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4.65 AVERAGE
4.65 AVERAGE
Excellent read. If you think you already know all you need to know about Martin Luther King, Jr., you are very wrong. Read this book. Get past the whitewashing of MLK and learn about this amazing man, including his flaws, the government’s program to destroy him, and his vision to fundamentally reshape America.
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
Long but interesting. Includes a lot of details about the civil rights movement in addition to King's life. In many ways, we have deified King, but he was a flawed human being and made a lot of mistakes. I was left to grapple with this reality. The most touching and helpful aspects were the details about his self-doubt, discouragement, and exhaustion. It validates my own feelings and gives me hope that we can all make a long-term impact if we continue on the path toward peace and justice. King believed so much more than is widely recognized, and his broader philosophy is still relevant and well worth studying.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Really glad I took the time to read and finish King. I learned so much. I did think it was a little too long. I didn’t need so many details about minor characters. It read a little textbooky for the 1st half but the 2md half was propulsive. I read and listened to the audio which I thought was a great way to go. I really enjoyed the author interview at the end of the audio book. Very glad to have not missed that!👍🏼
If anyone could be considered a hero, it is the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (I have always looked up to him and admired him). And yet he was not a hero. He was a human being who struggled with anxiety and depression from the massive pressure put on him. He plagiarized, had quite a few affairs, chewed his fingernails, and played pool. He struggled to love all people and constantly doubted whether he was taking the most effective actions, whether he was sticking to his principles, and even whether he should maintain his principles (he initially had bodyguards with guns before he was convinced of the need for a nonviolent movement).
Of course, he had qualities that enabled him to rise to the occasion: his public speaking skills, his empathy and compassion, and his ability and desire to connect genuinely with all people. And yet, he was continuously supported, questioned, rebuked, challenged, and pushed and pulled by people from well-meaning colleagues to ardent segregationists. Without the support of his wife, whom he loved while also having affairs and wanting her to fulfill the traditional role in the family, he may not have been able to cope with the pressure he was under almost daily. Without his many friends and colleagues in the movement, he would certainly not have developed his ideas and principles to such a degree (since he gave so many speeches, he often asked others to write the first draft of his speeches). What I am trying to say is that, as with all human beings, nothing he did was purely his own. He was no hero, though he did more than many people do in their lives, he was a man who made mistakes and strove for what he knew was right. People often point to great moments in history and think to themselves “what would I do in that situation?” And I believe that the correct answer is always “whatever you’re doing right now.” The struggle for human decency and creating a loving world is always (and may always be) ongoing. You do not have to be a hero to act now because there are no heroes, only people who try to make a difference.
This book highlights the complexity of King and the Civil Rights movement in general, with newly revealed information from FBI wiretaps transcripts, and interviews the author did with people who new King. I especially liked the small details from childhood classmates or from his barber. All of this information comes together to provide a deep perspective on King as a person and the immense pressure he was under.
My full thoughts are here: https://bathruminations.substack.com/p/there-are-no-heroes
Of course, he had qualities that enabled him to rise to the occasion: his public speaking skills, his empathy and compassion, and his ability and desire to connect genuinely with all people. And yet, he was continuously supported, questioned, rebuked, challenged, and pushed and pulled by people from well-meaning colleagues to ardent segregationists. Without the support of his wife, whom he loved while also having affairs and wanting her to fulfill the traditional role in the family, he may not have been able to cope with the pressure he was under almost daily. Without his many friends and colleagues in the movement, he would certainly not have developed his ideas and principles to such a degree (since he gave so many speeches, he often asked others to write the first draft of his speeches). What I am trying to say is that, as with all human beings, nothing he did was purely his own. He was no hero, though he did more than many people do in their lives, he was a man who made mistakes and strove for what he knew was right. People often point to great moments in history and think to themselves “what would I do in that situation?” And I believe that the correct answer is always “whatever you’re doing right now.” The struggle for human decency and creating a loving world is always (and may always be) ongoing. You do not have to be a hero to act now because there are no heroes, only people who try to make a difference.
This book highlights the complexity of King and the Civil Rights movement in general, with newly revealed information from FBI wiretaps transcripts, and interviews the author did with people who new King. I especially liked the small details from childhood classmates or from his barber. All of this information comes together to provide a deep perspective on King as a person and the immense pressure he was under.
My full thoughts are here: https://bathruminations.substack.com/p/there-are-no-heroes
Really liked the book. Enjoyed the deeper dive into the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Learned many personal things about him and his family and close associates that I did not know. The back stories added clarity and understanding to much that was already known or written.
Incredibly well researched, doesn’t shy away from MLK’s flaws, regrets, anxieties and most importantly, gives voice to his shift in outlook. From the “I have a dream” colourblind King to universal income, fair housing, anti-war and anti-poverty radical King that he was so vilified for by the Johnson administration, this book covers it all.
4.5/5
4.5/5
King: A Life is the latest biography about King (at least that I know of), chronicling King's rise to become one of the most notable Civil Rights Leaders in the world.
The book is an interesting one, going under the idea that King's image has been oversanitised, ignoring the fact that King was a complex character, a philanderer who had bouts of depression and who wasn't the best husband. Most interestingly, it depicts a character who was gradually losing influence in an America where the Black community was largely becoming radicalized due to a lack of progress. Indeed, even King admitted that the majority of America is unconsciously racist.
However, the writing is not the best. Most of the narrative is conveyed through this flat tone, and dramatic events feel like they are dealt with in the blandest way possible. This means that it doesn't quite have the emotional impact that it should have with me.
Still, not a bad book.
The book is an interesting one, going under the idea that King's image has been oversanitised, ignoring the fact that King was a complex character, a philanderer who had bouts of depression and who wasn't the best husband. Most interestingly, it depicts a character who was gradually losing influence in an America where the Black community was largely becoming radicalized due to a lack of progress. Indeed, even King admitted that the majority of America is unconsciously racist.
However, the writing is not the best. Most of the narrative is conveyed through this flat tone, and dramatic events feel like they are dealt with in the blandest way possible. This means that it doesn't quite have the emotional impact that it should have with me.
Still, not a bad book.
Mr. Eig suggests in the afterword that he wrote this book in the hope that it would make one cry at the end. In my case, he succeeded. I didn't realize just how much my knowledge of Dr. King was limited to mystique and (quite embarrassingly) his famous quotes getting shared on his Birthday or whenever someone twists them to serve an agenda that MLK may have opposed. Having read this book, I feel I have a deeper understanding of Dr. King as a son, a husband, and ultimately a father. I also feel more connected to his mission. The legend I knew before told me Dr. King was a great man, but after reading this book I now feel it in every fiber of my being.