Reviews

Caste: The Lies That Divide Us by Isabel Wilkerson

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jsoakes's review against another edition

5.0

This is how American history should be taught. Such a simple shift in framing racism/classism, but it fits so well and gives and perspective to a difficult topic. Great analysis.

carrietmills's review against another edition

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4.0

Wilkerson is excellent at making difficult topics into compelling reads. She expertly mixes history with narrative, both personal and reported, contemporary and historic, to illustrate and explain the existence of the American caste system. If you're new to African American history, this is an excellent read that casts a wide net of analysis --- and the footnotes are gold! But if you're an avid reader in the genre, this will read as a fascinating refresher.

sustainably_lucia's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

This is a very important book that everyone should read, especially if you want to understand systemic racism. It is an exploration of the caste system in America through stories and examples. It showcases the realities of what this country was founded on and the divisiveness and oppression it continues to inspire in other countries. It will challenge your thinking and allow you to see things from a different perspective. It made me angry at times at the injustices unnecessarily suffered by humans at the hands of others out of greed and a lust for power. I also laughed at the ridiculous things people believe and the lengths they will go to to maintain the caste system to their own detriment. Ignorance is not bliss.