How to Say Babylon: A MemoirHow to Say Babylon: A Memoir
What it's about
Safiya Sinclair grew up in Jamaica as the eldest daughter of a reggae musician who became a strict Rastafarian. To protect his family from "Babylon," the corrupt Western world, her father imposed rigid rules: no pants for the girls, no meat, no friends, no outside world. As Sinclair discovered poetry and her own voice, and his control turned violent, she began fighting her way out, toward a life of her own.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. Sinclair is a poet, and the prose is gorgeous, even about painful things.
You'll love it if you liked
Educated: A Memoir
The Glass Castle
I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsGood to know
It includes domestic violence and abuse. Readers often compare it to Educated.
By the numbers
- Readers93 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics49 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller15 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz37 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
- #58 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #51 of the 481 new books we rank
- #291 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Moving
If you like this, read next
I'm Glad My Mom Died
King: A Life
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Things in Nature Merely Grow
Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice
Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for JusticeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is How to Say Babylon: A Memoir worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #291 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 81.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is How to Say Babylon: A Memoir about?
Safiya Sinclair grew up in Jamaica as the eldest daughter of a reggae musician who became a strict Rastafarian. To protect his family from "Babylon," the corrupt Western world, her father imposed rigid rules: no pants for the girls, no meat, no friends, no outside world. As Sinclair discovered poetry and her own voice, and his control turned violent, she began fighting her way out, toward a life of her own.
How long does it take to read How to Say Babylon: A Memoir?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has How to Say Babylon: A Memoir won?
NBCC Award (Memoir) winner (2023).
What should I read after How to Say Babylon: A Memoir?
If you liked it, try Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls or I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.