How the Word Is PassedHow the Word Is Passed
What it's about
Poet and historian Clint Smith travels to places across America where the history of slavery is remembered, or misremembered: Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, a Louisiana plantation turned museum, Angola prison built on a former plantation, a Confederate cemetery, Galveston where Juneteenth began, New York City and Senegal's Gorée Island. At each, he talks with guides and visitors about how the country tells the story of slavery to itself.
Why it's worth reading
It's a moving, generous and quietly powerful book that makes history feel present, with Smith listening to everyone, including people who disagree with him. It won the NBCC Award.
You'll love it if you liked
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Between the World and MeGood to know
Each chapter visits one place, so it's easy to read in pieces. About 330 pages.
By the numbers
- Readers100 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics54 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller52 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
- #18 of the 198 history books we rank
- #18 of the 481 new books we rank
- #100 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is How the Word Is Passed worth reading?
Yes. It's a moving, generous and quietly powerful book that makes history feel present, with Smith listening to everyone, including people who disagree with him. It ranks #100 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is How the Word Is Passed about?
Poet and historian Clint Smith travels to places across America where the history of slavery is remembered, or misremembered: Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, a Louisiana plantation turned museum, Angola prison built on a former plantation, a Confederate cemetery, Galveston where Juneteenth began, New York City and Senegal's Gorée Island. At each, he talks with guides and visitors about how the country tells the story of slavery to itself.
How long does it take to read How the Word Is Passed?
About 8 hours (336 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has How the Word Is Passed won?
NBCC Award (Nonfiction) winner (2021).
What should I read after How the Word Is Passed?
If you liked it, try The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson or Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.