hersey. Thank you for delivering the message in such a beautiful way.

Profound, as expected.

Love the content, love that the author is the narrator, love the length and look forward to listening again!

The book I never knew I needed

Stumbled across this by accident. Ill call it fate. I needed to hear these words to recenter my life. For those who heed to the wisdom elegantly stated in this book, their lives will be life altering. This book is transformative.

Read this

I’ve listened twice now, and have started a book club on this one. Worth your time and Audible credit. Follow up with Audre Lorde and bell hooks.

If "unapologetic" was a book, mantra, messages....

Tricia Hersey explains the need for rest more ways than Waffle House complements hash browns. This is a book for the tired and weary for each human that has become exhausted explaining injustice and racism and oppression...stop. America knows. It was literally created from it. The change comes from the machine that stops when it realizes it is human and does not have to be subject to hatred disguised as capitalism and gift wrapped in survival. Get this book,get some tea,find your favorite cozy spot, wrap up with someone who brings your body joy and listen and rest.