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alex_ellermann's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This short book clocks in at only four hours of listening time. They may be the best four hours you spend this year.
Frederick Douglass’s autobiography is searing, approachable, and informative. It describes, in agonizing detail, what it means to be enslaved. It impeaches the cruelty of “bad” and “good” slaveholders alike. It gives us the growth and flowering of a man as he realizes his self-worth in a society bent on dehumanizing him at every turn.
Much as we’d like to look away, the story of slavery is every bit as much a part of the American tapestry as the story of the Battle of Yorktown. Every American owes to himself to read this book. It will inform you. It will anger you. It will inspire you.
It is, simply put, a masterpiece.
Frederick Douglass’s autobiography is searing, approachable, and informative. It describes, in agonizing detail, what it means to be enslaved. It impeaches the cruelty of “bad” and “good” slaveholders alike. It gives us the growth and flowering of a man as he realizes his self-worth in a society bent on dehumanizing him at every turn.
Much as we’d like to look away, the story of slavery is every bit as much a part of the American tapestry as the story of the Battle of Yorktown. Every American owes to himself to read this book. It will inform you. It will anger you. It will inspire you.
It is, simply put, a masterpiece.
iamasam28's review against another edition
5.0
I wanted to read this because it was mentioned so lovingly in another book I recently read [b:Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You|52220686|Stamped Racism, Antiracism, and You|Jason Reynolds|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568739320l/52220686._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73010857] by Jason Reynolds. I was ready to learn more about Frederick Douglass and slavery in general, but i was not ready for the effortlessly beautiful writing. Is it weird that I found this book beautiful when so much of it was about the abhorrent treatment of humans? I hope not. Really though, I just couldn't put this book down, and I can easily see myself coming back to it and reading it again. Which may not sound like much, but I rarely reread books.
richardbakare's review
4.0
At the time of reading this narrative, almost 200 years have passed. I would like to say that it was so long ago and things have changed. Seeing a confederate flag flown in the US Capitol reminds me otherwise. It remains that until America truly acknowledges its great sin, this record will loop. Frederick Douglas was clear on how every manner of mental gymnastics and religious sleight of hand were used to justify slavery. It seems that same mental prison and moral bereft mindset continue on under the banner of “free speech.” I want to say these people need to read memoirs like this and they would know better. But willful ignorance dominated Mr. Douglas’s day and it still does today. The remaining hope, as he made clear, is the education of the marginalized as the ticket to freedom from persecution.
zailonx's review
5.0
Well written and captivating. If this was a fictional story it would have been impressive, but the fact that it is a real life account of someone's struggles with adversity makes it all the better. Here is an enthralling and educational recount of someone's immense struggle against adversity and his triumph. I was engrossed page after page reading about his incremental progress towards not only liberty but prosperity.
Douglass's life story is a testament to the odious times of colonial slavery sure but to limit it to that arena is folly for his tale of self empowerment through self education is absolutely universal to all readers and thus still relevant to this day.
Douglass's life story is a testament to the odious times of colonial slavery sure but to limit it to that arena is folly for his tale of self empowerment through self education is absolutely universal to all readers and thus still relevant to this day.
violetkill's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
joykirr's review
4.0
We read this last year for a pilot on iPads in my classes. We raced through it in two weeks, and the kids had tons of homework, but the content was very engaging. So we're reading it this year with my 7th graders, and reading it again, of course I get more out of it. What a writer. What a story. What a life. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that I had to read it over and over to get the meaning sucked out of it. (Yes, it was a tough read, but I enjoyed it!)
annkp's review
5.0
My son recommended this one to me after reading it at school, and I was embarrassed I hadn't read it already. Beautifully written first-person account that stands the test of time, and sheds light onto the hidden history of our country.
I listened to it on Audible, read by Steven Anderson. Anderson gave a beautiful performance--a clear voice that doesn't distract from Douglass' prose. However, the production is a little glitchy, with skips and retakes that should have been corrected by the producer.
I listened to it on Audible, read by Steven Anderson. Anderson gave a beautiful performance--a clear voice that doesn't distract from Douglass' prose. However, the production is a little glitchy, with skips and retakes that should have been corrected by the producer.
matthewgrant's review against another edition
5.0
You grow up hearing about slavery in school, and watching facsimiles of it on TV and in the movies. Nothing quite compares with reading about it first hand.
This book needs to be required reading in all American schools.
One of the most pernicious effects of the ramifications of slavery comes toward the end of the book. I was very much caught up in Douglass' story, which reads almost like a thriller. Time and time again the brutality of slavery threatens to beat him down, but time and time again he rises against it. Until one day, he decides to run away. The desire ebbs and flows, and there are several attempts. Then the moment comes, the one which the entire book builds up to. He makes a final desperate bid for freedom and then...nothing. It picks up again when he's free, in the North.
Why? I quote at length:
He is free, but not entirely. He is not free to tell his entire story. Slavery still has its hold on him.
Douglass also includes one of the most searing indictments of southern "Christians" and the ways they hypocritically and blasphemously extolled the name of Jesus in church and then whipped their slaves on their plantations. I knew that Christianity had been used to justify slavery, but the extent of this evil my blood boil to hear it firsthand. The church has a dark history and such a long way to go to reconcile. Ugh.
I'm hanging on to this one, and my kids will be reading it long before To Kill a Mockingbird.
This book needs to be required reading in all American schools.
One of the most pernicious effects of the ramifications of slavery comes toward the end of the book. I was very much caught up in Douglass' story, which reads almost like a thriller. Time and time again the brutality of slavery threatens to beat him down, but time and time again he rises against it. Until one day, he decides to run away. The desire ebbs and flows, and there are several attempts. Then the moment comes, the one which the entire book builds up to. He makes a final desperate bid for freedom and then...nothing. It picks up again when he's free, in the North.
Why? I quote at length:
Were I to give a minute statement of all the facts, it is not only possible, but quite probable, that others would thereby be involved in the most embarrassing difficulties. Secondly, such a statement would most undoubtedly induce greater vigilance on the part of slaveholders than has existed heretofore among them; which would, of course, be the means of guarding a door whereby some dear brother bondman might escape his galling chains. I deeply regret the necessity that impels me to suppress any thing of importance connected with my experience in slavery. It would afford me great pleasure indeed, as well as materially add to the interest of my narrative, were I at liberty to gratify a curiosity, which I know exists in the minds of many, by an accurate statement of all the facts pertaining to my most fortunate escape. But I must deprive myself of this pleasure, and the curious of the gratification which such a statement would afford. I would allow myself to suffer under the greatest imputations which evil-minded men might suggest, rather than exculpate myself, and thereby run the hazard of closing the slightest avenue by which a brother slave might clear himself of the chains and fetters of slavery.
He is free, but not entirely. He is not free to tell his entire story. Slavery still has its hold on him.
Douglass also includes one of the most searing indictments of southern "Christians" and the ways they hypocritically and blasphemously extolled the name of Jesus in church and then whipped their slaves on their plantations. I knew that Christianity had been used to justify slavery, but the extent of this evil my blood boil to hear it firsthand. The church has a dark history and such a long way to go to reconcile. Ugh.
I'm hanging on to this one, and my kids will be reading it long before To Kill a Mockingbird.