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Required Reading.
I first fell in love with Baldwin when I read Giovanni's Room in college. He doesn't disappoint with his non-fiction either. I can see why Between the World and Me is the spiritual successor to this because so much of this (sadly) needs to be reiterated and remains so relevant 55 years later. What I love so much about Baldwin is this is obviously tough love directed towards white people but it's not a complete condemnation. It's a plea for a better world and a hope that everyon ...more
I first fell in love with Baldwin when I read Giovanni's Room in college. He doesn't disappoint with his non-fiction either. I can see why Between the World and Me is the spiritual successor to this because so much of this (sadly) needs to be reiterated and remains so relevant 55 years later. What I love so much about Baldwin is this is obviously tough love directed towards white people but it's not a complete condemnation. It's a plea for a better world and a hope that everyon ...more
I listened to this book while doing other tasks. I did not give it my full attention. When I WAS paying attention, it was amazing. So many wonderful insights.
I have now read the print edition and still think it is amazing. And sad. So sad that so much of what he wrote is still true, 56 years later.
I have now read the print edition and still think it is amazing. And sad. So sad that so much of what he wrote is still true, 56 years later.
... civilization is not destroyed by wicked people; it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless.
"I know what I'm asking is impossible. But in our time, as in every time, the impossible is the least that one can demand."
This book is referenced all the time in today's anti-racism literature (I can definitely see how Baldwin's work influenced Ta-Nahesi Coates' Between the World and Me, for instance). So when I discovered that this book is relatively short (under three hours on audio), I bumped it up on my list.
Published in 1963, there was definitely some context that was missing here, but the ...more
This book is referenced all the time in today's anti-racism literature (I can definitely see how Baldwin's work influenced Ta-Nahesi Coates' Between the World and Me, for instance). So when I discovered that this book is relatively short (under three hours on audio), I bumped it up on my list.
Published in 1963, there was definitely some context that was missing here, but the ...more
Mar 23, 2008
Shirley J
marked it as non-fiction
May 17, 2017
Christine H
marked it as to-read
Apr 23, 2018
Idit
marked it as to-read
Nov 04, 2019
Jennifer AM
marked it as to-read
Feb 07, 2020
Edie Kestenbaum
marked it as to-read
Jun 21, 2020
Melissa Seng
marked it as to-read
Aug 24, 2020
Rose
added it
Aug 04, 2021
Sarah Lewis
marked it as to-read
Nov 06, 2022
Kelsey
added it
May 25, 2023
Kelley J
marked it as to-read
Mar 11, 2024
Angela Jones
marked it as to-read
Aug 21, 2024
Chelsea
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
social-justice
