Review of “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Many thanks to Spiegel & Grau, via Shelf Awareness, for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

In a letter written to his fifteen year old son, which is part memoir and part narrative, Ta-Nehisi Coates shares his powerfully written and very relevant thoughts, experiences, and perspectives on race, history and American culture. From the Civil War to the present day, we gain a deeper understanding of what it means to inhabit a black body in the United States.

My thoughts:

This is a beautifully written book. It is a very quick read. This is not because the subject matter is light, of course. It’s because it’s so compelling, engaging, and most importantly, honest. Ta-Nehisi Coates is one of the most introspective authors I have read in a long time. Though the book is only 156 pages long, I dog-eared 18 pages with what I felt were especially important, beautiful, poetic statements and sentiments.

I agree with several other reviewers (including Toni Morrison) that this book should be required reading. It is bound to inspire an important and necessary dialogue.

My rating:

5 Stars