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missbryden's review against another edition
4.0
Narrative concentrated version of a three volume history. I enjoyed the quoted speeches and smaller moments arranged with narration especially performed by actor [a:Leslie Odom Jr.|17495338|Leslie Odom Jr.|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] who used subtle accents and mood change to depict the various historical characters. I was also surprised by but appreciated that it wasn't all moments where King was present or directly involved, it gave attention to the fact of how many people were involved in this history. I was also surprised by how much time it covered and how spread out some of the events were. I know King didn't live long (killed before he was 40) but I suppose I didn't realize how young he was when things started, and that several years followed some of the bigger, more known events from the early 60s.
drillvoice's review against another edition
5.0
I may have read better books, but no book has been as valuable to me. It is an awesome work of art, of literary, historical, and political brilliance.
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
5.0
What an incredible read. Taylor manages to tell a lengthy and complex story with vigor. He is a brilliant writer and storyteller. For someone like me, who grew up long after the events of the civil rights movement (although not that long), this was an invaluable resource. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
uscrx's review against another edition
5.0
Despite growing up during these tumultuous years, I have been ignorant/uninterested in the story of the struggle for equal rights/freedom for the blacks in the United States. This past Spring, a pastor friend mentioned to me that his "hero" was Martyn Luther King, Jr. I was surprised at this comment, but intrigued enough to look into this man whose birthday we celebrate every January. A huge first volume of a 3-volume set, this book grabbed me continually as I read it. I was stunned at what was done to blacks in the 1950s! I was saddened that our great country could turn its back on its own citizens. I was also drawn to admire the persistence, grace, and character of MLK. He had his faults, for sure, but was used mightily in the struggle for freedom for the black people of our country. Highly recommended!
samantha_shain's review against another edition
5.0
It's difficult to write a review of a 925 opus (the first in a TRILOGY) that provides such a play-by-play account of the early phases of the Civil Rights Movement. After all, there are SO many episodes, so much detail, so many hallway conversations, tensions, compromises, contradictions, setbacks, miracles, etc. The book was not at all self-indulgent. The length was warranted (though I thought some of the early stuff about the legacy of the founding preachers of some churches was less interesting) and the book achieved the impossible of breadth and depth. I learned so much about behind-the-scenes figures as well as sequencing of events that have been left out of the "civil rights canon." I had no prior knowledge of the inner workings of the Kennedy administration or Hoover's FBI. My major critique of the book is that insignificant men are afforded more background characterization than incredibly significant women. This is a huge flaw and truly unacceptable. Anyone who reads this book should complement it with reading any of the stellar books available about women in the civil rights struggle like Ella Baker, Septima Clark, Diane Nash, and yes, even Rosa Parks.
fragglerocker's review against another edition
5.0
A longer review is forthcoming, but this is a meticulously researched and detailed book about civil rights in America from 1954 to 1963. There's both a deep exploration of the movement, primarily from the SCLC perspective but also going into good detail about the SNCC, as well as the political machinations at the local, state, and federal level. Hoover is a villian, and King is portrayed fully as a person, a complicated and amazing human being. Highly recommended, but only if you are willing to commit to this significant time investment.