Reviews

King: A Life by Jonathan Eig

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Incredibly insightful biography, humanizing a mythical figure, and also making me admire him even more. Makes me wonder how my perspective would’ve morphed along with the public during those days as he became more polarizing. He was uncompromising with his ideals except for his vows to his wife, which speaks to the contradictions that left him riddled with guilt and depression.

merthelibrarian's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

coxcox's review

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informative medium-paced

4.0

greenteaka's review

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

bobbo49's review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Another outstanding biography by Eig, filled with facts and historical perspectives even a student of American history never knew. Starting with his birth name - Michael, after his father, who later switched names to Martin Luther, Sr. so his son became Martin Luther, Jr. - and presenting a very broad perspective of King's life and career. Eig used access to the vast catalog of FBI files recently released (yes, they bugged every house, hotel room, office that King used, with more to be released by 2027), as well as years of interviews with all of the key figures in King's life, to produce this excellent portrait of America's incredibly racist past and present.