[oats]

aite so I really liked this book, prob in the range of 4.5 to 5/5 for me. when I think in terms of "what was it trying to accomplish, and did it achieve its ambition" then this was a wildly successful book, not just in the scope of its ambition but also in how humanizing it was without being preachy.

I think the whole premise - that much of the urban black experience in America is driven by fear - was really insightful and wise. I also like how Coates didn't shy away from addressing black on black crime, explaining that much of it came from that same sense of fear and a desire to overcome it. I also found it really interesting to see him grapple with his atheism.

ultimately I thought it was beautifully written, powerful and intelligent without being argumentative. it's essential reading for anyone who is open to understanding how black people experience reality in fundamentally different ways. highly recommend it.