jmathena's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

croww_teeth's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.25

Leaves you wanting to know more.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kerisreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

 The moving eloquence and lasting impact of Frederick Douglass's autobiographical narrative leaves me thinking no study of early American history could possibly be complete without it.

Told in alternating matter-of-fact prose and passionately emotional poetry, it's no wonder Douglass played such an instrumental role in the abolition of American slavery.

As I read, I imagined reading this as a 19th century white American previously unacquainted with specifics of the manifold evils of southern slavery.... Phew.

A must-read indeed. You'll weep, but be the better for it.



Content warnings: As expected of any work on American slavery, many heavy topics are covered, though none graphically, including rape, cruelty and physical abuse, violence, death of and separation from parents and grandparents, etc. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

irrigger's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

This is one of the most impactful books I've ever read. The experiences are viceral and cut to the core. It's a hard but hopeful read, and I think everyone should experience it. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lizzye33's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

qalshrame's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

An Important and essential read.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mscalls's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

rapunzelholly's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative sad fast-paced

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ly6's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jlautry's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative inspiring sad slow-paced

5.0

This book was written nearly 180 years ago, but the appendix could have been written last week. Everyone should read this. This should be required reading in high school. It’s a short book of only 96 pages and Douglass’ writing is beautiful and heartbreaking. His story is like so many hundreds of thousands of enslaved people that is often never told from the perspective of those who actually experienced it. Douglass’ criticism of Christianity (not unlike the “Christians” of our current time) was spot on, and in reading this, it’s unbelievable that “Christians” continue to use the same “biblical principles” to continue to persecute and condemn. He goes into detail in the appendix and it’s as applicable today as it was then. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings