Title
Caste (Oprah's Book Club): The Origins of Our Discontents,Used
Processing time: 1-3 days
US Orders Ships in: 3-5 days
International Orders Ships in: 8-12 days
Return Policy: 15-days return on defective items
Payment Option
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER OPRAHS BOOK CLUB PICK An instant American classic and almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century thus far.Dwight Garner, The New York TimesThe Pulitzer Prizewinning, bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.#1 NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR: TimeONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, O: The Oprah Magazine, NPR, Bloomberg, The Christian Science Monitor, New York Post, The New York Public Library, Fortune, Smithsonian Magazine, Marie Claire, Slate, Library Journal, Kirkus ReviewsWinner of the Carl Sandberg Literary Award Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize National Book Award Longlist National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist Dayton Literary Peace Prize Finalist PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction Finalist PEN/Jean Stein Book Award Longlist Kirkus Prize FinalistAs we go about our daily lives, caste is the wordless usher in a darkened theater, flashlight cast down in the aisles, guiding us to our assigned seats for a performance. The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is about powerwhich groups have it and which do not.In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched, and beautifully written narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences peoples lives and behavior and the nations fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about peopleincluding Martin Luther King, Jr., baseballs Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many othersshe shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their outcasting of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity.Original and revealing, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents is an eyeopening story of people and history, and a reexamination of what lies under the surface of ordinary lives and of American life today.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main theme of 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents'? A: The main theme of 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents' is the exploration of the unspoken caste system in America that shapes social hierarchies and influences people's lives, focusing on how this system transcends race and class.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents' is Isabel Wilkerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
- Q: What type of binding is available for this book? A: This book is available in audio CD binding.
- Q: When was 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents' published? A: The book was published on August 18, 2020.
- Q: Is this book part of Oprah's Book Club? A: Yes, 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents' is an Oprah's Book Club pick.
- Q: What accolades has this book received? A: 'Caste' has received numerous accolades, including being the #1 Nonfiction Book of the Year by Time and winning the Carl Sandberg Literary Award.
- Q: Does the book discuss historical examples of caste systems? A: Yes, the book links the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, providing historical context and examples.
- Q: What is the book's approach to discussing caste? A: Isabel Wilkerson uses an immersive narrative style, incorporating real-life stories and extensive research to illustrate the impact of caste on American society.
- Q: Who should read 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents'? A: This book is recommended for readers interested in social justice, history, and the dynamics of power and inequality in society.
- Q: What are some key topics covered in the book? A: Key topics include the eight pillars of caste systems, the effects of caste on health and life expectancy, and the potential pathways for moving beyond these divisions.