How to Be an Antiracist

By: Ibram X. Kendi

Narrated by: Ibram X. Kendi

Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a “groundbreaking” (Time) approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society and in ourselves—now updated, with a new preface.

“The most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind.”—The New York Times

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—The New York Times Book Review, Time, NPR, The Washington Post, Shelf Awareness, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews

Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism—and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. At its core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value; its warped logic extends beyond race, from the way we regard people of different ethnicities or skin colors to the way we treat people of different sexes, gender identities, and body types. Racism intersects with class and culture and geography and even changes the way we see and value ourselves. In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi takes listeners through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities—that will help listeners see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.

Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society.

©2019 Ibram X. Kendi (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“What do you do after you have written Stamped From the Beginning, an award-winning history of racist ideas? . . . If you’re Ibram X. Kendi, you craft another stunner of a book. . . . What emerges from these insights is the most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind, a confessional of self-examination that may, in fact, be our best chance to free ourselves from our national nightmare.”—The New York Times

“How to Be an Antiracist couldn’t come at a better time. . . . Kendi has gifted us with a book that is not only an essential instruction manual but also a memoir of the author’s own path from anti-black racism to anti-white racism and, finally, to antiracism. . . . How to Be an Antiracist gives us a clear and compelling way to approach, as Kendi puts it in his introduction, ‘the basic struggle we’re all in, the struggle to be fully human and to see that others are fully human.’”—NPR

“Kendi dissects why in a society where so few people consider themselves to be racist the divisions and inequalities of racism remain so prevalent. How to Be an Antiracist punctures the myths of a post-racial America, examining what racism really is—and what we should do about it.”—Time

loved it but...

As a member of a minority that has been persecuted for thousands of years, i identified with everything he wrote but his conclusion. My own people's experience would say u can be perfect, brilliant, add to the world culturally, scientifically, u name it but it all doesnt matter in the long run. People will hate just because they do. Cynical, i know but my peoples sad experience. It's like the whole human race needs to start over and labels of others cannot be allowed if we r to live together peacefully. still, a book well worth reading.

Influential and important

By far the most important book I’ve read this year. Disturbing and yet hopeful. The ideas have helped me take the road to being Antiracist. Thank you!

The most important lesson to hear and learn.

Dr. Kendi connects the dots we never learned about racism, racist policy, equity, and personal interest. Please consider listening to a few chapters! Thank you, Dr. Kendi!!

I hate the reader. love the book.

it's hard to listen to, because the reader isn't very good. he speaks in bursts rather than a about line. the book is good though. I read it instead of listening to it.

Exceptional & Seminal

This is a phenomenal book and phenomenal oratory performance by the author. I believe this will be a seminal work for years to come.
Thank you, Dr. Kendi.

transformational

completely changed how I think about racism, ita history, how it manifests, and how we fight it

Reworked my Thinking

I really liked how smoothly my mind began to accept new perceptions of this author’s point of view. Beautifully written and well spoken, this book informs and enlightens with out accusing. It is intense, loaded with facts and personal examples. This is not something to which you can listen while cooking with a new recipe. No matter your race or culture, you will be asked to think, ponder, and apply all the different ideas in which you find yourself participating that are unknowingly racist. No particular race gets accused of racism. (Examples are of the authors on experiences.) You will be challenged to change. In doing so you will be participating in creating a better world for us all. I have to warn you, this is a book you will want to listen to twice. Maybe even take notes. Fantastic!

good for beginners and more advanced students

this book is good for beginners and more advanced students of diversity equity and inclusion policy and practice

very profound and revolutionary

deep inside. I appreciate the analogy between racism and cancer. Truly we are in stage 4. stop the denial.

Critically important and informative

Mind opening. So much information I will need to listen at least one more time.