A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black PerformanceA Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance
What it's about
Hanif Abdurraqib, a poet and critic, writes about Black performance in America and what it has meant to the performers and to him. His essays move from Josephine Baker at the March on Washington to Soul Train, Whitney Houston, the backup singer Merry Clayton, minstrel shows, dance marathons, magic, card games and his own life in Columbus, Ohio. He writes about the joy of performance and the price performers paid.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Abdurraqib's prose is lyrical, warm and funny, and the book reads like a love letter.
You'll love it if you liked
Citizen
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning
Just KidsGood to know
It's a collection of essays and can be read in any order. You'll want to listen to the music as you go.
By the numbers
- Readers99 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller12 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz19 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #66 of the 198 history books we rank
- #67 of the 481 new books we rank
- #357 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
If you like this, read next
How the Word Is Passed
Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World
Everything Is Tuberculosis
Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
Native Nations: A Millennium in North America
A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem TragedyExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It ranks #357 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance about?
Hanif Abdurraqib, a poet and critic, writes about Black performance in America and what it has meant to the performers and to him. His essays move from Josephine Baker at the March on Washington to Soul Train, Whitney Houston, the backup singer Merry Clayton, minstrel shows, dance marathons, magic, card games and his own life in Columbus, Ohio. He writes about the joy of performance and the price performers paid.
How long does it take to read A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance?
About 8 hours (321 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance?
If you liked it, try Citizen by Claudia Rankine, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong or Just Kids by Patti Smith.