Between the World and Me
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Sunny Hostin
Sunny Hostin recommended this book on Twitter.
Jon Stewart
A wonderful, challenging read. - Jon Stewart
Jack Dorsey
One of Jack Dorsey's answers to "what are the books that had a major influence on you?"
DeRay Mckesson
A must-read. - DeRay Mckesson
Bob Iger
Bob Iger told Variety this book was on his Reading List.
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10
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Between the World and Me

Between the World and Me

Ta-Nehisi Coates
Ta-Nehisi Coates
By
Ta-Nehisi Coates
4.4
29978
ratings on Goodreads

In "Between the World and Me," Ta-Nehisi Coates crafts a penetrating and deeply personal narrative as a letter to his adolescent son, laying bare the realities of being black in America. Through a meticulous unraveling of history intertwined with personal experiences, Coates explores the constructs of race and the enduring legacy of systemic racism that shapes the American landscape. His journey from the streets of Baltimore to the historical echoes of Civil War battlefields, from the vibrant halls of Howard University to the poignant realities faced in Paris and Chicago, forms a powerful testament to the black experience. It's a narrative that questions the very foundation of the American dream through the lens of a father's concern for his son's future in a society that is fraught with inequalities and injustices. At its core, "Between the World and Me" is an intimate exploration of Coates's awakening to the harsh truths of his existence within a black body in a world that has been built on—and continues to perpetuate—the myth of race. With exquisite prose, he weaves together personal anecdotes, historical context, and a critical examination of contemporary society to present a compelling argument for the reevaluation of America's racial history. This book not only confronts the reader with the uncomfortable realities of America's past and present but also offers a poignant vision for a more equitable and inclusive future. Coates's letter is a profound reflection on identity, belonging, and the unbreakable bond between a father and son as they navigate a world laden with challenges and opportunities for understanding.

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Released
2015
14 Jul
Length
152
Pages

10

recommendations

recommendation

A love letter, not just to [the author's] son, but to black people and even the United States, in the truest sense of the genre. - Mark Manson
Sunny Hostin recommended this book on Twitter.
America. Please. read. - Jay-Z
A must-read. - DeRay Mckesson
A MUST READ. - Linda Sarsour
It’s a letter to his son about being a black male in America. I think it is required reading. - Cal Fussman
Bob Iger told Variety this book was on his Reading List.
A wonderful, challenging read. - Jon Stewart
One of Jack Dorsey's answers to "what are the books that had a major influence on you?"
Barack Obama's "2016 Summer Reading List."
You are growing into consciousness, and my wish for you is that you feel no need to constrict yourself to make other people comfortable.
— Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me

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