Ben Waber reviewed Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A Powerful, Personal, and Challenging Mix of Autobiography and Philosophy
5 stars
Framed as a conversation between Coates and his son, this part autobiography, part history, part philosophical reflection on American history and the centrality of racism and Black oppression is a truly unique book. It's deeply intimate, using those personal experiences to illustrate fundamental truths about being Black in America. The one very minor outlier were the sections on Paris that paint a naively rosy picture - it's arguably the most segregated city in the world. As an aside, Howard University should send this book to all prospective applicants, since after reading the book I'm now convinced that I need to recommend it to everyone. Highly recommend
Framed as a conversation between Coates and his son, this part autobiography, part history, part philosophical reflection on American history and the centrality of racism and Black oppression is a truly unique book. It's deeply intimate, using those personal experiences to illustrate fundamental truths about being Black in America. The one very minor outlier were the sections on Paris that paint a naively rosy picture - it's arguably the most segregated city in the world. As an aside, Howard University should send this book to all prospective applicants, since after reading the book I'm now convinced that I need to recommend it to everyone. Highly recommend
