Subj : book: lessons from cats for surviving fascism
To : August Abolins
From : Ed Vance
Date : Mon Dec 08 2025 03:57 pm
> An experpt (p15 and p16) from a very funny book,
> Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism | Hardcover
> Stewart Reynolds
> Grand Central Publishing
> Humor / Form - Parodies / Literary Criticism / American / Self-Help /
> Personal Growth - Happiness
> 9781538778005
> "
> Cats despise collars.
> Cats hate wearing anything.
> Sure, they might look cute for a moment - maybe even Instagram-
> worthy-but deep down, every cat knows what a collar really
> represents: control.
> The tiny bell jingling with every step? Surveillance.
> The snug fit? Domination.
> Cats aren't fooled, and neither should we be.
> Fascists love collars, metaphorically speaking. They're obsessed
> with finding ways to make people wear them, often by dressing
> them up as something "necessary" or even "fashionable." "Oh, it's
> for your own good!" they chirp, jingling the societal equivalent
> of a little bell. "Look how it makes you a better citizen!" But
> much like a cat, you should pause, stare at the collar, and then
> swat it off the table with a look of utter disdain.
> Fascists, let's be honest, are a bit like overzealous dog owners
> who think every living being needs to be leashed. "Why aren't
> they wearing their collar?" they demand, clutching their red ball
> caps. "How will we know where they're going or what they're
> doing?" The thought of someone walking freely through life,
> uncollared, untethered, and entirely unpredictable, sends them
> into a spiral of existential dread.
> Cats, however, refuse to be restrained. Even when they grudgingly
> wear a collar, they'll spend every waking moment plotting its
> removal.
> You can practically hear them thinking, Oh, you believe this
> little pink band of oppression will stop me? And that's the
> energy we need to channel. It's not just about rejecting literal
> collars - it's about rejecting anything that tries to disguise
> control as convenience. A bell around your neck so the fascists
> can always find you? No, thank you.
> The funny thing is, fascists aren't even good at making collars
> look appealing. Their idea of a "cute accessory" is usually
> something drab and joyless, like a uniform or a badge that
> screams, "I have no personality!" And yet, they can't understand
> why people don't line up to wear them. You can almost picture the
> confusion: "Why don't they like the collar? It's so practical!
> It's so efficient!" Meanwhile, the cats of the world are lounging
> in their collar-free glory, silently laughing at the absurdity of
> it all.
> The trick is to question every collar you're handed, no matter
> how harmless it seems. Is it really just a harmless accessory, or
> is it a way to keep you in line?
> Cats know the answer instinctively.
> That's why they'd rather dart across busy streets, untagged and
> unbothered, than let someone slap a leash on them. It's not just
> about freedom - it's about the principle of the thing.
> So, the next time someone tries to slip a metaphorical collar
> around your neck - whether it's a rule, a label, or a demand for
> conformity - channel your inner cat. Give them that signature
> feline look of disdain that says, "I don't think so, moron," and
> walk away, preferably in the direction of a sunny windowsill
> where you can nap undisturbed.
> Because at the end of the day, life isn't meant to be lived with
> a bell around your neck and someone else holding the leash. Be
> uncollared undisturbed.
> Be free.
> "
> --- OpenXP 5.0.64
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> (1:153/757.21)
Thanks for this review
It put a grin on my face.
Ed
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