Reviews

The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore

rctexas08's review against another edition

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3.0

“I realized the journey I took was never mine alone either.”

mx_mercury's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced

3.25

A book that doesn’t seem to push far enough or ask enough questions to draw any deep or meaningful conclusions. The author seems like he wants to suggest that personal responsibility plays a significant role alongside our upbringing, but then shows few instances in which personal choices were made.  Nonetheless there is some inclusion of nuance, and it certainly speaks to   Black experiences and communities, which can’t go discounted as foundational to critical race understandings and conversations. 

Likely a thought provoking book better suited for those between the ages of 11 and 18. 

sarahfischer's review against another edition

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informative fast-paced

4.0

lucyhope's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

thetbrstack's review against another edition

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3.0

A fascinating idea of a book that nevertheless disappointed me.

One Wes Moore is a Rhodes scholar, White House fellow, and a decorated military officer. The other is serving life without parole in a Maryland killing for participating in a robbery that lead to the death of a police officer.

When the first Wes Moore read about the second, he was intrigued by their similarities. Both grew up poor in Baltimore during the 1980s and 1990s. Both were fatherless. Both grew about around drugs and crime, and participated in both. The first Wes Moore wanted to -- and eventually did -- meet and converse with the second Wes Moore.

The book is about how their lives took different paths.

But I had expected a book about their meetings, their discussions, their findings about each others. Instead, the book is dual and contrasting biographies about the two men. It tells those stories well, but we get little about the men's interacting with each other, how they dealt with each other, and the details of their long conversations in the prison meeting room.

I know the first Wes Moore. I know the background of the second Wes Moore. But I don't know him. I want to.

madsjordan's review against another edition

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5.0

really loved this and shows the disparity that can exist in one city and even under one shared name

reading_alligator's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

herewecaitlinagain's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

rns1534's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

4.5

krankykat's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

4.25