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Reviews
Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World—and How to Repair It All by Lisa Sharon Harper
heidihaverkamp's review
4.0
Harper tells her own family's story alongside quite a bit of legal and economic history of slavery and racism in the U.S. and Carribbean. There is also a prophetic Judeo-Christian call to action, repentance, and witness. Devastating and eye-opening.
gjones19's review
4.0
Sharing one’s family story is a gift, and I’m thankful that Lisa Sharon Harper has gifted us with this book. Her family history is representative of the American story of racism and gender inequality, and she has done a wonderful job of telling both stories side by side.
mommasmittle's review
5.0
Well, Lisa Sharon Harper gets it right in this book. Such an informative book!
katieproctorbooks's review
4.0
This was a very personal and interesting historical perspective on race in America. Sometimes I felt like the way it was organized was confusing, but I definitely recommend!!
notesonbookmarks's review
5.0
Blasted through this in a single day. Worth it. It was excellent. Personal history interwoven with faith deconstruction and spiritual resistance.
gigiinzim's review
5.0
Everyone has a story. When we share our story, we give a gift. The story that Lisa has given us is a great gift to the world. The writing of this book required a level of research that is daunting. She has written a memoir, history book, and a path for reconciliation wrapped inside of a family history that inspires the reader to fill in the gaps of their own family story.
From the moment I heard about this book, I wanted to get my hands on it. I was undone by every single page. The forward, written by Otis Moss III sets the tone and introduces how important this body of work is. The prologue and introduction took my breath away and prepared me for the work that would be done in my own heart as I read Lisa's words.
Part One taught me so much about the country of my birth. Lisa speaks about the most painful parts of American history in a way that leaves the reader in awe. She has a gift. She is a truth-teller and the truth she shares in this section makes way for our heart to absorb what is coming in part Two and for our brain and bodies to engage what she is calling us to in Part Three.
After reading and rereading these pages, I cannot think of a single reason why not to buy this book. Whether you are interested in racism or not, you will benefit from an understanding of how these constructs and this history are holding the world back. Whether you are interested in history or not, you will be drawn into the poetic and skillfully told stories that Lisa offers to you. I am not sure I have ever been so passionate about the work of another person. I truly believe that this book is prophetic, and offers us a hopeful and honest path to a better future for all of us. I do not believe there is an easy fix to the struggles around our globe. Either does Lisa. But she does offer a realistic one. Even if you don't agree with her solution, you and your family will be better if you engage in the work Lisa has birthed.
Buy a copy for yourself. Buy a copy for a friend. Buy a copy to put in the little lending library in your neighborhood. Trust me, you will want to keep your copy- it will be marked by both highlighted passages and tears. Lisa Sharon Harper, thank you for the gift of your story and for believing that we can all do better. Thank you for taking me on a journey of unlearning and relearning as I turned the pages of this beautiful book.
From the moment I heard about this book, I wanted to get my hands on it. I was undone by every single page. The forward, written by Otis Moss III sets the tone and introduces how important this body of work is. The prologue and introduction took my breath away and prepared me for the work that would be done in my own heart as I read Lisa's words.
Part One taught me so much about the country of my birth. Lisa speaks about the most painful parts of American history in a way that leaves the reader in awe. She has a gift. She is a truth-teller and the truth she shares in this section makes way for our heart to absorb what is coming in part Two and for our brain and bodies to engage what she is calling us to in Part Three.
After reading and rereading these pages, I cannot think of a single reason why not to buy this book. Whether you are interested in racism or not, you will benefit from an understanding of how these constructs and this history are holding the world back. Whether you are interested in history or not, you will be drawn into the poetic and skillfully told stories that Lisa offers to you. I am not sure I have ever been so passionate about the work of another person. I truly believe that this book is prophetic, and offers us a hopeful and honest path to a better future for all of us. I do not believe there is an easy fix to the struggles around our globe. Either does Lisa. But she does offer a realistic one. Even if you don't agree with her solution, you and your family will be better if you engage in the work Lisa has birthed.
Buy a copy for yourself. Buy a copy for a friend. Buy a copy to put in the little lending library in your neighborhood. Trust me, you will want to keep your copy- it will be marked by both highlighted passages and tears. Lisa Sharon Harper, thank you for the gift of your story and for believing that we can all do better. Thank you for taking me on a journey of unlearning and relearning as I turned the pages of this beautiful book.
ktlee_writes's review
5.0
FORTUNE: HOW RACE BROKE MY FAMILY AND THE WORLD - AND HOW TO REPAIR IT ALL by Lisa Sharon Harper traces Harper’s family roots and tells the stories of her ancestors, both Black and indigenous, intermingled with the story of American history. This well-researched and intimate book shows how colonization, enslavement, rape, and a narrative of white supremacy eviscerated Harper’s family tree in profound ways.
While I, like many of you, have read many fiction and nonfiction books about the foundational sin of slavery, the effects of racist laws throughout US history, and the genocide of indigenous Americans, this narrative brought to life these harms and evils in a much more personal way as Harper documents how members of her family were affected. It reminded me of Yaa Gyasi’s HOMEGOING but in non-fiction format in the way that each successive generation offers a snapshot into that period of history.
Harper’s voice is authoritative and powerful. The research she has done both on our nation’s history as well as using innovative DNA tracing techniques to piece together her family’s history is really tremendous. This is a book where I recommend reading the audiobook and physical book simultaneously, as Harper narrates it herself, and her passion really comes through, but having the physical book to refer to people and facts and dates (and photos!) is very helpful.
As a Christian activist, Harper uses faith concepts to frame her call to action in the last part of the book. She makes the case for truth telling and reparations in order counteract the hidden costs of white supremacy and pave a path forward.
This book is Harper’s effort to reclaim her family’s story, lost for so many decades. In doing so, she helps us better understand the story of our nation. I’m so thankful for this book - it’s one I plan to reread and refer to. Harper is such a wise, thoughtful, and visionary leader.
Thank you to @brazospress for the gifted copy!
While I, like many of you, have read many fiction and nonfiction books about the foundational sin of slavery, the effects of racist laws throughout US history, and the genocide of indigenous Americans, this narrative brought to life these harms and evils in a much more personal way as Harper documents how members of her family were affected. It reminded me of Yaa Gyasi’s HOMEGOING but in non-fiction format in the way that each successive generation offers a snapshot into that period of history.
Harper’s voice is authoritative and powerful. The research she has done both on our nation’s history as well as using innovative DNA tracing techniques to piece together her family’s history is really tremendous. This is a book where I recommend reading the audiobook and physical book simultaneously, as Harper narrates it herself, and her passion really comes through, but having the physical book to refer to people and facts and dates (and photos!) is very helpful.
As a Christian activist, Harper uses faith concepts to frame her call to action in the last part of the book. She makes the case for truth telling and reparations in order counteract the hidden costs of white supremacy and pave a path forward.
This book is Harper’s effort to reclaim her family’s story, lost for so many decades. In doing so, she helps us better understand the story of our nation. I’m so thankful for this book - it’s one I plan to reread and refer to. Harper is such a wise, thoughtful, and visionary leader.
Thank you to @brazospress for the gifted copy!
nicciobert's review
I appreciated the idea that the author presents that who we are comes, at least in part, from our ancestors, and I really loved the stories she weaved about her own family. I appreciate her optimism about the future. The book made me think a lot more about the stories I've heard about my own family, and to think through what life might have been like for them several generations ago.