Reviews

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

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freeztrip's review against another edition

5.0

Incredible. Part letter, elegy and manifesto. And all done with such poetry. But the poetry doesn’t blunt the blade of Coates’ cutting message but that’s ok because this is a message people like me, who have thought they’re “white” need to hear. Our privilege is built upon the shoulders of the oppressed. Let us never forget that history but also demand something different, create something different.

whitty_hutton's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

marvineugene's review against another edition

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5.0

Such a fantastic read on so many fronts. Ta-Nehisi Coates is a brilliant wordsmith - phenomenal verbal illustration and even the cadence and rhythm of his sentences are pleasant.

But this goes much deeper than that. In Between the World and Me, Coates managed to take feelings that I'd long felt, but could not express, and put them into succinct and accurate words. This book helped frame some things that I couldn't before and opened my eyes to clearer, more accurate ways of thinking about others.

In short, this book is fantastic if you've experienced being Black in America first hand. It's also fantastic if you'd like a better understanding of what it feels like to beB lack in America.

manal24's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5

darthhall's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Beautiful. What a talent with words. It’s an articulation of a long running thread in humanity and race. He’s a generational voice that has found the frequency of those that came before.

tmatlin's review against another edition

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5.0

This book was incredible. I strongly encourage people to listen to the audiobook -- it's powerful to hear it in Coates' own voice. It's not an emotionally easy read, but one that is important and necessary. If you think you can't handle something this heavy right now, I encourage you to put yourself through it. The very least most of us can do is to bear witness to the pain and struggle black Americans go through. Individually we can't "fix" anything, but we can increase our awareness and empathy and, hopefully, influence our communities to begin to change ourselves.