What do you think?
Rate this book
An Equal Difference
G.S. Motola combines stunning images and thoughtful text in this revealing exploration of Iceland’s relationship with equality, feminism and gender identity. By examining how Icelandic society deals with issues such as parenting, innovation and crime, An Equal Difference offers a unique and engaging portrait of the world’s most gender equal nation.
- GenresFeminism
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 12, 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 6, 2016
This book is, quite simply, incredible. A carefully-considered inquiry into Iceland’s response to the 2008 Financial Crisis evolves into larger narrative about Icelandic society's approach to the modern questions of feminism, gender equality, and gender identity. The entire book is accompanied by gorgeous photos to illustrate its events and interviews. It is rare to find a photobook where the writing and photography are of equal quality, and this is one example that shines.
The photographs do much to celebrate the natural beauty of Iceland’s landscape, while at the same time, maintaining its focus on its human inhabitants. Motola's exploration covers a wide range of ground without ever feeling rushed or non-sequitur. What is truly unique in this gem is the even-handedness and subtlety of analysis. Another commenter here has mentioned that the author is "diverse, and not in a contrived way... [having] a gentle ability to avoid being anything other than her own person". After completing the book, I think no assessment could be more accurate. Highly recommend.
The photographs do much to celebrate the natural beauty of Iceland’s landscape, while at the same time, maintaining its focus on its human inhabitants. Motola's exploration covers a wide range of ground without ever feeling rushed or non-sequitur. What is truly unique in this gem is the even-handedness and subtlety of analysis. Another commenter here has mentioned that the author is "diverse, and not in a contrived way... [having] a gentle ability to avoid being anything other than her own person". After completing the book, I think no assessment could be more accurate. Highly recommend.
October 14, 2016
Our greatest challenge lies in building a decent society with semi evolved humans. Many are driven by self interest, fear and greed while others are generous and philanthropic. Motola's book gives an insight into one country that has found ways of living which encourage the best from both.
The photography empowers the words which illuminate the photography. An inspiring read and an excellent gift for a grumpy friend.
The photography empowers the words which illuminate the photography. An inspiring read and an excellent gift for a grumpy friend.
September 3, 2016
I have known the author for a number of years.
She is diverse and not in a contrived way. She has a gentle ability to avoid being anything but her own person and is not formulaic in her thoughts. This book is both a surprise and then again, not.
She draws her net across a number of topics with alacrity but a serious undertone.
The reading of a potentially difficult topic is made gentler and attractive with an intelligent balance. She works her prose around the picture, or vice-versa or both. The end result is a joy to both the aesthetic and the grey matter. You are informed but at the same time entertained. Hats off to this diverse writer. Somehow, I would expect no less from her. The cornucopia of her interests and achievements subtly pad the skeleton with flesh.
Maybe she should do another, or maybe not.
She is able to put her fine mind to many a challenge and shine. The clock ticks.
And remember, everyone is unique and I am one of them.
She is diverse and not in a contrived way. She has a gentle ability to avoid being anything but her own person and is not formulaic in her thoughts. This book is both a surprise and then again, not.
She draws her net across a number of topics with alacrity but a serious undertone.
The reading of a potentially difficult topic is made gentler and attractive with an intelligent balance. She works her prose around the picture, or vice-versa or both. The end result is a joy to both the aesthetic and the grey matter. You are informed but at the same time entertained. Hats off to this diverse writer. Somehow, I would expect no less from her. The cornucopia of her interests and achievements subtly pad the skeleton with flesh.
Maybe she should do another, or maybe not.
She is able to put her fine mind to many a challenge and shine. The clock ticks.
And remember, everyone is unique and I am one of them.
March 11, 2017
I genuinely love this book. It is intelligent, honest, heartfelt, beautiful and well represents the experience the author had meeting all of the incredible people who gave their time and intelligence to the sessions they had together. Okay so given that the author is me, you might think my opinion is biased in my favour, but this is how I feel. I am absolutely proud of this book. The photographs are stunning. The text is personal, resonant and easy to read and at 20,000 words not so prolific as to overrun the balance of images. The information, reflections and stories contained within are inspiring. I highly recommend it. It is an unusual book inspired by and made in an unusual country.
August 23, 2016
I received this this morning and sat down and read it cover to cover.
It challenged my thinking in many areas and introduced me to new ways to think about my world, my life and the people in it.
On top of that it is a beautiful record of a point in time and space.
I rushed through it today, because I was excited by it, but I can see this will require re-reading and some time to digest mentally ... and that's a great thing.
Loved it.
It challenged my thinking in many areas and introduced me to new ways to think about my world, my life and the people in it.
On top of that it is a beautiful record of a point in time and space.
I rushed through it today, because I was excited by it, but I can see this will require re-reading and some time to digest mentally ... and that's a great thing.
Loved it.
October 10, 2022
Four stars for the photography, three for the essays. I particularly liked the gorgeous landscape photographs, as well as the sequence of portraits of musicians and listeners. I think G.S. Motola hits on some solid fundamental truths in her writing, but I was craving an extra layer of insight, connection, and perhaps skepticism. It's also interesting to observe just how quickly the discourse in progressive movements evolves - the language of only six years ago already feels out of date in some ways (I'm thinking specifically of the essays on gender), though this isn't a criticism - I think it's just an inherent consequence of writing on these subjects.
May 1, 2022
A thought provoking and adventurous read! Gabriella takes us to the far reaches of Iceland to provide a commentary on life that provides us all with some takeaways to think about in whatever part of the world we may be living in. Combined with stunning portraits, landscapes, and environmental images Gabriella’s work will be something I’ll definitely refer back to for inspiration with my own photography and views on society.
February 10, 2022
Gabrielle is not only an amazing photographer but also an amazing writer. An Equal Difference is both an excellent photography book with beautiful photos of Iceland, its well known landscapes and more importantly its people, but also a remarquable sociology book, which covers important parts of Icelandic modern society, feminism, gender equality, mental health, parenting, politics and a lot more. The photographs and the words strenghten one another, you cannot only look at the photographs and you cannot only read the words, you need to do both to fully appreciate the book. This is a book you can leave on a coffee table to browse through the pages again and again. I highly recommend An Equal Difference.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews