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Caste
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents | Isabel Wilkerson
The 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. "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 America life today.
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Nathan_Opland-Dobs
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😙

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Erin.Elizabeth10
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Pickpick

Wow, I wish I would have read this book sooner. It is so well written, engaging, it teaches so many things and unveils the workings of race and caste in American society. It‘s long, but it‘s not hard to read. I always wanted to keep learning and reading more chapters. This feels like it should be required reading for all Americans.

all_4_kb Loved it 2w
Leftcoastzen Great book! 2w
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Erin.Elizabeth10 @Leftcoastzen Yes, it was so good! 2w
marleed Yet, sadly it will be banned from so many schools. 2w
Erin.Elizabeth10 @marleed so sad. It just proves the point. 2w
24 likes6 comments
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Chittavrtti
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While I have this in book form I listened to an audio edition. Worth every hour.

Tamra What pretty photo. 1mo
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KCofKaysville
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Pickpick

Compelling argument that we live in a society with a Caste system like India, or like with the Jews and others in the Third Reich. I sort of feel like after I had read “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee“ many years ago. There is a lot of history to overcome!

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wideeyedreader
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Pickpick

I feel like I learned so much from reading this—I‘d recommend it to anyone! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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KCofKaysville
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Starting an important book which I've been meaning to read for a couple of years now.

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Bookish_Gal
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Mehso-so

First half shared amazing concepts that made me rethink racism. Very informative. The mentions of lyncing being public events was sickening. Liked the connections made between India and US caste system. It really does make sense. Could‘ve ended there. The second half lost me. Turned part memoir that didn‘t feel right in a way that is hard to describe. It didn‘t connect all together for such a long read.

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Bookish_Gal
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Bookish_Gal

When the library loan for a book you forgot you requested because the wait is just so long.
Alright, let‘s give it a go.
Let‘s see how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system. #banned

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Chittavrtti
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AvidReader25
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Pickpick

Wilkerson does a deep dive into the way America has set itself up in a caste system, similar to Nazi Germany & India. She researched everything using historical examples, personal experiences, & studies on current culture to show the damage and lingering effects this system has on our society. It's a lot to take in & she handles it beautifully.

“We are responsible for our own ignorance or, with time and openhearted enlightenment, our own wisdom.”

Vansa I found that her analogy of caste really,really doesn't work though. Her arguments indicate that she really doesn't entirely understand caste- and it's complicated and evil in ways that are difficult to understand if you're not Indian, in my opinion, no matter how intelligent you are and how much research you do 7mo
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SqueakyChu
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I just started reading this book which discusses racism and “casteism”. It is beautifully written and makes so much sense, but it is deeply sad.

SqueakyChu Fantastic book with ideas that keep brewing in my brain. I can‘t say enough good things about this book! 7mo
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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

Wow, very powerful. I did find it a bit inconsistent in terms of the difficulty of writing - sometimes it was very easy, other times it was a bit more hard going but the content was some of the most thought-provoking I've read.

Roll 51 for #Roll100

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 10mo
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TheBookHippie
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Karisa That is such a good book! I listened to the audio which was read by the author herself. It‘s one that sticks with you. 10mo
TheBookHippie @Karisa I agree both her books stay with you forever. 10mo
Susanita “These bans only affirm the forewarnings in the book.” 😡 10mo
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TheBookHippie @Susanita SERIOUSLY!!!!!!! 😡😡 10mo
Hooked_on_books Wilkerson is a treasure. We are so lucky to have her deeply researching and writing books. Banning her books, or any, says so much more about the prejudices and fears of those doing the banning than it says about the books and authors themselves. We need to give these people less power, not more. 10mo
CatMS Libraries and schools should be ashamed removing and/or banning books. These are institutions of education that are limiting the process of educating not only our youth but anyone interested in expanding their minds. 10mo
61 likes6 comments
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IndoorDame
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#MayMontage #FinanceRelated Grabbed this on a kindle deal yesterday!!! @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Suet624 A stunning read. 11mo
Eggs 🖤💵🤍 11mo
60 likes2 comments
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brushlo
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Pickpick

great followup to Warmth of Other Suns…explores the idea that ameica has a caste system created as part of slavery and continuing today. highly recommend.

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TheBookHippie
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Leftcoastzen It‘s a great read. 11mo
IndoorDame You‘ve been very dangerous for my kindle purchase habits lately! 11mo
49 likes2 comments
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all_4_kb
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Surprise gift from my Father!! 🥹

KathyWheeler Excellent book. 12mo
Santie I have this book but didn‘t finish reading it. I felt I wasn‘t giving it the attentiveness it deserved. Please let me know how it is? Also your dad is cute for doing this 12mo
all_4_kb @Santie I am giving it my full attention. It‘s definitely good so far. And yes - I was surprised. Books make the best gifts!!! 12mo
Santie Please tag me in your review 🙏 12mo
all_4_kb @Santie it was very good! I‘ve read several books about the same basic ideas, but this was written a little differently, from a very historical and also world view which I loved. 10/10 recommend. Especially for anyone who has never thought about or read about this before. 12mo
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

Finished earlier this week. I‘m trying to get back to reading more non-fiction this year & this month I finally tackled Caste which has been in my TBR for ages. Wilkerson is an amazing writer & this book is both engrossing & infuriating. The comparisons of caste in America, India & Nazi Germany are shattering & I had to read this is short doses at times. The Warmth of Other Suns is loaded on my Kindle as well & I‘ll be getting to it soon.

mcctrish This book changed the way I think 13mo
TheBookHippie Oh The Warmth of Other Suns is even better IMO although both excellent necessary reads. 13mo
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Booksandtea23
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🙌🏿

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DivineDiana
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It took me a while to finish this, and I am so glad that I did. Kudos to Isabel Wilkerson for a masterful, deeply researched book about the hidden caste system in America. Linking the caste systems of America, India and Nazi Germany, she identifies eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations. You can see by all the markers in my book, that there was so much that I wanted to remember. A must read! #blackhistorymonth

DivineDiana @EKonrad Yes, I loved it! 😊 13mo
Tamra This and Warmth have been TBR for me too long! 13mo
DivineDiana @tamra They are both wonderful! Such a talent! ❤️ 13mo
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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#BlackHistoryMonth Recommendations
Day 20 Nonfiction

Isabel Wilkerson is a fantastic writer, I was incredibly intimidated by her Warmth of Other Suns (which is excellent and not something to be scared of!) so I picked up Caste first, and was absorbed from page one. This is an important look at how the caste system is alive and well in America, the root and history of it and an argument of how it shaped individuals and America in general

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Decalino
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Pickpick

This powerful book examines the caste hierarchy that has marred & defined society throughout American history. Every day I read this book, I saw a story in the news that provided real time support for her thesis: in the arrest of a journalist, the high infant mortality rate among even affluent black mothers, the murder by police of another black man.There has always been a subordinate & a dominant caste in this country, & it costs us as a nation.

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DivineDiana
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Starting the audio while I wait for my book reserve from the Library. IRL Book Club choice. I loved her book “ The Warmth of Other Suns”.

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erindarlyn
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Pickpick

This book made me weep. It is well-researched, poignant, thought-provoking, gut-wrenching and eye-opening, and I commend Ms. Wilkerson for completing the monumental task of writing it. I learned a lot. Every American needs to read it.

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BookDee
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Wow! What a book. So rich of information and systemic racism. A real eye-opener! Loved it!

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TheBookHippie
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Thanks to @Chrissyreadit for these lovely gifts !!!!

I read the ARC of this book as I was very vocal about her first book telling everyone to read it and thus got sent the ARC from publishing -I think everyone should read both !!! However I don‘t own a copy and just didn‘t buy one! 🤣😵‍💫I am so I‘m grateful to own a real copy because I had to send my ARC copy back with notes - I was so sad.

What a lovely surprise!!

TheBookHippie FYI Also I realize I‘m a voracious reader -I cannot possibly keep track what I read so my TBR is always books I want and so is my wish list which is mine and classroom wants 🥰😘 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AA1CKXUJPC8I/?ref_=lol_ov_le&filter=unpur... 1y
Rachel.Rencher 🥰🥰🥰 1y
TheBookHippie @Rachel.Rencher I just love the packaging and everything!!!! After holidays I‘ll contact you and certainly for valentines!!! Such a great idea!! 1y
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Chrissyreadit ☃️😘❄️😘☃️ 1y
Rachel.Rencher @TheBookHippie Thank you so much! I'm glad you loved it. 🥰 I'll have different themes up for New Years & Valentines! 1y
TheBookHippie @Rachel.Rencher ♥️ 1y
Singout I really found her analysis of racism as one form of caste interesting and helpful: I was glad that @Riveted_Reader_Melissa included it in #SheSaid last year. 1y
TheBookHippie @Singout I liked her first book more but I did very much like this as well, have you read 1y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Both of her books are great 1y
Singout No: not in audio in my library, unfortunately. 1y
TheBookHippie @Singout OH that‘s so sad. How frustrating! I‘m glad you got to hear Caste then. 1y
58 likes11 comments
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emz711
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Just took out of the library. Wary of the hypothesis but open to hearing about it. Anyone else read it?

Scochrane26 I loved this book. I think it‘s been the best one I‘ve read so far about racism. 1y
emz711 @Scochrane26 it definitely have some interesting context into historical happenings. I found the way the Nazis used research from America interesting but I don't feel like she brought it into the late 20th and 21st century. She had me up til the civil rights movement. 1y
Scochrane26 @emz711 Good to know your opinion. I don‘t remember her talking as much about present day, now that you point it out. 1y
43 likes3 comments
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iread2much
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Mehso-so

Another work read - not my favorite. Really interesting ideas, but the presentation of the ideas made it hard for me to understand the logic behind them. Too many personal stories and no in text citations.
I think race as caste is a correct idea, and the author provides arresting stories about what experiences people of the different race/castes experience but I don‘t understand the entire concept.
2/5 read for a better view on racism in the USA

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ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

Finally read this one that has been sitting in my shelf since it came out. It was an interesting look at comparing the caste systems in India, the US, & Nazi Germany. It was the first time I had read anything discussing a caste system within the US. It was interesting to read about this area. Definitely recommend for anyone continuing to be on an anti racist journey. Happy that I finally took the time to read this one. #bookspin book

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 1y
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EmilieGR
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Pickpick

Important reading but not Wilkerson‘s best writing. She makes some assumptive leaps occasionally that bring the reader up short, and tries to push her thesis into places that it really doesn‘t fit, but as for eye opening and important content, it‘s worth reading.

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rachelk
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Pickpick

Isabel Wilkerson‘s ‘Caste‘ belongs alongside Michelle Alexander‘s ‘The New Jim Crow‘ as a must-read for North American people grappling to understand our history and how it continues to impact us today.

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DogMomIrene
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Loving this audiobook! Listening in smaller chunks so I can think about the comparisons the author draws.

Maria514626 That quote! 🤯 2y
DogMomIrene @Maria514626 I know! The next several sentences elaborated on this point and were powerful as well. I didn‘t want to keep rewinding the audiobook to capture the quote, mainly because I wanted to keep going! As much as I‘m liking the audiobook, I kind of wish I had chosen the ebook. 2y
Maria514626 Ah, the back up, forward (repeat) to write it down. I‘m usually driving though. 😄 2y
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AnneCecilie
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#AlphabetGame #LetterC

Favourite book starting with “C”.

Another contender is Citizen by Claudia Rankine

AllDebooks I was looking at this on Audible today. Might have to pop back and get it 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing 📚 2y
Megabooks This is a great one! 2y
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CocoReads
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Day 2. Didn‘t finish anything today, but I‘ve started all three of these. 1 chapter in for both Caste and Yes & I love you, 4 chapters in on the BJ Daniels book. My work schedule is a bit wonky this week but we canceled tomorrow nights twice postponed book group due to most of us either getting over so@etching or fighting off something. So hopefully I can get some good reading in this week. #JubilantJuly

Andrew65 Well done, like you I didn‘t finish anything on day 2. 2y
40 likes1 comment
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smjohns
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I felt anger, sadness and despair reading this. We can do better, we have too.

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hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4.5/5⭐ Essential reading. This is the shit they need to teach in schools.

The book summary promises solutions for moving forward but doesn't deliver on it.

#bookspinbingo #doublespin

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Creadnorthey
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Pickpick

This is undoubtedly an important book that helps describe deep seeded troubles in our western (world) view. Punch up, as the words at the end of the book state: “A world without caste would set everyone free.”

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Lynnsoprano
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Another procedure for hubby, more reading time at the doctor‘s office.

AmyG Hope all goes well. (edited) 2y
Lynnsoprano @AmyG Thanks! It turned out to be really quick, keeping my fingers crossed that this will help his back problems 2y
Leag01 All occasions are book moments hahaha 2y
44 likes3 comments
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Lynnsoprano
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Starting this tonight. Our church is doing this as a congregation-wide read, and while I don‘t plan to participate in the discussion groups (at least one of the leaders is someone who values her own opinion above all others, and also likes to hear herself talk), I am anxious to read this.

MicheleinPhilly Your parenthetical made me laugh. 2y
Lynnsoprano @MicheleinPhilly 😂 At least I can say that here. 2y
Leag01 We love individuality! 2y
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Rachel.Rencher
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Trying to get a book photo, but Winston just wants me to play fetch. 😂🍌

SRWCF How can you resist? 2y
CBee How can you say no to that face? 😍😍 2y
vlwelser He's totally winning in many ways. 2y
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NikkiKey94 He‘s so cute!! 2y
Rachel.Rencher @CBee Oh I can't 😂 2y
Rachel.Rencher @NikkiKey94 Thank you! I sure do think so. 😊 2y
Leftcoastzen 😃👏🐶 2y
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Booksandtea23
Pickpick



* Racism is a modern conception.
* It is the most misunderstood word in American culture.
* It is the combination of racial bias and systemic power.

The author thoroughly researched three different caste systems including the one in the US. Also the real life stories in the book are riveting as well. This book shows how caste affects all of us even those who act as though it does not exist.

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erickahhh
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Pickpick

This is such an important book! It was so beautifully written and discusses important topics related to racial inequality in the United States. The stories shared were heartbreaking and jarring, though not surprising, unfortunately. Isabel Wilkerson adds to the conversation to show that every level of the system has some form of racism.

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Pickpick

There are no words. Impeccably researched, Wilkerson 's writing is intelligent but easy to absorb, and incredibly thought provoking.

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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#weekendreads with @rachelsbrittain

1) Just Like Home, Caste, What Bread The Devil Knead

2) Both? I can't choose. I listen to audiobooks for workouts, driving and house cleaning and podcasts during the week during work.

3) Current audio is Caste last was The Silent Patient (👎)

Smrloomis I loved Caste but not sure I could keep track of it on audio 😅 Hope you‘re enjoying it! 2y
ChaoticMissAdventures @Smrloomis I am only listening during my hour work out each day, and after the hour I am taking some notes, it is working out pretty well. I have the hard copy so I can reread some of it. There is a lot to take in. 2y
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jenniferw88
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Lesliereads Does that say “#1 bestseller in Asian history?” 2y
Bookpearl 😳 2y
KathyWheeler It does discuss the caste system in India and compares it to racism in the US, so Asian history isn‘t totally out of line. 2y
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Booksandtea23
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Booksandtea23
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Booksandtea23
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