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I don’t understand how I didn’t realize we had first person accounts of slavery until my adulthood. I’m glad to have read this now.
This is very well written- hard in parts because the truth is brutal.
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I must admit this never would have made it on to my reading list - I'm more of a fantasy, apocalyptic, fiction for the fun of it reader. But my son had to read it for school, and I figured I'd give it a read (and a listen, was able to get both the e-book and audiobook from the library, although I did end up paying a couple bucks to buy the kindle version, as I prefer that over other e-book formats, especially when making notes and needing to search things).

Along with reading this for Language Arts, I've also been watching what the kids are learning in US History (benefits of digital learning). This fits right into my son's studies about slavery and the Civil War. I've also been digging into my own family history, reading the autobiographies of my grandparents and other ancestors ... so this did fit into my reading that way.

Douglas was an eloquent writer and really made his life story interesting, and it's always interesting to delve a little deeper into a reading (when the English class asks about rhetorical devices, syntax, themes, etc). I wouldn't have expected to "like" it as much as I did (like seems like the wrong word, as does "enjoyed reading it" because it was quite explicit in descriptions of torture and abuse. But it kept my interest and wasn't hard to get through at all).
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Eye opening and thought provoking! Douglass writes in an intelligent and no nonsense style that shines a light on the realities of slaves and slave holders during a time before the Civil War. He's able to profile slaveholders in a way that leaves no ambiguity about their motives or actions. This book is a true American historical treasure that leaves you all the richer for having read it.
To truly know a man you must walk in his shoes, Douglass's book takes you not just for a walk but on a whole journey that will make you understand more about American slavery than all the history classes in the world.

I am a little sad that the book did not have more details regarding his own feelings, but the author cannot give the reader everything. The story was beautifully unbiased and had many unsettling facts about slavery. The fact that he was able to learn to write by himself and create such a wonderful story shows some of the wonderful intellectual capabilities people have, but also highlights how people were stifled at the time of slavery. It was worth reading for more historical background.

Can't believe I haven't read this book until now. It really had me asking myself how it would feel to be denied agency and relegated to a life of hard labor, mistreatment, and no say in how you'd like to live and work. The courage he had was incredible in the face of violent threats. I really loved the appendix at the end as well - the examination of hypocrisy within the American church still rings true in many ways.