The Souls of Black FolkThe Souls of Black Folk
Score Classic
What it's about
W.E.B. Du Bois, a sociologist and historian, published this collection of essays in 1903. In it he introduced the idea of "double consciousness," the sense of always seeing yourself through the eyes of a contemptuous white world, and predicted that "the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line." The essays range from history and politics to his criticism of Booker T. Washington, the sorrow songs of the enslaved, and the death of his infant son.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of the best nonfiction ever written and is one of the founding works of African American thought. It's still powerful and relevant.
You'll love it if you liked
The Fire Next Time
Notes of a Native Son
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of FreedomGood to know
It's a classic and reads like one. The essays can be read in any order.
By the numbers
- Readers92 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller18 out of 100 · counts 14%
- 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
- #79 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #120 of the 762 classics we rank
- #391 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is The Souls of Black Folk worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of the best nonfiction ever written and is one of the founding works of African American thought. It ranks #391 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Souls of Black Folk about?
W.E.B. Du Bois, a sociologist and historian, published this collection of essays in 1903. In it he introduced the idea of "double consciousness," the sense of always seeing yourself through the eyes of a contemptuous white world, and predicted that "the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line." The essays range from history and politics to his criticism of Booker T. Washington, the sorrow songs of the enslaved, and the death of his infant son.
How long does it take to read The Souls of Black Folk?
About 5 hours (189 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Souls of Black Folk?
If you liked it, try The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin or Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight.