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Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Today by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.
ames_101's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
This book was meant to inspire and challenge, especially for a white woman like me. Glaude’s love and appreciation for not only James Baldwin’s work, but also his mind in the dark and the light was beautiful to witness. I am grateful for the studious historians in the world (especially those of color) who continue to teach us and reteach us.
jg12389's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing and skillful weaving of James Baldwin's life, politics, and internal struggles, and issues of the present day. The writing is powerful and evocative. I really enjoyed this one!!
sarachildrey's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
gigiinzim's review against another edition
4.0
Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. could not have predicted the world in which this book would be released into. He couldn't have predicted the pandemic and the fact that every screen and every conversation involves a conversation about racism in America. But he wrote the book that America would need for this exact moment, and we can all be so grateful.
James Baldwin is a voice we all need to listen to more and Eddie S. Glaude Jr has made that easier.
Thank you to the publisher for making this book available through Netgalley. This is my honest review.
James Baldwin is a voice we all need to listen to more and Eddie S. Glaude Jr has made that easier.
Thank you to the publisher for making this book available through Netgalley. This is my honest review.
rose_peterson's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't particularly enjoy reading this book--in fact, I was often a bit underwhelmed, especially considering Glaude's extensive bibliography--but I found myself making constant connections to it in my non-reading life. I mentioned this book and its ideas to multiple people and saw traces of this cycle, the lie, the after times, and elsewhere all around me.
About a third of the way through this book, as Glaude traced Baldwin's life and drew parallels to our world today, he wrote, "And, God be my witness, we desperately need hope today. If we are not able to summon it, we may find ourselves where Jimmy found himself only a few years later--at the end of the after times, with the vicious cycle about to begin once more."
As another cycle seems to be revving up, I wonder if Glaude regrets publishing this book early in 2020; I wonder if he wishes he'd waited until after the pandemic and subsequent protests against racial injustice to track the "after times" into today. But, the further I got into the book, the more I wondered if this was perfect: Glaude gave us a roadmap that shows us the cycle we're in and also gave us, hopefully, the motivation to look within ourselves and at our world to disavow The Lie and tell the truth.
About a third of the way through this book, as Glaude traced Baldwin's life and drew parallels to our world today, he wrote, "And, God be my witness, we desperately need hope today. If we are not able to summon it, we may find ourselves where Jimmy found himself only a few years later--at the end of the after times, with the vicious cycle about to begin once more."
As another cycle seems to be revving up, I wonder if Glaude regrets publishing this book early in 2020; I wonder if he wishes he'd waited until after the pandemic and subsequent protests against racial injustice to track the "after times" into today. But, the further I got into the book, the more I wondered if this was perfect: Glaude gave us a roadmap that shows us the cycle we're in and also gave us, hopefully, the motivation to look within ourselves and at our world to disavow The Lie and tell the truth.
bamboobones_rory's review against another edition
4.0
I first heard of this book through the episode “James Baldwin's Fire/James Baldwin's Shadow” on the podcast Throughline (a podcast that connects history and current events). In that interview with Eddie S. Glaude Jr., his voice is full of passion, love, awe, and respect for James Baldwin- and he speaks of James Baldwin as a close friend, that he holds in his heart. Eddie S. Glaude Jr. did a tremendous job of summarizing James Baldwin's life and works and the context of Black civil rights activism at different times in Baldwin's life, and the American Lie, in the podcast. I enjoyed his oral telling of Baldwin's opinions and life more than reading it. I definitely would love to hear him speak in real life.
The book itself isn't exactly a biography, and isn't exactly an opinion piece. It's a mishmash of both, and while I recommend listening to Eddie S. Glaude Jr.'s interview on Throughline, I think readers who are looking for more about the writings and thoughts of Baldwin are better off reading Baldwin's original work. Maybe the target audience is people who read summaries and biographies. I prefer reading Baldwin's own writings, and hopefully this book helps his writing gain popularity.
The book itself isn't exactly a biography, and isn't exactly an opinion piece. It's a mishmash of both, and while I recommend listening to Eddie S. Glaude Jr.'s interview on Throughline, I think readers who are looking for more about the writings and thoughts of Baldwin are better off reading Baldwin's original work. Maybe the target audience is people who read summaries and biographies. I prefer reading Baldwin's own writings, and hopefully this book helps his writing gain popularity.
lchamblee's review against another edition
4.0
This is a tough read. There’s a lot of rage and anguish surrounding America’s insistence on refusing to acknowledge and own its racist history and the continued duality of the American experience. This book may hit home and feel too personal or you may disagree with the sentiments expressed, but it is a thought provoking read with themes I think people should be grappling with regularly, not just during Black History month.