This post discusses sexual assault and its aftermath, as
portrayed in Know My Name by Chanel Miller and Missoula by Jon Krakauer.
In the past year, I’ve read two books that profoundly shaped
my understanding of sexual assault and the systems that fail survivors. I’ve
long admired Jon Krakauer’s work, so I picked up Missoula knowing it
would be thoroughly researched and thoughtfully written. Then, earlier this
year, Know My Name was recommended by my coworkers, and since memoirs
are my favorite genre, I decided to read it. Both books are powerful and
necessary, approaching the same subject from very different angles. Together,
they offer a fuller picture of the crisis facing college campuses and the
justice system when it comes to sexual assault.
Know My Name is a memoir by Chanel Miller. She writes
with emotional depth and poetic clarity, recounting her experience as the
survivor of sexual assault on Stanford University’s campus. Her story is
intimate, raw, and deeply human. She invites readers into her pain, her
healing, and her fight to reclaim her identity. One quote that stayed with me
is:
“I survived because I remained soft, because I listened, because I wrote. Because I huddled close to my truth, protected it like a tiny flame in a terrible storm... Stay tender with your power. Never fight to injure, fight to uplift. Fight because you know that in this life, you deserve safety, joy, and freedom.”
This quote captures the emotional core of Miller’s memoir.
Her strength lies not in revenge, but in vulnerability and truth.
Missoula, written by Jon Krakauer, is a work of
investigative journalism. He examines multiple cases of sexual assault at the
University of Montana, revealing systemic failures in law enforcement,
university administration, and public perception. His writing is meticulous and
fact-driven. Krakauer exposes how institutions protect perpetrators and
retraumatize victims—all under the guise of due process.
Reading Know My Name felt like sitting beside someone
as they shared their story. Reading Missoula felt like being in the
courtroom, watching the system unfold. Both are emotionally intense: Miller’s
memoir is personal and lyrical, while Krakauer’s account is analytical and
expansive. Together, they highlight the same truth—sexual assault is not just
an individual trauma; it is a societal failure. Survivors are often doubted,
silenced, and retraumatized by the very systems meant to protect them.
If you’re looking to understand both the emotional and
systemic realities of sexual assault, I highly recommend reading Know My
Name and Missoula. One gives voice to the survivor, the other holds
a mirror to the system—and both insist that we do better.
Read: March 5, 2025
Missoula Published: April 21, 2015
Read: January 19, 2024
aB . All Rights Reserved . 2025
