Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto

Hersey conceptualizes grind culture as a societal ethos that prioritizes constant labor and productivity over individual health and well-being, deeply entwined with capitalist and white supremacist structures. This culture glorifies overwork and undervalues rest, which perpetuates the belief that a person’s value is tied to their economic output and ability to endure stress and exhaustion. In this book, Hersey critiques this mindset by illustrating how it extends from historical practices of exploitation, particularly of Black labor, which underpins systemic inequalities. This grind culture not only marginalizes but also dehumanizes people by demanding relentless work at the cost of physical and mental health. Through her discussion, Hersey links grind culture to broader themes of oppression and resistance and urges a reevaluation of societal values that overlook the essential human need for rest and recovery.

The Nap Ministry is an initiative founded by Hersey, which is central to her book as it embodies the concept that rest is a form of resistance against the relentless demands of grind culture, capitalism, and white supremacy. The Nap Ministry is both a physical and metaphorical space that advocates for the revolutionary act of resting, particularly for Black communities and other marginalized groups who have been disproportionately affected by systemic exploitation and oppression. Hersey’s Nap Ministry promotes the idea that napping and rest are not acts of laziness or luxury but essential practices for healing, rejuvenation, and liberation. Through workshops, public napping events, and educational programs, the Nap Ministry provides spaces for individuals to rest, reflecting Hersey’s belief in the power of rest to disrupt the status quo, heal from the trauma of systemic oppression, and reclaim time and energy. It serves as a platform to challenge the societal norms that undervalue rest and to advocate for a cultural shift toward prioritizing health, well-being, and rest as essential components of social justice and personal empowerment.

Hersey posits “Rest is Resistance” as a foundational principle that challenges the oppressive demands of grind culture, capitalism, and white supremacy (7). Hersey argues these systems exploit individuals, particularly Black people, by equating their worth with productivity and relentless labor, which leads to physical and mental exhaustion. By advocating for rest, Hersey subverts these norms, presenting rest as a radical act of self-preservation and defiance against the systemic devaluation of individual well-being and time. Moreover, Hersey discusses “Rest is Resistance” not only as a personal practice but also as a communal and political act that can dismantle the structures of oppression (7). She emphasizes the restorative and revolutionary potential of rest and suggests that rest enables individuals to recover, reflect, and engage more deeply with their communities and the fight for social justice.