1.99k reviews for:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave: A Library of America Paperback Classic

Frederick Douglass

4.14 AVERAGE

joaorsilva's review against another edition

5.0

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"The religion of the south is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes, — a justifier of the most appalling barbarity,—a sanctifier of the most hateful frauds, —and a dark shelter under which the darkest, foulest, grossest, and most infernal deeds of slaveholders find the strongest protection. Were I to be again reduced to the chains of slavery, next to that enslavement, I should regard being the slave of a religious master the greatest calamity that could befall me. For of all slaveholders with whom I have ever met, religious slaveholders are the worst."

"Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels. Never was there a clearer case of 'stealing the livery of the court of heaven to serve the devil in.'"

For 250 years the United States has used religion to justify the most heinous crimes and removal of civil liberties. It is sad to see how much Frederick Douglass had to endure, to be able to gain his freedom, and to understand how little the USA has advanced morally.

megs_shelf's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

angiepearl's review against another edition

4.75

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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Extremely difficult to read but well worth it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder

Minor: Sexual violence

guilhermenoronha's review against another edition

3.5

informative reflective fast-paced

zoekyriacou's review against another edition

4.25

dark reflective fast-paced

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He has an amazing way with words. Very fast and engaging read. Informative of a very dark time in history.

kawaii_rose's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape, Torture

eliserosereads's review against another edition

5.0

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Heartbreaking and empowering.

abbyreadsbookstoo's review against another edition

4.5

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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feels weird to give this a “rating”

fransjedb's review against another edition

4.0

informative medium-paced

babymoomoocow's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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This is a book that I can't say that I'm happy I read it. More grateful I did. It puts so much other media in to perspective (from things to the movie Sinners to the book Red Rising) on top of that it's a short and was easy to read. I was rather shocked with how easy it was to read, but it's just under 200 years old. And there weren't many words I didn't understand. 

I'm sure this is required reading at some schools, and it should be. I'm rather upset that it wasn't required reading at my school. There is so much to learn and glean from all of this. Everyone should read this, especially if you're from the USA.