#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST • “An instant American classic and almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century thus far.”—Dwight Garner, The New York TimesThe Pulitzer Prize–winning, 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.NAMED THE #1 NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR BY TIME, ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY People • The Washington Post • Publishers Weekly AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • O: The Oprah Magazine • NPR • Bloomberg • Christian Science Monitor • New York Post • The New York Public Library • Fortune • Smithsonian Magazine • Marie Claire • Town & Country • Slate • Library Journal • Kirkus Reviews • LibraryReads • PopMattersWinner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize • National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist • PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction Finalist • PEN/Jean Stein Book Award Longlist“As 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 power—which 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 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 people’s lives and behavior and the nation’s 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 people—including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball’s Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others—she 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 out-cast 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.Beautifully written, original, and revealing,
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents is an eye-opening story of people and history, and a reexamination of what lies under the surface of ordinary lives and of American life today.
In her highly acclaimed book "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," Isabel Wilkerson delves into the profound and enduring legacy of caste in America, drawing parallels between the experiences of Black Americans and other marginalized groups around the world. Wilkerson argues that caste is not simply a matter of skin color or ethnicity, but rather a rigid social hierarchy that assigns individuals to fixed positions based on their perceived social status.
Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Wilkerson traces the origins of caste in America back to the colonial era, when the concept of racial hierarchy was used to justify the enslavement of Africans. She explores how this system of oppression evolved over time, shaping everything from housing patterns to educational opportunities and economic disparities. Wilkerson also examines the ways in which caste has been reinforced through cultural norms, legal policies, and institutional practices, creating a society where certain groups are systematically denied access to power, resources, and opportunities.
Wilkerson's work is a powerful indictment of the caste system and its devastating consequences for individuals and society as a whole. She argues that caste is not just a historical artifact, but a living reality that continues to shape the lives of millions of Americans. By shedding light on this hidden structure of inequality, Wilkerson calls for a radical transformation of society, one that is based on justice, equality, and the recognition of the inherent worth of all human beings.
In addition to its historical and sociological insights, "Caste" is also a deeply personal narrative. Wilkerson interweaves her own experiences as a Black woman growing up in the South with the stories of others who have been affected by caste. These personal narratives bring the abstract concept of caste to life, allowing readers to understand its impact on individual lives in a visceral way.
"Caste" is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the complex history of race and inequality in America. It is a powerful and thought-provoking work that challenges readers to confront the legacy of caste and to work towards a more just and equitable society.
