westeggspinster's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

5.0

Required reading to learn about the effects of slavery on modern American culture 

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siobhanward's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

NYT Notable Books 2021: 21/100

This was a fascinating read I never would have come across without the NYT list, so I'm grateful to have found it. Through his research, Smith visits eight significant sites related to American slavery. Each site offers new insight and a new part of the history of slavery and Smith's story is told well. I especially appreciated that he went out of his way to speak with people, Black, white, old, young, like him or not to get their insights into the place. Obviously some of these conversations must have been uncomfortable but they added so much perspective to the book that might have been otherwise lost. 

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hellavaral's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0


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smileymiley550's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0


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mnatale100's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective fast-paced

5.0


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kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Powerful. Compelling. Devastating. I learned a lot I didn’t know about myriad locations around the country (and world) that were and still are institutions of slavery and oppression. There’s a lot to unpack and reckon with about our history as a nation in this book and I think it’s worth the discomfort to know more about the nation’s real history. 

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overthinkereading's review against another edition

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challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

"What would it take - what does it take - for you to confront a false history even if it means shattering the stories you have been told throughout your life?"

How the Word is Passed fundamentally is a shattering of many stories, both those of the official record and those of legend and lore, in pursuit of the truth at the core of United States history: that slavery was central to our founding and is inextricable from every aspect of historical and contemporary American life.

Despite the (for some, painful) deconstruction inherent in Smith's work, he takes great care with presenting his research and experiences. It is obvious he brings a level of humanity, compassion, and artistry amid this reckoning, and even during the most harrowing passages of the book, his writing is profoundly beautiful.  (His experience as a poet is evident especially in descriptions of place).

To answer the question, "What would it take to confront our false history?" we ought to start here, with this book. Highly recommend.

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nishapan's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0


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wifeslife's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0


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brynalexa's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Poetic, powerful, and thought-provoking. Filled in some gaps in my education while inspiring me to seek out more information on the world’s cruel history. 

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