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dharris's review against another edition
5.0
This was a book that came across my radar, unexpectedly. I had never even heard of this book until it came across my radar. However, I'm very glad it did.
This book is raw, unfiltered, and true emotion. I feel it was passionately written from a father to a son, about what it was like and still is like, to be a black man in America. Even though I hate that this was the experience of the author, I know it's his truth, and probably many others too. This book had a way of making me feel uncomfortable, and really helped me to understand the privileges that have been granted to me, for nothing other than my skin color.
As someone who grew up with a rough background, the culture of growing up in a poor neighborhood didn't surprise me at all. Not as many differences between being poor as you may think (just my truth). What surprised me was that no matter how successful you become, or how much you remove yourself from that situation, the racism that has embedded itself into this country's founding, can still take down the most successful and affluent African American person. This is something foreign to white folks, and a key difference between poor white, and poor black. As stated in the book, " your only one act of racism away." I never thought when I was a young poor kid that there wasn't hope, because I knew if I worked hard and did well, I would be successful. The author goes to great links to vividly express that this isn't his experience, and I imagine this is true for many other minorities as well. This truth startled me, and should startle us all, but it truly has given me a better perspective. I can see why this is on the list for books every white person should read. I would highly recommend.
This book is raw, unfiltered, and true emotion. I feel it was passionately written from a father to a son, about what it was like and still is like, to be a black man in America. Even though I hate that this was the experience of the author, I know it's his truth, and probably many others too. This book had a way of making me feel uncomfortable, and really helped me to understand the privileges that have been granted to me, for nothing other than my skin color.
As someone who grew up with a rough background, the culture of growing up in a poor neighborhood didn't surprise me at all. Not as many differences between being poor as you may think (just my truth). What surprised me was that no matter how successful you become, or how much you remove yourself from that situation, the racism that has embedded itself into this country's founding, can still take down the most successful and affluent African American person. This is something foreign to white folks, and a key difference between poor white, and poor black. As stated in the book, " your only one act of racism away." I never thought when I was a young poor kid that there wasn't hope, because I knew if I worked hard and did well, I would be successful. The author goes to great links to vividly express that this isn't his experience, and I imagine this is true for many other minorities as well. This truth startled me, and should startle us all, but it truly has given me a better perspective. I can see why this is on the list for books every white person should read. I would highly recommend.
pascalibrary's review against another edition
4.0
His experience is one to learn from. Everyone can. I think his past as a poet is well reflected in his flowing, graceful style of prose. Ingrained in these words is a message that I am not the target audience of(the book was written for his son), yet one that I will still strive to remember.
meg_teg's review against another edition
4.0
Months later, I still struggle to word my feelings about this book. Such a raw, vulnerable, honest personal narrative. And as a letter to his son, the simultaneous poignancy and love interwoven in this retelling of life as a black man in urban America was as beautiful as it was sobering.
branson's review
4.0
Coates writes his messaging into such poetic, raw forms. He tells it in such a fundamental way that it feels as if I cannot help but bear witness to its truth. At the same time, I struggle to verbalize my own takeaways. Coates's message is both written right into the word, and burns at the edge of language. Maybe this is as poetry intends, though his story is written in prose.
His picture of racism in rooted in the way it affects the black body. He captures its terror and inescapability. He captures so much that attempts to hide in abstraction in concrete terms.
I hope to read Between the World and Me again. His words wedge in truths that simply sink in whether I have had the chance to process them or not.
His picture of racism in rooted in the way it affects the black body. He captures its terror and inescapability. He captures so much that attempts to hide in abstraction in concrete terms.
I hope to read Between the World and Me again. His words wedge in truths that simply sink in whether I have had the chance to process them or not.
odin45mp's review
5.0
Powerful. This book offers no solutions, but is a frank and honest look at being black in America today.
camicarreno's review
5.0
Un padre –afroamericano– le escribe una carta a su hijo de 14 años en la que habla sobre su país –Estados Unidos–, la raza, el racismo, el sueño americano, la violencia, la destrucción de sus cuerpos, sus miedos y esperanzas. A veces siento que hay libros que todos deberíamos leer. Este libro –de no ficción– cae en esa categoría definitivamente. Es una lectura difícil, pero muy necesaria.
kittycat2302's review
5.0
I consider myself a pretty good ally, generally a good person, with some awareness around concepts like privilege.
Ta-Nehisi Coates opened my eyes to how little I knew.
This is such an important book. It's short, and while not an easy read it's not difficult in the ways some books are difficult to read. There is no needless artsy prose, it's not dense, the concepts aren't a struggle. But it's one I needed to take 2 bigger breaks from, reading it in generally 50 page increments.
What makes it a hard read is that it speaks an enormous amount of truth. And despite all that I believe about myself- those things in my opening sentence- I caught myself getting defensive, trying to justify, and doing all those things I *hate* seeing others in privilege do. It was important to me not to do that- and checking that response took time. It was time well spent & important.
I highly recommend reading this book. If you're white, I extra-highly recommend reading this book- and setting aside the defensiveness. Allow yourself to understand that this is Coates' lived experience and that his experience is not that different from that of others.
Looking forward to the Book Club discussion on this, for sure.
Ta-Nehisi Coates opened my eyes to how little I knew.
This is such an important book. It's short, and while not an easy read it's not difficult in the ways some books are difficult to read. There is no needless artsy prose, it's not dense, the concepts aren't a struggle. But it's one I needed to take 2 bigger breaks from, reading it in generally 50 page increments.
What makes it a hard read is that it speaks an enormous amount of truth. And despite all that I believe about myself- those things in my opening sentence- I caught myself getting defensive, trying to justify, and doing all those things I *hate* seeing others in privilege do. It was important to me not to do that- and checking that response took time. It was time well spent & important.
I highly recommend reading this book. If you're white, I extra-highly recommend reading this book- and setting aside the defensiveness. Allow yourself to understand that this is Coates' lived experience and that his experience is not that different from that of others.
Looking forward to the Book Club discussion on this, for sure.