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turophile's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.25
Dick Gregory wants to make you think and look at what you thought you knew about race and the history of black americans from different angles. This book covers quite a span of history but with the cheeky, and at times almost gossipy, tone. It's a fun easy read. He looks at well known aspects of history with a new lens and also introduces historical figures you may never heard of, but probably should know. Worth ready for any student of history.
My only complaint was that at times, his theories leaned a little too much towards conspiracy theory for my taste, but the rest of the tales made up for it.
My only complaint was that at times, his theories leaned a little too much towards conspiracy theory for my taste, but the rest of the tales made up for it.
craftyanty's review
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Wow, quite a whirlwind! Gregory shares some controversial perspectives in this book that will definitely make some readers very uncomfortable along with some theories I'm very curious to learn more about. Beyond all that, though, this book is a heartfelt tribute to the contributions of Black Americans to all aspects of our culture with underlying messages of pride and resilience. This is a book that young people would benefit to read/listen to. It'll get them questioning what's going on in the backstory instead of blindly accepting things at eye level.
jacquelynjoan's review
4.0
Interesting man. I believe what he said about MLK and Malcolm X. Some other things I'm not sure.
xerxes314's review
1.0
This is a terrible book; I can't recommend it to anyone.
The book wants to tell the story of black [American, that is US] history. You would think it would be a slam dunk, since the author was right in the mix during one of the most exciting times of progress during that history. Unfortunately, the parts that describe history as it actually happened don't go much beyond what we learn in school nowadays; if you already know anything about the subject, you'll be disappointed. As I read the first few chapters, I noted some errors and exaggerations; I looked up the biography of Dick Gregory and noted that he was best known as a comedian. "Aha", I thought, "we're aspiring to the level of accuracy of, say, America the Book. I'm sure this will pay off when it gets funny later."
That later never came. Instead, Gregory veers into batshit conspiracy theories.
The only reader who could safely glean knowledge from this book would already have to know so much about the subject that they wouldn't learn anything. It fails as a history book. For me, at least, it fails as a work of humor. I suppose the high rating is due to people rating how they feel about civil rights or Dick Gregory rather than the quality of the book itself. Don't be misled; the book is worthless.
The book wants to tell the story of black [American, that is US] history. You would think it would be a slam dunk, since the author was right in the mix during one of the most exciting times of progress during that history. Unfortunately, the parts that describe history as it actually happened don't go much beyond what we learn in school nowadays; if you already know anything about the subject, you'll be disappointed. As I read the first few chapters, I noted some errors and exaggerations; I looked up the biography of Dick Gregory and noted that he was best known as a comedian. "Aha", I thought, "we're aspiring to the level of accuracy of, say, America the Book. I'm sure this will pay off when it gets funny later."
That later never came. Instead, Gregory veers into batshit conspiracy theories.
The only reader who could safely glean knowledge from this book would already have to know so much about the subject that they wouldn't learn anything. It fails as a history book. For me, at least, it fails as a work of humor. I suppose the high rating is due to people rating how they feel about civil rights or Dick Gregory rather than the quality of the book itself. Don't be misled; the book is worthless.
jeidakstorey's review
5.0
Everything my soul needed
If you're looking for easy reading that stimulates thought and conversation, buy this book! Dick makes you question everything you've ever learned...and look at it through a new lens. Our black lens. Our black stories. Our black lives. It's humorous, educational, and inspiring. A great gift to us before he left this world.
If you're looking for easy reading that stimulates thought and conversation, buy this book! Dick makes you question everything you've ever learned...and look at it through a new lens. Our black lens. Our black stories. Our black lives. It's humorous, educational, and inspiring. A great gift to us before he left this world.
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