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bookishkellyn's review against another edition
challenging
3.5
I did a tandem read, and I’m not really sure I would’ve made it through this book without Jesse L. Martin’s narration. Baldwin’s essays–which eloquently touched on race and religion–sometimes gave coonish energy, but I was with him when he was right.
sometimes_samantha_reads's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
It's interesting reflecting on this essay in 2024. I sometimes had a hard time following the more complex sentences but I think that's probably just a "me" issue.
haidynemmerich's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
zxcvbnmackie's review against another edition
4.0
Baldwin is as intelligent and insightful as he is candid. This books really demonstrates that.
(Update/Note to Self: I remember this being a great read. However, I really should re-read it).
(Update/Note to Self: I remember this being a great read. However, I really should re-read it).
hmrobinson_'s review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Read for a book club. The message is insightful and (un)surprisingly relevant 60 years after publication.
This just isn’t my style read.
This just isn’t my style read.
swally2005's review against another edition
5.0
In reading this book, I am continuously struck by the truths in Baldwin's examinations, and their continued relevancy today--unfortunately, little has changed in this country since this book was initially published in 1963. That fact is quite a pathetic indictment on our society, but, is something that I don't think Baldwin would be surprised by, in the slightest, if he were still alive today.
"Freedom is hard to bear. It can be objected that I am speaking of political freedom in spiritual terms, but the political institutions of any nation are always menaced and are ultimately controlled by the spiritual state of that nation. We are controlled here by our confusion, far more than we know, and the American dream has therefore become something much more closely resembling a nightmare, on the private, domestic, and international levels. Privately, we cannot stand our lives and dare not examine them; domestically, we take no responsibility for (and no pride in) what goes on in our country; and, internationally, for many millions of people, we are an unmitigated disaster."
"Freedom is hard to bear. It can be objected that I am speaking of political freedom in spiritual terms, but the political institutions of any nation are always menaced and are ultimately controlled by the spiritual state of that nation. We are controlled here by our confusion, far more than we know, and the American dream has therefore become something much more closely resembling a nightmare, on the private, domestic, and international levels. Privately, we cannot stand our lives and dare not examine them; domestically, we take no responsibility for (and no pride in) what goes on in our country; and, internationally, for many millions of people, we are an unmitigated disaster."