notesonbookmarks's review against another edition
5.0
Read with Katie. Absolutely incredible. What a marvel. Kiese is a writer we will be talking about and reading for hundreds of years.
jwave08's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
What a great collection that America desperately needs to hear.
The text on The Words of White Folks and Our Kind of Ridiculous are truly amazing perspectives.
Please read this.
The text on The Words of White Folks and Our Kind of Ridiculous are truly amazing perspectives.
Please read this.
brittyreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
mdettmann's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this a lot more than Heavy and felt like essay form is where Laymon’s writing really shines through and this update of a collection he wrote from 2013 was exactly what needed to republished in 2020
invaderlinz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
monkeyhippy's review
5.0
I picked this up at the wonderful Square Books in Oxford, MS, where they have a great selection of Mississippi authors. The title was eye-catching, to say the least. I cannot fathom why Laymon isn't better known; his writing is astonishing. The title essay in particular is a must-read - especially for anyone who appreciated Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Laymon is at least a good a writer as Coates, with a darker and more raw style. I hope he gets only more widely-read.
anna_near's review
5.0
An extraordinary literary work that delves into the complexities of life in America. Kiese Laymon's writing is raw and unfiltered, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about race, identity, and systemic injustice. This book made me confront my own biases and privileges in the best way possible. Laymon's insights are thought-provoking and serve as a call to action for social change and personal growth. I read it in one sitting; Laymon has to be one of the greatest authors I've read this year. 1000/10 recommend.