Ta-Nehisi Coates's Reading List

Author of Between the World and Me and We Were Eight Years in Power. Curated favorites for One Grand Books and recommended a reading list at the NY Public Library.

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Ta-Nehisi Coates's NYPL Reading List (2015)

Books Coates recommended at a public program at the Schomburg Center.

Source: www.nypl.org

The Fire Next Time

James Baldwin · 1963 · Buy on Amazon

"Baldwin's powerful exploration of race, religion, and American identity in the 1960s aligns with Ta-Nehisi Coates's own work examining the Black experience and systemic racism."

The Night of the Gun: A Reporter Investigates the Darkest Story of His Life, His Own

David Carr · 2008 · Buy on Amazon

"Carr's unflinching self-investigation into addiction and memory fits Ta-Nehisi Coates's interest in the complex, often painful process of confronting personal and historical truths."

The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism

Edward E. Baptist · 2014 · Buy on Amazon

"This book's examination of slavery's economic impact aligns with Ta-Nehisi Coates's work exploring the historical and ongoing legacy of racial inequality in America. It offers a deep dive into the systemic forces that shaped the nation."

Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era

James M. McPherson · 1988 · Buy on Amazon

"This comprehensive history of the Civil War era fits Ta-Nehisi Coates's deep interest in American history, particularly the legacy of slavery and the struggle for Black liberation. It aligns with his work exploring the foundational conflicts and contradictions of the United States."

Making the Second Ghetto: Race and Housing in Chicago, 1940-1960

Arnold R. Hirsch · 1983 · Buy on Amazon

"This study of systemic racism in housing policy aligns with Ta-Nehisi Coates's work exploring the historical and ongoing impact of white supremacy on Black communities in America."

Family Properties: Race, Real Estate, and the Exploitation of Black Urban America

Beryl Satter · 2009 · Buy on Amazon

"This history of predatory housing practices in Chicago's Black communities fits Ta-Nehisi Coates's interest in the systemic exploitation of Black Americans and the lasting impact of racist policies. It aligns with his work exploring race, power, and American history."

Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America

Wil Haygood · 2015 · Buy on Amazon

"This account of Thurgood Marshall's fight for justice and the struggle for civil rights aligns with Ta-Nehisi Coates's deep exploration of American history, race, and power."

American Slavery, American Freedom: The Ordeal of Colonial Virginia

Edmund S. Morgan · 1975 · Buy on Amazon

"Morgan's examination of the paradox of liberty and bondage in early America fits Ta-Nehisi Coates's interest in the historical roots of racial inequality and the founding ideals of the United States. It aligns with his work exploring how American freedom was built upon the institution of slavery."

Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life

Karen E. Fields · 2012 · Buy on Amazon

"This book, which examines how the concept of race is created and maintained, aligns with Ta-Nehisi Coates's deep exploration of race and power in American society. It offers a framework for understanding the systemic nature of racial inequality, a central theme in his own work."

When and Where I Enter: The Impact of Black Women on Race and Sex in America

Paula Giddings · 1984 · Buy on Amazon

"This foundational text on Black women's intellectual and political history aligns with Coates's work exploring the intersections of race, power, and American identity. It offers a critical historical lens on the often-overlooked contributions of Black women."

Ida: A Sword Among Lions: Ida B. Wells and the Campaign Against Lynching

Paula J. Giddings · 2008 · Buy on Amazon

"This biography of Ida B. Wells, a pioneering Black journalist and anti-lynching activist, fits Ta-Nehisi Coates's interest in the history of racial injustice and resistance in America."

Out of the House of Bondage: The Transformation of the Plantation Household

Thavolia Glymph · 2008 · Buy on Amazon

"This history of the plantation household's transformation aligns with Ta-Nehisi Coates's work exploring the enduring legacy and structures of American slavery. It offers a deep dive into the domestic realities that shaped racial power dynamics."