Caste

The Origins of Our Discontents

By: Isabel Wilkerson

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 15 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • “An instant American classic and almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century thus far.”—Dwight Garner, The New York Times

The Pulitzer Prize-winning, bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions—now with a new Afterword by the author.

#1 NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR: Time

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, O: The Oprah Magazine, NPR, Bloomberg, The Christian Science Monitor, New York Post, The New York Public Library, Fortune, Smithsonian Magazine, Marie Claire, Slate, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews

Winner of the Carl Sandberg Literary Award • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize • National Book Award Longlist • National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist • Dayton Literary Peace Prize Finalist • PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction Finalist • PEN/Jean Stein Book Award Longlist • Kirkus Prize Finalist

“As we go about our daily lives, caste is the wordless usher in a darkened theater, flashlight cast down in the aisles, guiding us to our assigned seats for a performance. The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is about power—which groups have it and which do not.”

In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched, and beautifully written narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.

Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people’s lives and behavior and the nation’s fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people—including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball’s Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others—she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their outcasting of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity.

Original and revealing, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents is an eye-opening story of people and history, and a reexamination of what lies under the surface of ordinary lives and of American life today.

©2020 Isabel Wilkerson (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"This enthralling exposé deserves a wide and impassioned readership.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Similar to her previous book, the latest by Wilkerson is destined to become a classic, and is urgent, essential reading for all.” (Library Journal, starred review)

"This is a brilliant book, well timed in the face of a pandemic and police brutality that cleave along the lines of a caste system.” (Booklist)

A perspective changing experience

Every so often you read a book which reorients your perspective on a subject in a way that is profound, but rarely do you read something which changes your perspective of how you see other human beings. Caste is one of those books. I’m a white man who always like to consider myself open minded. At least compared to the average person. And while that may or may not be true, absorbing Isabel Wilkerson’s work, her truth, informed my view of the world in a way I never could have imagined. Her personal experiences told through history and anecdotes, the feeling part, is something one cannot simply intellectualize their way through. This book is another opportunity, an extremely powerful one, to reflect on our world view, our behaviour. It really strips interpersonal relationships, between all people, to its foundation. I wish that all Americans, indeed all people, read this book.

Should be required reading in high school

As a well-educated American with an advanced degree, I am angered by the inadequate education I received about the truth of American History. This amazing, well-documented, and beautifully written book is helping to rectify that situation. All should read or listen to it.

Way too repetitive

This was an extremely well written book but it could’ve been condensed by half. It was much too repetitive and the point would have been made much better if it had been shorter

CAST is the Planet's preeminent ROOT-CAUSE problem

Isabel Wilkerson, and those of her elk are TRUE World Treasures!
CAST precisely describes the WORLD'S CHIEF SUPPORTING ROOT-CAUSE PROBLEM of ALL other GLOBAL problems, resulting from the inequitable decision making power dynamic between the 1% (0.01%) "WEALTHY RULING-CLASS CORPORATE ESTABLISHMENT OLIGARCHS" and the 99% "POOR WORKING-CLASS" population (WHITES, Blacks and ALL others) worldwide 🌐!!!

Powerful and brutally honest

Well researched, often hard to hear. Important in understanding American society in today's world. Caste, so we don't like to think of our society as being a caste driven society, defines nearly every aspect of American life. failing to look at the systems we have today, and examining why they are the way they are means that we will not be able to make effective change, and bring America truly into the 21st century.

Important Read

In reading this, I am practicing radical empathy, as the author describes educating oneself regarding the history of racism. This I am committed to doing so that I am better equipped to speak up. Thank you, Ms. Wilkerson for your research, for laying out a very clear picture of the injustice of the racist caste system, and for sharing from your own experience.

Necessary, Hard listen.

A deeply challenging book, rich with research and insight. On occasions, she generalizing a little too much for me, yet the power, urgency and necessity of this book make it an essential listen for our days.

Masterpiece

Likely one of the most important books of my lifetime. Absolutely incredible body of work by Isabel Wilkerson.

Must read for everyone!

This book is a must read for everyone! Not only does it help understand castes and racism, but it helps you understand today's current political quagmire.

One of the best books I’ve ever listened to.

All I can say is please read this book. It will change the way you think about so much.