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donahuebn's review against another edition
5.0
A tragic, eye-opening story. Douglass is a beautiful writer, and we are lucky to have a written account of his early life in slavery.
bookysue's review against another edition
3.0
There is so much that's amazing and awesome about this book, especially when viewed within the context of when it was originally written. However, I wish there were more about Douglass's personal life and a bit less of the in-depth political analyses that sometimes went on for far too long. Of course, reading about anything in Douglass's words is preferable to reading about it in a history textbook, but sometimes it was assumed that I had certain knowledge about an event that anyone living at the time certainly would have had, but because I was ignorant of the details, I found his defense of an action or explanation of his political relationship to someone confusing at best. But it was extremely compelling to read many of his first-hand accounts, and although it took me a while to make it through some of the drier passages of the book, I still heartily recommend it overall. He was obviously an incredible man, and it's a privilege that we have such a detailed autobiography from him.
yuliia_trevi's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
jillccox's review against another edition
5.0
It’s one things to learn about slavery from a text book or even a historical fiction novel, it’s another to hear a first hand account. This book is fascinating and heartbreaking and hope-giving. The narrative is digestible and gripping. I have another glimpse into the past.
grllopez's review against another edition
5.0
My review of Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, and a little American history: http://greatbookstudy.blogspot.com/2015/07/life-and-times-of-frederick-douglass.html
greeniezona's review against another edition
5.0
The story of acquiring this volume is a long story full of sighs. But having read it, it seems silly to complain about anything so trivial.
Reading this book, I wanted to become a Quaker and go on nationwide speaking tours. I wanted to smack a lot of stupid, racist white people. I marveled at both the force of Frederick Douglass's personality and also all the factors that had to fall into place to make his legacy possible. I also marveled at the way he wrote his multiple autobiographies -- not as if posterity would have much interest in him as a person, but that posterity would want to know what this transitional time in history was like. As if 150 years later, it wouldn't be his name looming large, while most of the people he name-checks throughout are forgotten.
An excellent last book for Less Stupid Civil War Reading Group, as it probably goes the furthest into the post-war changes in society.
Reading this book, I wanted to become a Quaker and go on nationwide speaking tours. I wanted to smack a lot of stupid, racist white people. I marveled at both the force of Frederick Douglass's personality and also all the factors that had to fall into place to make his legacy possible. I also marveled at the way he wrote his multiple autobiographies -- not as if posterity would have much interest in him as a person, but that posterity would want to know what this transitional time in history was like. As if 150 years later, it wouldn't be his name looming large, while most of the people he name-checks throughout are forgotten.
An excellent last book for Less Stupid Civil War Reading Group, as it probably goes the furthest into the post-war changes in society.
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