Caste- The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
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Web ID: 167781046 reviews
Transformational View of Societal Power Structures
In Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Isabel Wilkerson brilliantly distills the invisible yet pervasive forces that shape social hierarchies, much like the water in David Foster Wallace’s famous parable about fish. Wilkerson argues that caste systems, rather than overt racism alone, are at the root of much of the inequality we see today, both in America and around the world. The book has transformed my thinking about how deeply embedded these structures are within society and myself. It reveals how, beyond conscious thought, many of us accept a world where certain groups are deemed lesser, justifying their exploitation and the environmental devastation of marginalized communities. Wilkerson’s powerful narrative forces the reader to confront uncomfortable truths, making it impossible to view our nation's history or our place within it in the same way again. I am left with deep questions and a need for soul-searching.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Mixed Thoughts - some pluses & negatives
While I feel this book was worth reading (I listened to it), I think she did a great disservice with the first chapter. Those potential readers who are "really" racist would not read this, but those who may have unrecognized bias likely would, but would be turned off by her first chapter. Had she left these opinions to later in the book, she would have had a better impact. I honestly feel that some of her described experiences were likely not racist as she felt, but I do recognize that, to a degree, perception is reality (to those offended) and I think it is important to recognize what may be considered this way. This being said, there were two that just stood out as really, really hard to consider as racist at all. First, the little boy & his Dad at a restaurant. The grandmotherly type came over and spoke to the young boy and suggested he go ahead and drink his juice. Was she out of place? yes - was she racist - unless there is much more to the story, no. The author suggested that she would not have done this with a white Dad & boy - I think she would have been more likely to have. Talking to the child & not the parent it very common. The other is a new resident in a home expecting the dry cleaner to pick up his dry cleaning. The door bell rings and he brings the dry cleaning. I think any one would do this. Again, unless there is more to the story, I cannot imagine this being even perceived as racist. It would be a hard one to recommend without discussion of its shortcomings, though I am glad I listened to it. I do wish she had done a better job.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Boring
I wanted to love this book. It blathers on and on.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Informative Art
This is one of those books that take something you think you know about and gives it a new and revelatory lens and completely changes the way you think and see the world. It is informative while accessible and an artful reading experience.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Magnificent
I saw the movie Origin and couldn’t wait to put he the book to read.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Origin
Wow, the book “Caste” and the movie “Origin” will leave you breathless! God will get our revenge he promised us this.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com