RootsRoots
Score Classic
What it's about
In 1767, Kunta Kinte, a young man in the Gambia, is captured while searching for wood to make a drum, survives the Middle Passage and is sold into slavery in Virginia, where he never stops trying to keep his name and his memory of Africa alive. Alex Haley follows his descendants through seven generations of slavery, emancipation and Reconstruction, down to Haley himself.
Why it's worth reading
It changed how America thought about slavery and family history, and the 1977 TV series became one of the most-watched broadcasts in history. Kunta Kinte's story remains overwhelming.
You'll love it if you liked
The Color Purple
Gone with the Wind
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great MigrationGood to know
Though based on Haley's family history, it's a novel; genealogists later questioned its accuracy, and Haley settled a plagiarism suit over some passages. It's long and depicts brutal violence.
By the numbers
- Readers98 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics63 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller71 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 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
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
1984
The Lord of the Rings
A Brief History of Time
Lonesome DoveExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Roots worth reading?
Yes. It changed how America thought about slavery and family history, and the 1977 TV series became one of the most-watched broadcasts in history. It ranks #45 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 89.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Roots about?
In 1767, Kunta Kinte, a young man in the Gambia, is captured while searching for wood to make a drum, survives the Middle Passage and is sold into slavery in Virginia, where he never stops trying to keep his name and his memory of Africa alive. Alex Haley follows his descendants through seven generations of slavery, emancipation and Reconstruction, down to Haley himself.
How long does it take to read Roots?
About 17 hours (688 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Roots won?
Pulitzer Prize (Special Citation) winner (1977).
What should I read after Roots?
If you liked it, try The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell or The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson.