The Fire Next Time

Books | Political Science / Civil Rights

4.6

(887)

James Baldwin

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The book that galvanized the nation, gave voice to the emerging civil rights movementin the 1960s—and still lights the way to understanding race in America today. • "The finest essay I’ve ever read.” —Ta-Nehisi CoatesAt once a powerful evocation of James Baldwin's early life in Harlem and a disturbing examination of the consequences of racial injustice, the book is an intensely personal and provocative document from the iconic author of If Beale Street Could Talk and Go Tell It on the Mountain. It consists of two "letters," written on the occasion of the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, that exhort Americans, both black and white, to attack the terrible legacy of racism. Described by The New York Times Book Review as "sermon, ultimatum, confession, deposition, testament, and chronicle … all presented in searing, brilliant prose," The Fire Next Time stands as a classic of literature.

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More Details:

Author

James Baldwin

Pages

128

Publisher

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Published Date

2013-09-17

ISBN

0804149720 9780804149723

Ratings

Google: 4

Community ReviewsSee all

"He said it in another way but James Baldwin was an observer that was willing to deal with any ideological camp. While the questions he poses don’t lead to a solution he did point out fallacies and jumps of logic to those that wanted him to join ‘their’ ideological camp. Praise him for being free like the wind. "

Kweku Ananse Haki

"Not usually a fan of non-fiction, but I enjoyed this book. I was assigned this last year for class, and like most modern students do with assigned readings, I neglected to read it. I’m glad I did now. It’s a very deep, philosophical book that really makes you think about the world, especially society in America. Highly encourage everyone to read it. Not only is it a good read, but a quick one as well!"

Madeline Glanton

"Powerful! I could feel his passion and heart in the two letters that he wrote. I could feel him pour his heart out in these pages. His words moved me. "

Sandy Lopez

"This short book is so powerful and so prescient that, sadly, nearly sixty years later it is an essential read for our time!"

Anita Skop

"After the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, I found myself frustrated. Frustrated with the battles we continue fighting and frustrated with what I did or did not understand. So, like countless Americans last year, I reached for books to educate myself. As I soaked up the words of James Baldwin, I was confronted with my own privilege and the part I play in the continuation of an unequal and unjust society. "