Reviews

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

spatterson12's review against another edition

5.0

Gosh, this needs to be a mandatory read. To look at America as having a caste system, similar to India or Germany in WW2. This book brought so much to light and put a lot into perspective. I highly suggest reading this one with a friend and having conversations along the way to process all the information and examine how we can do and be better. It’s important to understand our history, and to accept the facts rather than brushing them under a rug. This is one I plan to revisit over the years.

hahazar's review against another edition

5.0

Excellent, well researched book on the history of Caste in the US, India, Germany and South Africa discussing similarities of how the systems were designed and have changed over time and how each country has chosen to handle it. A sobering yet essential read to be more aware and better understand history. And to use this knowledge to do the essential work to listen, find ways to make bridges, and changes in the future.

reli's review against another edition

5.0

I've had this book on my huge "to read" shelf for a while but I was always intimidated to read it. In my 9 years of reading journey, I've managed to shed a lot of insecurities but one that still lingers is that I'm "scared" of starting books that intimidate me! This was one of them.

But the incredible Ava DuVernay has turned it into a film, and whilst watching her interviews as she promotes the movie, I bit the bullet and started reading the book

It was so amazing, so easy to read, not at all what I expected. And at times extremely moving that transcends race, cast, and touches the humanity in us.

cristinar1800's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

difilippo717's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

brisbaneoak's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

tildahlia's review against another edition

4.0

This book comes highly recommended by many and rightly so. It's so well-written and thoughtfully set out and interesting to examine racism through a different lens (ie caste). The uniting features of caste systems are laid out in confronting ways. The way she draws the threads between the treatment of Dalits, Jews and African-American communities is interesting and made me think a lot about the structural racism of Australia. Her observations of how caste plays out in social settings through her reflections of the behaviour of people ascribed different status was particularly eye-opening!

katia23's review

challenging informative inspiring slow-paced

sarah_grey's review

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Incredible read that makes you think.

winniewonders's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0