A review by reading_while_fat
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.
I definitely learned from this book and feel like I’m coming away from it with a better understanding of the role of a caste system in American society and the implications of that. I ended up deciding not to finish the book because it started to delve into anecdote after anecdote regarding specific instances of oppression and/or the elements of a caste system, which became a less effective teaching tool. I’m personally not needing convincing of the atrocities inflicted upon the non-white people, most severely the Black community - which I think is the only real purpose going that heavy on anecdotal evidence can do. I was looking for more of the initial portion - the education on caste, which perhaps is found in the non “adapted for young adult readers” version. This all being said, I think it’s very valuable content and I would recommend it, particularly for people who are coming from relative unknowing regarding systemic oppression in the US. I particularly found the discussion on the origins of the concept of race as well as racism vs casteism informative!
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