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Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, Eig‘s book is a real accomplishment—eminently readable, it offers a compelling, unvarnished look at Martin Luther King Jr‘s life. Much of it will be familiar, much of it is heartbreaking—particularly when you read about the lengths to which both ordinary people & the government went to thwart King & the march for civil rights—and much of it reveals all the complexities of being human. A great read.

IRL book club went with a chunkster for our next read. I‘m doing a couple of chapters a day and so far finding it really readable and, needless to say, very interesting.

My husband and I spent a lovely autumn day wandering around Jamestown, Rhode Island, today. We got a bag of hot apple cider donuts, stopped at a local brewery—and found a cute bookstore, of course! Picked up this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. that I‘ve had my eye on.

#AboutABook #Biography

On my Kindle TBR

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

19-23 May 24 (audiobook)
A thorough, well-written history highlighting King‘s brilliance, charisma and frailty. I was shocked by the blatant police brutality and violence he and the non-violent civil rights marchers faced from people in public office in the south. King himself is flawed and clearly reluctant to take on the role he was given. The roles played by the Kennedys (surprisingly), LBJ, and Hoover and his FBI were also rather appalling.

I am so glad this book is making the lists this year. It really is a remarkable read. Eig gives us a detailed, well researched, and balanced look at King's life. The good and the bad. His health struggles, his misogyny, his hope and his commitment to the cause.
Even if you don't believe in his tactics this book is a fascinating look at his life and reasoning. Most importantly it is a look at how we have sanitized his image.
4.5⭐

"In another conversation, King and [Abby] Mann were discussing the broad outline of their potential movie on King's life. Mann asked, somewhat in jest, how the movie should end.

'It ends with me getting killed.' King said

'He smiled,' Mann later recalled, 'but he wasn't joking.'"

The idea of the civil rights leaders just knowing that they will be murdered, and yet continuing on fighting for our rights. It is powerful and heartbreaking.

"On December 5, 1955, a young Black man became one of American's founding fathers."

#firstlinefriday
@ShyBookOwl

I was initially a bit intimidated by this book‘s size, and I‘m so glad the NBA rightfully put it on the NF longlist, as it spurred me to get to it. It is superb. It reads quickly, painting a portrait of a talented man thrust into a spotlight he didn‘t seek or desire, yet nonetheless taking up that mantle. And it doesn‘t hesitate to show his human flaws, making him that much more real.

another book that should be required reading. such a complete and engrossing look at a complex man and leader. reminded me yet again that american exceptionalism is a myth and we need a full and national reckoning with our racist past and present if ever hope to see the dream MLK spoke of.

This book is exceptional. Eig tells MLK‘s story from his family life, values, talents, faults and pressures that rounds out the sound bites of his life (that we know) to showcase how complex and incredible he was. It‘s 557 pages and not once did I scan or wish for more editing. Such an interesting man and an incredible, well- written biography. Highly recommend!