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bhy623's review against another edition
5.0
Wilkerson wrote a novel for everyone to read. Very detailed, precise, and in the end, inspiring, as she has stated (to paraphrase) - if we all dismantle caste, then we can all be free. Whether it's her detailed accounts of African-American's during Jim Crow, segregation, or during the emancipation proclamation, or even currently during the BLM movement, she also contrasts it to other races and cultures (i.e. the Jews during WWII, the Native Americans, and even women's movement). All the phobias, racism, and misogyny can be summed up in caste. Isabel Wilkerson has so poignantly told and woven such a beautiful story. We should all read it - and be inspired by it.
ddroc's review against another edition
5.0
Read this quote in the book and it put all those Trump Voters into perspective.
“So the real question would be,' he said finally, 'if people were given the choice between democracy and whiteness, how many would choose whiteness?'
- Taylor Branch, as quoted by Isabel Wilkerson in Cast - Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
“So the real question would be,' he said finally, 'if people were given the choice between democracy and whiteness, how many would choose whiteness?'
- Taylor Branch, as quoted by Isabel Wilkerson in Cast - Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
johnjfd's review against another edition
Wilkirson is a masterful storyteller, intrepid historían and brilliant theorist here in exploring and demonstrating the power of using the concept of caste as a lens to understand race in America. Through personal anecdote, research data, historical examples and engaging, illuminating stories, she stacks her layers to add theoretical depth and explanatory breadth to her thesis in order to explain how intractable and pernicious racism is in America. It is a theory that prioritizes policies over individual choices. We are all living in a system that has been built piece by piece to benefit whites at the explicit cost to Black Americans.
As powerful as this lens is, I would have been curious to know what she sees the differences between American, Nazi, and Indian caste systems. Also, she could have done more about how to change the structures of the caste system, perhaps by exploring more how it has changed over time here and in Indira and Germany.
She does offer a glimpse in the very moving final chapter, but its focus on the personal seems almost a contradiction with the book’s focus on the structural.
Never the less, it is an inspiring story that offers our only hope to saving our American community: kindness, understanding and compassion.
As powerful as this lens is, I would have been curious to know what she sees the differences between American, Nazi, and Indian caste systems. Also, she could have done more about how to change the structures of the caste system, perhaps by exploring more how it has changed over time here and in Indira and Germany.
She does offer a glimpse in the very moving final chapter, but its focus on the personal seems almost a contradiction with the book’s focus on the structural.
Never the less, it is an inspiring story that offers our only hope to saving our American community: kindness, understanding and compassion.
katrinjo's review against another edition
5.0
This was so incredibly smart and so incredibly heart-breaking and so incredibly infuriating to be listening to through a shitty election season where America proved once again that yes, it will vote to preserve it’s fucked up caste system over actual human rights, dignity and compassion.
literarymarie's review against another edition
5.0
A masterful literary portrait of the caste system from its origin to America today. It goes beyond race and logic. It is rightfully the #1 nonfiction book of the year and deserving of all literary awards. I purchased both the eBook and the paperback so I could read wherever whenever, take notes and highlight passages.
rding's review against another edition
DNF’d the audiobook at 9% but will revisit the hardcover
carolynfritz's review against another edition
5.0
I’m lost trying to describe how important this book is to American history. I hope and predict that it will become required reading for all students and adults. Isabel Wilkerson is a national treasure and we are forever indebted to her insight and clarity.
bk610's review against another edition
5.0
Required reading to understand America
I'm finding it hard to say that I loved this book, because of how uncomfortable it has made me. Love is not the right word, but perhaps grateful is.
On a factual level, there were so many new perspectives shared on topics that I had thought I had already thoroughly covered during school—Nazi Germany and WWII, the American Civil War, and numerous current events that I've passively witnessed over the last few years. Some of these are so radically different from what I had understood prior that I'm still finding it difficult to come to terms with them. In particular, the use of American policies and attitudes to inspire the Nazi regime leaves me speechless. Finding it infuriating that this is not common knowledge and part of the standard educational curriculum.
I hope to have many conversations using this new (to me) vocabulary and understanding of caste in America, and to open myself to empathize across these baselessly constructed barriers. For now, I think I'll be overwhelmed by just processing this material for a while longer and beginning to understand the deeper levels to which the caste system actively impacts the lives of myself and those around me.
I'm finding it hard to say that I loved this book, because of how uncomfortable it has made me. Love is not the right word, but perhaps grateful is.
On a factual level, there were so many new perspectives shared on topics that I had thought I had already thoroughly covered during school—Nazi Germany and WWII, the American Civil War, and numerous current events that I've passively witnessed over the last few years. Some of these are so radically different from what I had understood prior that I'm still finding it difficult to come to terms with them. In particular, the use of American policies and attitudes to inspire the Nazi regime leaves me speechless. Finding it infuriating that this is not common knowledge and part of the standard educational curriculum.
I hope to have many conversations using this new (to me) vocabulary and understanding of caste in America, and to open myself to empathize across these baselessly constructed barriers. For now, I think I'll be overwhelmed by just processing this material for a while longer and beginning to understand the deeper levels to which the caste system actively impacts the lives of myself and those around me.
tashaellison's review against another edition
5.0
This books reviews an excellent theory that better describes racism and it’s impacts. It’s a must read .
troibella's review against another edition
5.0
Read it. Make everyone you know read it. Then read it again.
I love the intertwining of personal stories and facts—actual backed-up facts. You will find the information from this book intertwining into every part of life.
I love the intertwining of personal stories and facts—actual backed-up facts. You will find the information from this book intertwining into every part of life.