Episode · The Book Review · 2024-08-26
Isabel Wilkerson on The Book Review: books mentioned (Aug 2024)
21st Century Books Special Edition: Isabel Wilkerson on 'The Warmth of Other Suns'
Gilbert Cruz discussed The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson and Black Boy by Richard Wright. Isabel Wilkerson recommended The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Warmth of Other Suns
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson is a powerful and extensively researched historical account that chronicles the decades-long Great Migration of black citizens leaving the American South for northern and western cities.
Discussed“this week I'm joined by is Isabel Wilkerson author of the 2010 book the warmth of other Sons The Epic story of America's Great Migration it is the best non-fiction book of this Century as chosen by just over 500 respondents to our poll from earlier this summer”
Where to get it
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Black Boy
Black Boy by Richard Wright is a powerful autobiographical chronicle detailing the author's harrowing upbringing in the American South, marked by systemic racism, poverty, and isolation, followed by his awakening through reading and his eventual escape to Chicago.
Discussed“your book took its title from Richard Wright the author of blackboy when did you know that was the title very evocative”
Where to get it
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The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is a classic American novel depicting the hardships of Oklahoma families migrating to California during the Great Depression.
Recommended“but the book that I would point out as the one that I've read most deeply is a book that has some challenges because it has some problematic aspects to it but it is The Grapes of Wrath and I mention The Grapes of Wrath because this was the book that showed me that writing the warmth of the Suns”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Isabelle is the former Chicago bureau chief for the New York Times she's a winner of a pullit Sur prise in feature writing and she's the author of the 2020 book cast the origins of our discontent Isabelle welcome to the book review podcast”
“this is the book review podcast and I'm Gilbert Cruz I'm here with Isabelle Wilkerson author of the warmth of other Sons”