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Red Pill Rhymes: a poetical awakening
Red Pill Rhymes is a collection of poems and rhyming stories that takes the reader down a journey through the inner workings of the mind and soul, eventually arriving at a truth and awakening about themselves and the world. It is the shedding of identity, and self-realization of how to overcome challenges, while blowing the lid off our own perceived realities. Very honest in its tone, Red Pill Rhymes touches upon topics such as anxiety, trauma, spirituality, politics, creativity, government, media, and much more. It ultimately asks of the reader one key question...'are you awake?'
- GenresPoetry
193 pages, Paperback
Published December 5, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 21, 2023
Brutality, in itself. The framing of the term 'honesty'. Not an easy read, but it's a must as we must remove the guards from upon our eyes and pluck the N-95's from our lips, for the truth must be faced, and we must speak for it. Too often we have taken humanity for granted. Worshipped false leaders. Stricken our egos—death of "I"—and become conjoined in a passionless society. 'Red Pill Rhymes' is brutally honest, vulnerable when there is no truth. All those who wish to be heard and seen, this is a MUST to read.
April 13, 2023
The author has a way with rhymes that few poets use these days case to explore. He flaunts a beautiful vocabulary in the face of those who look down on his chosen style. I also sense sadness as the author wanders through the language in search of ways to wake people up to the realities of modern-day evils. There is no shyness as he tries to shake the world just a little, and jostle those that choose to read the book out of their comfort zones.
January 25, 2023
I read this book in paperback. This is an unsolicited review.
Debut poet R.K. Gandhi offers us an intelligent, well thought out collection of poetry spanning the last several years on his social media. He is a wordsmith who has uncanny ability at clever wordplay and rhymes which don't sound sophomoric. Instead we find the story of man who shares both who he was and where he's going and takes us along as he does.
The book is separated into "ego" (who he was), "broken" (his turning point), "process" (movement towards his change), "truth" (his eyes open to the world around), and finally "awaken" (his spiritual rebirth). I found the sections laid out well and easy to follow the progression of who he was yesterday to who he is today and who he is becoming. Some of the pieces, well -many- if I'm honest, I was nodding my head knowing exactly what he meant and agreeing wholeheartedly. The book is saturated with (as I mentioned) clever wordplay. Take "2024" for instance in which begins: 'censorship was like a storm, and when it reigned, it poured. now our only reprieve, was to up our social credit score.' My favorite section of poetry was by far "truth" with zingers like the book's aptly justified namesake "red pill rhymes" holding the lines 'what you once thought was pure fiction, orwellian, something out of the matrix, was actually... many decades of subtle deterioration... of privacy and rights, and with plenty of distractions preventing you to escape it. then you'll realize, you were fast asleep... in hibernation. an entire life of blissful ignorance... you're brave enough to open your eyes, and no longer feel so empty and vacant... you've finally begun to awaken.' In the poem "poetic prophecy" I felt deeply the lines: 'I was a thousand messy pieces, packaged in a neat little box, a man lifelessly existing just for show... that's when you discovered me, unhinged, overwhelmed, distraught... but with your hand and heart open, you pick me up and brought me back to life, rescuing me from a sea of cardboard.'
If you're looking for weak poetry which is all fluff with little substance: this isn't it. These are lines which clearly Gandhi has worked through internally and believes them with his whole heart. It's poetry to make you think, to question, to hope, and to help you realize you are not alone. I also appreciated that while a highly political AND spiritual book, he doesn't "take sides". Instead he unapologeticly simply writes out the truth, a light-bearer in a darkening world. While I personally find the term "red pill" cringey and overused... somehow it works with this collection. (Not to say his work is cringey, no!, but only that it simply Fits.)
I give this collection 4.75/5 stars. Excellent collection of poetry, great length, intelligent organization, simple yet eye-catching cover. I removed 1/4 of a star for some awkward formatting in some multi-page poems which felt, well, awkward. Typically multi-page poems run to the bottom of the page and start new lines on the next, but the stanzas here are split to be even for each page, so a three-page poem may have four stanzas (filling 2/3 of a page) per page... and it just feels strange. I can sort of understand doing it, as that would be a typical style for, say IG tiles, but in a book could be off-putting to traditional readers (such as myself). It's a minor complaint though and overall I loved the book and took my time enjoying all it had to offer.
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy modern rhyming poetry which leans to renegade-style poetry, anti-establishment, and spiritual awakening.
Debut poet R.K. Gandhi offers us an intelligent, well thought out collection of poetry spanning the last several years on his social media. He is a wordsmith who has uncanny ability at clever wordplay and rhymes which don't sound sophomoric. Instead we find the story of man who shares both who he was and where he's going and takes us along as he does.
The book is separated into "ego" (who he was), "broken" (his turning point), "process" (movement towards his change), "truth" (his eyes open to the world around), and finally "awaken" (his spiritual rebirth). I found the sections laid out well and easy to follow the progression of who he was yesterday to who he is today and who he is becoming. Some of the pieces, well -many- if I'm honest, I was nodding my head knowing exactly what he meant and agreeing wholeheartedly. The book is saturated with (as I mentioned) clever wordplay. Take "2024" for instance in which begins: 'censorship was like a storm, and when it reigned, it poured. now our only reprieve, was to up our social credit score.' My favorite section of poetry was by far "truth" with zingers like the book's aptly justified namesake "red pill rhymes" holding the lines 'what you once thought was pure fiction, orwellian, something out of the matrix, was actually... many decades of subtle deterioration... of privacy and rights, and with plenty of distractions preventing you to escape it. then you'll realize, you were fast asleep... in hibernation. an entire life of blissful ignorance... you're brave enough to open your eyes, and no longer feel so empty and vacant... you've finally begun to awaken.' In the poem "poetic prophecy" I felt deeply the lines: 'I was a thousand messy pieces, packaged in a neat little box, a man lifelessly existing just for show... that's when you discovered me, unhinged, overwhelmed, distraught... but with your hand and heart open, you pick me up and brought me back to life, rescuing me from a sea of cardboard.'
If you're looking for weak poetry which is all fluff with little substance: this isn't it. These are lines which clearly Gandhi has worked through internally and believes them with his whole heart. It's poetry to make you think, to question, to hope, and to help you realize you are not alone. I also appreciated that while a highly political AND spiritual book, he doesn't "take sides". Instead he unapologeticly simply writes out the truth, a light-bearer in a darkening world. While I personally find the term "red pill" cringey and overused... somehow it works with this collection. (Not to say his work is cringey, no!, but only that it simply Fits.)
I give this collection 4.75/5 stars. Excellent collection of poetry, great length, intelligent organization, simple yet eye-catching cover. I removed 1/4 of a star for some awkward formatting in some multi-page poems which felt, well, awkward. Typically multi-page poems run to the bottom of the page and start new lines on the next, but the stanzas here are split to be even for each page, so a three-page poem may have four stanzas (filling 2/3 of a page) per page... and it just feels strange. I can sort of understand doing it, as that would be a typical style for, say IG tiles, but in a book could be off-putting to traditional readers (such as myself). It's a minor complaint though and overall I loved the book and took my time enjoying all it had to offer.
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy modern rhyming poetry which leans to renegade-style poetry, anti-establishment, and spiritual awakening.
April 9, 2025
A must read!!!
R.K. Gandhi's Red Pill Rhyme: A Poetical Awakening* is nothing short of a masterclass in modern poetry. This debut collection is an electrifying blend of bold, unflinching commentary on political, social, and personal issues, all wrapped in a unique and captivating flow of words. Gandhi’s command of language is impeccable—he's a true technician with the pen, effortlessly weaving wit, rhythm, and punchy lines that hit hard and resonate deeply.
The book is divided into five sections—Ego, Broken, Process, Truth, and Awaken—each offering a different facet of the human experience, from personal struggles to societal reflections. The “Awaken” section, in particular, stands out, with poems that challenge the reader to reflect and rethink their perspectives on life, identity, and the world around them. Gandhi doesn't shy away from tough topics, using poetry as both a weapon and a mirror to expose the truths we often ignore.
Gandhi's voice is unapologetic, resonant, and refreshingly honest, encouraging readers to awaken to new perspectives and truths.
This book is not just a collection of poems—it’s a journey. It’s thought-provoking, challenging, and at times, even provocative, yet it's deeply enjoyable and endlessly rewarding. Whether you’re looking for lyrical brilliance, insightful social commentary, or a push to reflect on your own beliefs, 'Red Pill Rhyme' delivers in spades.
For anyone who enjoys poetry with depth, relevance, and a healthy dose of challenge, R.K. Gandhi’s 'Red Pill Rhyme' is an absolute must-read. It's a rare gem in the poetry world, blending humor, emotional depth, and sharp critique in a way few authors can. Highly recommended!
- Marjory Qwen
R.K. Gandhi's Red Pill Rhyme: A Poetical Awakening* is nothing short of a masterclass in modern poetry. This debut collection is an electrifying blend of bold, unflinching commentary on political, social, and personal issues, all wrapped in a unique and captivating flow of words. Gandhi’s command of language is impeccable—he's a true technician with the pen, effortlessly weaving wit, rhythm, and punchy lines that hit hard and resonate deeply.
The book is divided into five sections—Ego, Broken, Process, Truth, and Awaken—each offering a different facet of the human experience, from personal struggles to societal reflections. The “Awaken” section, in particular, stands out, with poems that challenge the reader to reflect and rethink their perspectives on life, identity, and the world around them. Gandhi doesn't shy away from tough topics, using poetry as both a weapon and a mirror to expose the truths we often ignore.
Gandhi's voice is unapologetic, resonant, and refreshingly honest, encouraging readers to awaken to new perspectives and truths.
This book is not just a collection of poems—it’s a journey. It’s thought-provoking, challenging, and at times, even provocative, yet it's deeply enjoyable and endlessly rewarding. Whether you’re looking for lyrical brilliance, insightful social commentary, or a push to reflect on your own beliefs, 'Red Pill Rhyme' delivers in spades.
For anyone who enjoys poetry with depth, relevance, and a healthy dose of challenge, R.K. Gandhi’s 'Red Pill Rhyme' is an absolute must-read. It's a rare gem in the poetry world, blending humor, emotional depth, and sharp critique in a way few authors can. Highly recommended!
- Marjory Qwen
July 17, 2025
Red Pill Rhymes is a poetic and politically satirical commentary on the state of our modern world.
This book is clever and it's approach to criticizing things in pop culture politics that so many of us take for granted. It raises deeper questions through its comedic approach to breaking apart our beliefs about the way things are.
The only critique I can offer about this book is that some of the poems feel repetitive. But that said I do think it points to a deeper truth of just how much there is to discuss about our modern systems that we don't even currently question.
RPR offers poems about the political situation of the modern Western world. 'Microscope' was especially cheeky, but I also really enjoyed 'little monsters' and the 'love masquerade.'
I think that if you enjoy comedic satire, you'll like this book. It points out a lot of hypocrisy and egocentered actions that are going on in the world today.
Personally I know the author was excited for their next collection to come out and I can't wait to see how the writings evolved.
This book is clever and it's approach to criticizing things in pop culture politics that so many of us take for granted. It raises deeper questions through its comedic approach to breaking apart our beliefs about the way things are.
The only critique I can offer about this book is that some of the poems feel repetitive. But that said I do think it points to a deeper truth of just how much there is to discuss about our modern systems that we don't even currently question.
RPR offers poems about the political situation of the modern Western world. 'Microscope' was especially cheeky, but I also really enjoyed 'little monsters' and the 'love masquerade.'
I think that if you enjoy comedic satire, you'll like this book. It points out a lot of hypocrisy and egocentered actions that are going on in the world today.
Personally I know the author was excited for their next collection to come out and I can't wait to see how the writings evolved.
May 30, 2025
Unique, powerful, thought provoking, challenging. Ghandi’s Red Pill Rhymes will pull you in, playing on a variety of feelings. Swinging from smiles and humor to resonance and emotional currents, the intensity felt and rareness found in each piece takes the reader on a discovery of perspective; personal, as well as that of the author. I describe it as a challenging read not because it is difficult to comprehend, but because this collection allows the reader to reflect and challenge him/herself on standards, personal beliefs, the world around us, as well as the people we share it with. A rare and beautiful find in the poetry world. Highly enjoyable. Absolutely recommended.
December 30, 2023
I met RK Gandhi through Instagram and had been curious about his book for a while. It's pretty awesome. There's lots of humor among the overarching message of freedom. He's clever - titles are at the end of the poem and it's often a revelation as to what he was talking about and you realize the double meanings. The collection is very self aware - he knows when he sounds cocky- and names the chapters perfectly. He's always a step ahead of you. His use of rhyme, alliteration and imagery is vibrant and honestly some of these poems are raps, which is awesome. Definitely worth a read!
March 29, 2023
I grew up loving poetry and loved to write poetry.
R.K. Gandhi’s poetry is extremely unique. Gandhi unapologetically speaks his mind with each poem. Some are intense and thought-provoking while others are light and humorous.
Whenever I read poetry, I like to reflect it to my own personal experiences and I was able to connect with many of Gandhi’s poems. This is one rare collection, and if you’re a poetry lover like myself, you will highly enjoy RED PILL RHYMES.
R.K. Gandhi’s poetry is extremely unique. Gandhi unapologetically speaks his mind with each poem. Some are intense and thought-provoking while others are light and humorous.
Whenever I read poetry, I like to reflect it to my own personal experiences and I was able to connect with many of Gandhi’s poems. This is one rare collection, and if you’re a poetry lover like myself, you will highly enjoy RED PILL RHYMES.
December 7, 2023
Red Pill Rhymes is a masterpiece. It is raw, lyrical and poetic. A poetic journey that takes you on a wild ride within the pages of the book and gives you a deeper sense of the world around us and within. Looking forward to more books by R.K. Gandhi.
January 13, 2024
Really good!
I really enjoyed this book. It was interestingly written and a lot of the poems were longer which I liked.
I really enjoyed this book. It was interestingly written and a lot of the poems were longer which I liked.
February 10, 2025
I love poetry that makes you think, and Red Pill Rhymes did not disappoint. My favorite poems from the collection are Little Monsters, Torn, and Reflections.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews