Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X, Alex Haley

16 reviews

stephhamp's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

I read this book once a year if i can. Every time i read it, I find something new to discover, learn, or relate to. That is a sign of an incredible book. I’m floored with every read how relevant and timeless Malcom X’s philosophies are. Much of what he thought of America’s race priblem is still relevant to the current struggles black Americans still face. Whil I don’t agree with everything that is written, particularly his thoughts about women and love, I still find myself connected to much of what Malcom X feels and thought during his time. I highly recommend everyone read, then re-read this book

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness

sagelikesscats's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

What a easy 5 stars. Informative, relevant, and inspiring. Read this book!!! This book will teach you about racism, classism, radical organizing, and a little bit about Islam. This book has its flaws and Malcom X was pretty misogynistic and antisemitic but still a must for all those who want to learn about racism and activism.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Infidelity, Cursing, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Drug use, and Racism

Moderate: Police brutality, Antisemitism, and Gun violence

Minor: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Grief, and Lesbophobia

lauren_shilling's review against another edition

dark informative reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Alcohol, Addiction, Racial slurs, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Gun violence

Moderate: Hate crime and Misogyny

asen123's review against another edition

I might finish it when I’m a bit older. I really wanted to like it, but it was too intense for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Drug use, Racism, Murder, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Classism, Alcoholism, Addiction, Misogyny, Violence, and Police brutality

aia_r's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

The Autobiography of Malcolm X, one of the most important books of the twentieth century, is a classic autobiography that tells the story of the Muslim leader Malcolm X. We learn about his early years as a boy in Michigan, his hustling days in Harlem, getting in prison and discovering the religion of Islam. By far one of the most informative, interesting books I have ever read. Such a great book for anyone wanting to understand the Afro-American struggle and is essential for anyone wanting to understand America. 
   Malcolm X's captivating perspective of the lies and limitations of the so-called "American Dream" and the racism in a society that denies its non-white citizens to dream gives a unique insight into the most pressing issues today. 

"But it is only after the deepest darkness that joy can come; it is only after slavery and prison that the sweetest appreciation of freedom can come."

  What I liked the most about this autobiography are its honesty, its exalted purpose and its passion. This will have a permanent place in the literature of the African-American struggle. What saddens me is that Malcolm was seen as a violent, anti-white, dangerous man filled with hate when he was only speaking the truth while being the wisest, intelligent, honest, gentle, peaceful activist that wanted freedom and basic human rights for the then 22 million black citizens in the United States that had been under slavery for four hundred years. 

 At the end of the book, Malcolm says;

"I know that societies often have killed the people who have helped to change those societies. And if I can die having brought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help to destroy the racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America, then all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine." 

This alone demonstrates what a wise, sincere and humble person Malcolm was whose life ended way too soon. Shame on those who spread false accusations against this man and tried to ruin his image. May he rest in peace.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Drug use, and Addiction

Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, and Police brutality

Minor: Hate crime and Violence

andibez's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

The audiobook, narrated by Lawrence Fishburne, was really good 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Misogyny

Moderate: Violence and Drug use

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexism, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Violence

Minor: Police brutality, Islamophobia, and Pregnancy

196books's review

challenging dark informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia

Moderate: Drug use and Violence

sylvestra's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Racism, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Murder, and Police brutality

menomica's review against another edition

informative reflective tense slow-paced

What I am trying to say is that it just never dawned upon them that I could understand, that I wasn’t a pet, but a human being. They didn’t give me credit for having the same sensitivity, intellect, and understanding that they would have been ready and willing to recognize in a white boy in my position. But it has historically been the case with white people, in their regard for black people, that even though we might be with them, we weren’t considered of them. Even though they appeared to have opened the door, it was still closed. Thus they never did really see me.

This book was. Dense. And a lot. But it did what it was supposed to do. Give an insight on the mind of Malcom X. Honestly, he’s pretty cool, when he’s not talking about women, or jewish people (dear god was that man antisemitic). 

I also really loved how the book helped to give insight on the ideals of race and civil rights at the time. Seeing how multiple civil rights movements worked together and also how they disagreed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Antisemitism, and Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Gun violence and War