My observation about punks, the real ones, is that they’re hard on everyone. Even themselves. Their highest standards come from a desire for things to be better than they are. It’s from having an open heart and caring deeply. In my younger years, a lot of my heroes were exacting artists who cared deeply. Unfortunately, a lot of them are now dead. The world was too much. Therefore, I’m very interested in the punks who survived and seem to be more at peace with the world and their roles in it. How did they make the switch? 
That’s why I bought Kathleen Hanna’s Rebel Girl. How did she do it?
First, Hanna tells the truth. She tells the truth about her (very) imperfect family, the awful men in her life, the hypocrisy of punk, the exacting toll of touring and not taking care of herself. She also tells the truth about her own actions: how she failed her friends, how she hurt people, and how she missed the need for intersectionality for many years. That was something I really admired – her ability to keep a light shining on her own failures, and even to let bad relationships stay bad for a hundred pages until a situation was resolved. She doesn’t wallpaper over damage.
Another thing I noticed is that, implicitly, Hanna leaves room for grace. For herself and for others. There can be more to the story after exposing and articulating a problem; there can be a way to move forward, even in imperfection. It’s possible! I finished this book months ago so maybe I’m misremembering, but I don’t think there’s anything specifically said about this. It’s just something I noticed in her tone and her willingness to keep trying.
The musician in me really enjoyed her thoughts on the recording process, and specifically how much she enjoyed creating the Julie Ruin album (the album, not the band). Besides just kind of jamming, producing is my favorite part of making music. So we’re kindred spirits that way. Julie Ruin is still my favorite record of Hanna’s, even though Le Tigre is on every dance playlist I’ve ever made.
If you’re a maturing punk or a fan of Hanna’s, I’d say it’s a must-read.
3.5/5 rounded up.
