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Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Today by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.
adamrshields's review against another edition
4.0
Summary: Exploration of why James Baldwin resonates so strongly.
Begin Again is the second of Eddie Glaude's book that I have read. I appreciate Democracy in Black but thought when I read it that it may have been written a couple of years early because it was writing about how democracy still perpetuates racism during the Obama years. And reading it in the Trump years meant that I thought he was right, but not quite pointed enough.
Because there are few writers that I am fascinated by more than Baldwin (although he is not an easy read), I was interested in a trusted guide. That is what Eddie Glaude was seeking to do. He was both explicating Baldwin, but also placing him in context for a modern reader who is reading Baldwin years after his death and a half-century after he impacted the world.
Both Glaude and Baldwin are magnificent writers. There are phrases that just matter to strongly to read this a single time. Because of the cost (using Audible credits is always just over $9 a book for me) I picked up the Audible and listened to Glaude masterfully narrate his book. But I need to read this again in print. I will do that relatively soon (probably after the new year). But first I want to read a full biography of Baldwin and two or three more of Baldwin's books. I have read five of Baldwin's books, but that is not nearly enough. I am nearly finished with No Name on the Street (nonfiction), which is mentioned frequently in Born Again. I will also pick up at least one more of his fiction books before re-reading Born Again a second time.
Born Again is a mix of biography, cultural and literary criticism, and modern explication of his work with a dash of personal experience of Glaude. It is nicely balanced from a range of perspectives. And a skilled thinker and writer like Glaude who both places him in context and digs the depths is worth reading.
Begin Again is the second of Eddie Glaude's book that I have read. I appreciate Democracy in Black but thought when I read it that it may have been written a couple of years early because it was writing about how democracy still perpetuates racism during the Obama years. And reading it in the Trump years meant that I thought he was right, but not quite pointed enough.
Because there are few writers that I am fascinated by more than Baldwin (although he is not an easy read), I was interested in a trusted guide. That is what Eddie Glaude was seeking to do. He was both explicating Baldwin, but also placing him in context for a modern reader who is reading Baldwin years after his death and a half-century after he impacted the world.
Both Glaude and Baldwin are magnificent writers. There are phrases that just matter to strongly to read this a single time. Because of the cost (using Audible credits is always just over $9 a book for me) I picked up the Audible and listened to Glaude masterfully narrate his book. But I need to read this again in print. I will do that relatively soon (probably after the new year). But first I want to read a full biography of Baldwin and two or three more of Baldwin's books. I have read five of Baldwin's books, but that is not nearly enough. I am nearly finished with No Name on the Street (nonfiction), which is mentioned frequently in Born Again. I will also pick up at least one more of his fiction books before re-reading Born Again a second time.
Born Again is a mix of biography, cultural and literary criticism, and modern explication of his work with a dash of personal experience of Glaude. It is nicely balanced from a range of perspectives. And a skilled thinker and writer like Glaude who both places him in context and digs the depths is worth reading.
adambwriter's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, thank you, Professor Glaude, for really *seeing* James Baldwin; for reintroducing him to the world, and the world to him, just when it's needed most.
emmbien's review against another edition
4.0
It’s a little surreal reading this after the 2020 election, but overall this book illuminated Baldwin’s work and contextualized it for today.
dsharpnote's review against another edition
5.0
If you’ve never read Baldwin before, this will give you a very real emotional connection to him as a historical figure. This is not your typical biography, in fact, this is a pure policial intervention by the author, through the lens of Baldwin. I appreciate the boldness of the author to insert his thoughts at this time and interweave the powerful mind of Baldwin to help humanity through these times.
It’s always valuable to witness the complexity of a human being, to be able to see their strengths and weaknesses, the ups and downs—their humanity; and this piece of work allows for both the author and Baldwin to be vulnerable in order to do that.
I contemplated between 4 or 5 stars, but settled on the 5 because most critics of the book will more than likely penalize the author for his outspoken political leanings, which I understand; but, I appreciate the candidness and public dialogue, even if I don’t agree with everything. This is timely and necessary to resurrect the soul of an intellectual giant like James Baldwin is such trying times.
It’s always valuable to witness the complexity of a human being, to be able to see their strengths and weaknesses, the ups and downs—their humanity; and this piece of work allows for both the author and Baldwin to be vulnerable in order to do that.
I contemplated between 4 or 5 stars, but settled on the 5 because most critics of the book will more than likely penalize the author for his outspoken political leanings, which I understand; but, I appreciate the candidness and public dialogue, even if I don’t agree with everything. This is timely and necessary to resurrect the soul of an intellectual giant like James Baldwin is such trying times.
ascoular's review against another edition
4.0
I wish the book came with a little primer on what reading you should do BEFORE reading this book.
I almost bought the hardcover but when I googled the book, I saw it’s a very highly rated audiobook. The author truly was fantastic. Five stars for the audiobook.
I learned a lot about Baldwin but felt like the analysis was better suited for a graduate English class. Some portions felt like revisionist history. While Trump lost in 2020, the contemporary portions are still relevant because you can just substitute “white supremacy” for “Trumpism.”
The last chapter felt a lot like Clint Smith’s visits in How The Word Is Passed! (I know this book was published first)
I almost bought the hardcover but when I googled the book, I saw it’s a very highly rated audiobook. The author truly was fantastic. Five stars for the audiobook.
I learned a lot about Baldwin but felt like the analysis was better suited for a graduate English class. Some portions felt like revisionist history. While Trump lost in 2020, the contemporary portions are still relevant because you can just substitute “white supremacy” for “Trumpism.”
The last chapter felt a lot like Clint Smith’s visits in How The Word Is Passed! (I know this book was published first)
sbelasco40's review against another edition
5.0
When I was in high school, I had James Baldwin quotes written on the dividers of my notebooks. I had read GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN and GIOVANNI’S ROOM, and I felt somehow kindred to Baldwin, who had an unrelenting intensity simmering below the surface that the world did not know how to process.
I didn’t really learn about Baldwin’s civil rights activism until later, and it was then that I realized that he was far more than a talented and lyrical writer with a penchant for intense emotional catharsis. He was a prophet. This book focuses on that legacy, particularly in our current sociopolitical context, examining how despite the criticism he received, Baldwin was in fact just as radical as his contemporaries — and just as determined to dismantle what he referred to as “the lie,” that quintessentially American belief that mixes an ideal founding myth of equality with a society that is anything but. I listened to this on audiobook, which the author reads, and it is profoundly affecting. I’m sure it is just as effective on the page, however. This is definitely a book to read right now.
I didn’t really learn about Baldwin’s civil rights activism until later, and it was then that I realized that he was far more than a talented and lyrical writer with a penchant for intense emotional catharsis. He was a prophet. This book focuses on that legacy, particularly in our current sociopolitical context, examining how despite the criticism he received, Baldwin was in fact just as radical as his contemporaries — and just as determined to dismantle what he referred to as “the lie,” that quintessentially American belief that mixes an ideal founding myth of equality with a society that is anything but. I listened to this on audiobook, which the author reads, and it is profoundly affecting. I’m sure it is just as effective on the page, however. This is definitely a book to read right now.
samantha_shain's review against another edition
1.0
This book was a disappointment. I felt that the threads were trite, the argument wasn't set up particularly well, and some points were repetitive. I also thought that the chapter on Baldwin's time in Istanbul reeked of orientalism (Glaude's wording was "elsewhere") - seemed like a ripe opportunity to talk about how Istanbul artists provided a fertile ground for collaboration and challenging/refining Baldwin's thinking rather than treating the city as an unexamined retreat. Glaude shied away from discussing Baldwin's queerness. I've read 5 or 6 Baldwin books and I was hoping for more context and framing for the oeuvre but instead, this put a few of his nonfiction books in dialogue with each other (which I appreciated) but almost entirely skipped his fiction work! Lastly, I was disappointed that Glaude provided a narrative bibliography rather than citations.
sterlinglacroix's review against another edition
5.0
It's been a couple years since I've read the writings of James Baldwin and this book was the perfect way way to usher Baldwin's works back into my TBR list. Recommend this book as an introduction to Baldwin or to friends/family members that fall on the reactionary right wing of the political spectrum.
mkstevenson's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a great book. A nice tribute to Baldwin and a look into the past and today’s worlds through, perhaps, his eyes.