This is the archetypal narrative of slavery, capturing both the physical and psychological damage of owning humans as property. Rivals Wiesel's Night as a document of human cruelty. Points with laser accuracy at the hypocrisies of Christianity and American democracy. Douglass has a greater stature than the founders in American history, as his life was dedicated to correcting our crimes against humanity. ( )

Compelling ( )

Frederick Douglass’s memoir of his Maryland childhood and early adulthood spent in slavery is rightly a classic. Douglass describes in painful detail what he experienced and witnessed in the culture of slavery, observing the ways it dehumanized owners and overseers of slaves in addition to the ways in which they dehumanized the enslaved persons under their control. As good as this book is, there are gaps in the narrative that will frustrate readers. Douglass intentionally skips over his actual escape from slavery, for the very admirable reason that he did not want to close his path to freedom to others who might follow the same path. Modern readers will need to pick up Life and Times of Frederick Douglass to learn exactly how Douglass made his escape. The first readers of this memoir had to wait nearly 40 years for Douglass to reveal these details. Then there is Anna, his fiancée, whom Douglass first mentions after his arrival in New York, when he writes to ask her to join him. How did Douglass meet Anna, and how long had he known her? Since Douglass is able to write her, one assumes she was free and literate. It’s frustrating to have to make these assumptions, though. ( )

What a powerful book. A damning indictment of slavery and the South. Even thought slavery was "officially" abolished over 150 years ago, it still exists. One need only look at the hundreds of bills that seek to limit the vote of (mostly) African American voters. This book should be required reading of all American citizens (especially those of a certain party that looks longingly at the "good ole days" of the antebellum South). ( )

Please read this book. ( )